Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
As she laughs about that one time we went for a polar bear plunge, I glance over and take her in. She’s absolutely stunning, and as I stare at her, I realize all my greatest memories have her in it. She has always been the one for me, and no amount of time could ever change that. I want her in my life, not just for the good times, but the bad ones too, because that’s how we grow.
Together.
Need for her suffocates me as I pull off the interstate and head for the restaurant. As we make our way to our destination, I feel my need morph into nerves. What if she doesn’t enjoy what I’ve put together? What if it’s all too over the top? What if it seems like I’m trying too hard?
Am I trying too hard?
Can you try too hard when you really want someone?
Fuck me, I’m sweating.
I turn into Jennings, a steak house that is the hottest spot in town right now. The magnificent steel building, which has huge windows with sparkling lights hanging in them, glitters from a distance, and I’m pleased with the sharp breath she pulls in. But then she turns to me. “Are they closed?”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
I get out and hand my keys off as the valet opens the door for Audrina. He takes her hand and coos, “Good evening, Mrs. Orlov.” Her eyes widen, and she shoots me a look that I just grin at. I take her hand as he says, “Enjoy your night.”
We make our way up the stairs, and I check out her thigh every time it appears from the slit. While it’s normal for me to skate backward on the ice, I don’t think it would be acceptable for me to walk backward to catch a glimpse of my girl’s thigh. It’s a pretty sexy thigh, though. Surely people would understand.
We reach the entrance, saving me from looking dumb as I pull open the door that leads to the entry foyer. A hostess in a formfitting black dress and with a wild mane of purple curls greets us. “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Orlov. Welcome. We are so excited to have you here at Jennings.”
We thank her as she hits the elevator button, and it opens for us. When we step in, Audrina shoots me a look. “Come here a lot, Mr. Orlov?”
I snicker. “Nope. Been waiting to bring you here, Mrs. Orlov.”
Her eyes narrow as she teases, “Lying on our first date, such a shame.”
“Is it lying, or is it me showing you what I want?”
I flash her a smug smirk when she narrows those eyes at me. The door opens, and I press my hand to her back to guide her in. The dining room takes up the whole floor, filled with black tables, some for two, some for four, and even a few booths along the cement walls. Large bulbs hang over each table, but none of the tables have patrons at them or have been prepared for the evening dinner service. Only one is set. It sits in the corner by the floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over South Carolina in all its beauty. A low-burning candle flickers on the table with a single white rose. I look over at Audrina as she stares at me, surprise apparent in her hazel depths. “Thatcher?”
I smile, pressing into her back as I guide her to our table. “It’s funny. I’ve known the owner of this place since I played with the Mighty Mites in Minnesota. I don’t know if you remember Jennings Kirkwood, but this is his dad’s place.”
“Yeah, I remember him,” she says, her voice full of awe.
“Well, when I called to cancel our night three years ago, he told me not to give up. And then he sang a really bad version of the chorus of ‘Meant to Be’ by Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha.” The trill of her laughter runs down my spine as I pull out her chair. “When I called him yesterday, he gloated, of course, and afterward, he told me the place was mine.”
“The whole place?” she asks while she looks around for anyone else as she lowers herself into the seat.
I lean in when I push her chair in, my mouth right by her ear, as I remind her, “I wanted a place to talk to you privately, but also where there are no distractions. Where I don’t have to share you with a soul.”
I kiss her pulse point, rewarded with a gentle sigh before I grin against her heated skin. She leans her head into mine and whispers, “You planned this all those years ago?”
I nod, kissing her neck once more, her body trembling under my lips. “Yeah.”
She lengthens her neck. “Why?”
I trail my lips up until I’m right at the spot below her ear. “Because I wanted to enchant you and show you that me as a best friend is cool and all, but me as your man? That’s way better.” I kiss her there. “And those are still my intentions.”