Page 52 of Taken With You
She gifted him a bright, quick smile, and all the tension that gripped him, the hungry anticipation, and the tightly wound drive to get her alone left him in a rushing whoosh.
They were finally alone.
They had all the time in the world.
He wandered in, shoving his hands in his pockets, his heart rising like a helium balloon. “You know I’m not going to let you sleep on a cot tonight.”
Her eyes arced with sudden humor. “We’ll talk about that in good time. The event went well, don’t you think?”
“Smashing success. Shelley’s own words.”
“It’s your opinion I value most.”
Pride lifted him two inches taller. “Frankly, I don’t remember much about the evening except that dress.”
She twisted toward him, showing off her narrow waist and curve of hip. “I knew you’d like it.” Her voice was husky and low. “I bought it for you.”
Poised at the edge of the circle of light, he let his gaze wander from the straps of her heels to the manicured nail she now nibbled with her lovely teeth. He resisted the urge, as desire slid through him, to put the conversation aside for more immediate needs. He wanted her fully focused when he finally spoke his heart.
She said, “That was a lovely speech at dinner, by the way.”
“It was brilliant. You controlled the room like a Jedi master.”
“I’m talking aboutyourspeech, Garrick.”
So had she heard him? All the things he’d been really trying to say? “Every word was truth.”
She gave him a side-eye. “You painted me like a goddess.”
“You are a goddess.” He couldn’t hold it back. “To me, you’re a goddess and much more.”
Her smile turned tremulous. She wandered to her desk to set the glass of wine on it as if she no longer trusted her grip. She paused there, shifting her attention to the picture hanging on the wall above the desk, the picture of her family laughing as they crushed grapes together.
“Shelley tells me,” she said, keeping her back to him, “that you have to return to New York on Monday.”
He frowned. Of course Shelley thought he was flying back to New York. That had always been the plan after the launch party, and he hadn’t yet told Shelley anything otherwise. Major changes to his working life were in the planning stage, but only executives had been brought in on the projected reorganization. Where he decided to live after those changes depended entirely on what Amanda said to him tonight.
“It’s all right, Garrick.” She turned to face him. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
The softness in her voice tugged at his heart. “You know I don’t want to go.”
“I’ll be here anyway,” she repeated, “whether you’re gone for a month. Or longer.”
“Amanda—”
“I’ve decided to stay on at Cedar Ridge, long after the contractual terms. Even if you choose to crater the partnership after eighteen months.”
He jolted. Where had she gotten that idea? “Not going to happen.”
“Even if you do,” she persisted. “I’m staying right here.”
His throat closed up. She had heard him. She’d understood his speech, a declaration of love in front of his family and his colleagues. Maybe it was long past time he spoke the real words out loud.
“I’m staying, too.” He walked through the circle of light toward her. “I’m staying in California for you.”
Her lips parted as she sank back against the desk. “For me?”
“Yes.” He reached for her. “Because I love you, Amanda Karlson, and I can’t bear another day without having you by my side.”
