Page 102 of Snapper's Seduction
“You did it,” I said into her hair.
She laughed and cried at the same time. “No, we did.” She turned in my arms to face me. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you. Without your family. Without everyone who believed in something that seemed impossible two months ago.”
“Nothing’s impossible when you’re stubborn enough.”
That got a real laugh. “Are you calling me stubborn?”
“Absolutely. It’s one of my favorite things about you.”
She leaned up and kissed me. The kind of kiss that made the rest of the world disappear, that reminded me exactly why I’d fallen in love with this woman in the first place.
“I love you,” she whispered against my mouth.
“I love you too, Saff.”
We stayed out there for several more minutes, holding each other while the party continued inside. The winter air was cold, but I barely felt it. All I felt was Saffron, warm against me, her heart beating in rhythm with mine, our future spreading out before us.
Eventually, we went back inside and rejoined the celebration. Hours passed in laughter and champagne and relief so complete it left me dizzy.
By the time midnight rolled around, most of the guests had left. Only family remained—my siblings and their spouses, Saffron’s parents and sister, Baron, Tryst, and Jaicon. We stoodin small groups, talking quietly, exhausted but too elated to leave.
Kick found Saffron and me near one of the now-empty display cases. “Hey. I just wanted to say congratulations again. Tonight was incredible.”
“Thanks.” I studied my brother. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Just—” He paused. “I’m really happy for you both. The way you brought all that together, the wine, the auction, everything.”
“We couldn’t have done it without you,” Saffron said. “Without everyone.”
Baron appeared then, crossing the room toward us. His face was troubled in a way I hadn’t seen all evening.
“Sorry to interrupt, but, Kick, have you heard from Isabel?” he asked.
My brother’s brow furrowed. “No, not since I took her to the airport a few days ago. Why?”
“Did she say where she was going?”
“Your villa in Italy.” Kick’s head cocked. “She said she’d be there through mid-January. Is something wrong?”
Baron’s face went pale. “She never arrived.”
