Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“I’ve already made the donation. The fifth date isn’t necessary.”
A donation my boss was still singing about and I now had to listen to because I’d generously agreed to return to my old job. While Dr. Case was more than happy to be a pleasant and loving boss, Emily was still milking her “torment” over me being gone. I figured I had at least another week of her complaining before something new distracted her.
I sighed and jutted out my bottom lip. “So, you’re saying that you don’t want to participate in the special date that I have planned for us tonight? Okay, I’ll go get rid of everything…”
“No! No, sweetie! Of course I want everything you have planned. I love your plans! You’re so sexy and brilliant!” Rome pleaded. He tried pushing his way into the penthouse, but the door wasn’t budging. All he could do was sneak a hand in to grab my tie, holding me in place while he attempted to steal kisses. “I’m sorry. Let’s do the date. I want to do the date. All dates are necessary.”
“Awww, honey, you say the nicest things,” I teased, moving my foot away from the door so I could allow him inside. As soon as he could squeeze in the entrance, he grabbed me and wrapped me up, capturing my mouth in a deep, draining kiss.
“This. I love this,” Rome murmured against my lips.
“Kisses?”
“Well, that too.” He stole another kiss before loosening his hold. “But I love coming home and you being here. Move in with me?”
A bright laugh poured out of my mouth, and I hugged him tight. “We’ve been dating for only a few days officially. That’s too fast.”
“How long do I have to wait?”
“At least until my lease is up on my town house.”
“When’s that?”
“May.”
Rome made a pouty face. “That’s too far away. How about you keep some stuff here and live here on weekends?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Maybe.” But we knew that the maybe was really yes. Even if he hadn’t asked, it was pretty obvious that I was going to be spending most of my free time with him, and there were going to be many more sleepovers. Those of the sexy variety. It would just make things more convenient and comfortable if I had a few things here.
Later. Later. Date now.
“We can talk about that later,” I said, giving him a little push to break free of his hold. “Do you want to go on our date now?”
“Of course. Where are we going?”
“Here.” I stuck out my arm, and Rome grinned as he hooked his hand on the inside of my elbow. We strolled together down the hall that was now heavily decorated with twinkling white lights and evergreen swag.
“You decorated this?” Rome asked, trying to sneak peeks into the rooms that we passed.
“I had some help. We only got the foyer, hall, and one other room decorated. I figured we could tackle the others together.”
“I—oh, wow!” He cut himself off as we strolled into the library to find that the furniture had been rearranged so we had room for a giant Christmas tree covered in lights rotating from colored to white. More lights were strung across the shelves, giving the room a warm, happy glow.
In the center of the room was a table for two laden with exquisite china, flickering candles, and a silver champagne bucket stand.
“Good evening, sir. It is lovely to see you.”
Rome jumped when Franks managed to appear out of nowhere.
“God, Franks! What are you doing here?”
The tall, slender man in a dark suit bowed slightly. “I have volunteered to assist Mr. Rose in making sure this is a perfect evening. I will be serving dinner.”
Rome stared at me as if I’d just arranged the most magical evening. I hurried over and pulled out a chair for him. He dropped into it, while Franks helped me into my own. Franks then deftly pulled the champagne from the bucket of ice and wrapped it in a white towel.
“Mr. Sutton has generously donated this bottle of champagne to celebrate your fifth date,” Franks murmured as he poured champagne into our glasses.
Rome tilted his head to the side. “You got Franks and Pierce to assist with this date?”
I just smiled and gazed up at Franks. The ever-proper personal assistant to Declan held in his own smile, but I could see the laughter twinkling in his eye.
“This evening, Chef Donovan has prepared a special meal for your date,” Frank began, wringing a laugh out of Rome. “We will start with melon prosciutto skewers to tease the palate and then warm you with a lovely acorn squash soup. The main course is roast lamb with pears and goat cheese, grilled asparagus, and yeast rolls. Chef Donovan finishes with arugula salad with apples and caramelized pecans. For dessert, Chef Carol has whipped up a tasting menu of some of her finest sweets for you to enjoy. Shall we begin?”