Page 117 of Say You Remember Me
“No problem at all,” Owen said with a grin. “And hey, don’t hesitate to call if you need more muscle. We’re just a phone call away.”
Ian gave each of his friends a quick fist bump as they said their goodbyes, and soon it was just the three of us—Ian, Grant, and me.
I grabbed a slice of pizza and took a seat on the front porch, savoring the quiet hum of the evening as Grant swung happily on the little wooden swing in the yard. There was something so perfect about seeing him like that, laughing and carefree, and I leaned back against the railing with a contented sigh.
Ian joined me, settling into the space beside me, and for a moment, we just sat there in companionable silence.
“Do you have any plans for July thirty-first?” he asked suddenly, his voice casual but tinged with something more.
I furrowed my brow, thinking, before reaching for my phone like I needed to check my nonexistent social calendar.
“It’s a Saturday,” he said, watching me with a faint smile.
“Well, if it’s a Saturday, then I’ll probably just be hanging out here alone since Grant will be at his dad’s,” I replied, setting my phone back down. “Why do you ask?”
“It’s Carter and Ava’s wedding that day, and I don’t have a plus-one yet,” Ian said, shifting slightly on the wooden porch. “And I was wondering if you’d mind going with me.” He paused, his gaze steady as he added, “As my date.”
“As your date…” I repeated slowly, letting the words hang between us as I pretended to consider them.
His smile deepened, and there was something so charming about his confidence mixed with that hint of vulnerability. “I know we’ve been spending a lot of time together,” he said, “but I haven’t actually asked you on arealdate yet. So I was hopingyou’d be up for it. You know, if going on a date with your boss is okay with you.”
I couldn’t hold back the smile that spread across my face. “I think it’s more than okay with me.”
His expression lit up with that boyish grin I’d grown so fond of. “So you’ll go with me, then?”
“I’d love to,” I said softly, feeling my heart flutter. “It’ll give me an excuse to wear that twelve-thousand-dollar dress I have sitting in my closet.”
“Yes!” He laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “I’ve been kind of hoping you’d wear it to work one of these days, just so I could see it again. But I guess wearing it to the wedding is probably a better idea.”
“Yeah,” I teased, “I mean, it’s not like we don’t already have enough people at work wondering if I’m just there to get my hands on your money. Me showing up in that dress would only confirm their suspicions.”
“Has it been bad?” His brow furrowed with concern. “I thought everyone was good about everything. Thought it settled when we squashed those pregnancy rumors and it came out that Margot was the one who leaked the video of Slade. If not, I can talk to Marsha and issue another public statement.”
“No, it’s been fine.” I waved a hand, brushing it off. “Everyone’s actually been great. That was just me being insecure.”
He nodded, seeming reassured, and I finished off my pizza before standing. “I need to grab something to drink. Want anything?”
“Sure,” he said, leaning back lazily against the railing. “I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
“I was just going to make a Moscow mule.”
“Sounds perfect.”
I went inside, pulling limes and ginger beer out of the fridge and setting them on the counter. As I started slicing up the lime, I heard the soft creak of the floorboards behind me, followed by the unmistakable warmth of Ian’s presence.
Before I could turn around, his hands found my hips, his touch gentle yet firm as he stepped up behind me. My breath caught as he leaned down, his body pressing softly against mine. I felt him nuzzle the curve of my neck, his lips brushing just below my ear.
A shiver ran through me, and I closed my eyes briefly, a smile tugging at my lips as I savored the feeling.
I liked this—Ian pulling me close, touching me like he couldn’t help himself.
We hadn’t talked about what was happening between us, hadn’t defined it, but this…this said enough.
It said he wanted me.
And I liked that I didn’t have to question it.
Tilting my head slightly, I let out a soft laugh. “You know, you’re very good at distracting me.”
