Page 74 of Committed to You

Her cheeks flush. I hand her a water glass. “Have a sip.”

She takes a long drink.

The mayor starts to talk about Vivian and why she is so deserving of her award. I sit in awe, listening to all she has accomplished in such a short time. Some I already knew, some I didn’t. Her leg trembles. I steady it. He calls her on stage, and the entire audience stands up in applause.

She seems almost paralyzed for a moment, and I pull her up and quickly kiss her on the lips then lean into her ear. “I’m so proud of you. Just speak from your heart.”

Her eyes are glassy, and I know she must be overwhelmed with all the applause, and I worry about her going on stage. There are men on the side to escort her up, which I’m grateful for since I don’t want her to trip on her dress.

She arrives at his side, and the mayor hugs her, then hands her his award. They pose for the camera, and he motions for her behind the podium.

She walks behind it, adjusts the microphone then looks around the room. “Wow, there are a lot of you here tonight.”

The room erupts with laughter, and I see her calm a bit.

After she takes a deep breath, she says, “Someone told me I should speak from the heart tonight, so that is what I’m going to do.”

I grin and wink at her, pride like a bubble waiting to burst. She’s glowing on stage: stunning, sexy, sweet.

Vivian breaks away from my stare and gives credit to all the people who have helped her with the initiative. Then she says, “My parents are from Greece. They learned to speak English when they came here, and they don’t speak Greek in public unless someone can’t speak English because they don’t want to be rude. I’m going to go against their wishes tonight and be a bad daughter.”

The guests react with more laughter.

Vivian speaks Greek to her parents. Her eyes sparkle with moisture, and I don’t know what she’s saying, but I have to blink back my tears watching her.

I turn to the table where her parents sit, and they are both crying. Charlotte, Quinn, and Piper have tears on their cheeks, too.

Vivian doesn’t speak in Greek for long, but when she finishes, she says, “Thank you for this award. It’s truly an honor.”

To the thunderous applause of a standing ovation, she is escorted off the stage and down the stairs.

When she gets to the table, I pull her into my arms. I kiss her. People are still clapping, so I lean into her ear. “That was sexy as hell. You can speak Greek to me anytime you want.”

After the program is over, we spend the night slow dancing and talking with Vivian’s parents and our friends. Throughout the evening, people come up and congratulate Vivian. She is humble but looks happy and no longer anxious. Her eyes are shining bright, and the thought crosses my mind that I could have missed all this.

It’s getting late, and her parents have left. Charlotte and Xander have gone home so Charlotte can rest. Jamison and Quinn, Noah and Piper, and Vivian and I are all on the dance floor.

We’re dancing slow, her body is flush to mine, and her arms are around my neck. “You ready to go?”

I peck her. “Whenever you are.”

“I’m ready.”

We say goodbye to our friends, and I shoot a text to our driver. The car pulls up, and I escort her out of the building and into the vehicle.

I get in and pull her on my lap. “You were amazing tonight.”

She cups my face. “Thank you for surprising me.”

“I told you that you don’t—”

She puts her finger over my lips. “Thank you.” She leans in and kisses me, parting my lips with hers, gently exploring my mouth with her tongue, sliding her fingers through my hair.

Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her closer to me, hardening against her as our kisses intensify.

“Where are you staying?” she murmurs.

“The Waldorf.”

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