Page 57 of Save a Wish

“That sounds right,” Beckett said. “I like this policy.”

I picked up my purse and headed for the door, Beckett right behind me as a beep sounded outside.

“That will be my ride home,” I said. “I’ll call you later and we’ll figure out our next date.” I leaned against Beckett, loving when his arms came to my hips and he held me closer.

“Okay.” He brushed his lips against mine and I was certain he wanted to do more than leave me with a kiss, but more beeping sounded outside plus Darius and Flora were waiting for him.

“Thank you for a lovely time, Beckett,” I said as I stepped outside.

“I’m looking forward to our next lovely time. And that All Hallow’s Eve Walk event I’m planning with Darius and Flora? You’re totally coming to that as my date.” He gave me a little smile and it took all my energy to walk to Ashley’s waiting car.

“Good morning!” Ashley sang as soon as I sat in the passenger seat.

“Yes, it is a good morning.” I waved to Beckett who was still standing in the doorway.

Ashley looked at me then glanced in Beckett’s direction before meeting my gaze again. “Wow. There’s some electricity crackling between you two.” She drove through Beckett’s semi-circular driveway, gave the horn a quick two-beat honk, then navigated onto the dirt road. “Okay, we have fifteen minutes of travel time between here and Slater’s Pond so spill the tea, girl.”

“Spill the tea?”

“Yeah, give me all the details,” Ashley said. “What’s happening between you and Beckett?”

Ashley wasn’t Orla, but the invitation to discuss how wonderful I felt was too much to resist. I spent the entire ride telling Ashley about the way Beckett had treated me.

“And he didn’t suggest anything technological?” Ashley asked as we neared Hank’s cabin. “No watching movies on his big screen with the impressive sound system? No choosing video gaming over conversation with you? No checking social media or texting or anything?”

I shook my head. “No. He was attentive to me the entire time we were together.”

“Amazing.” Ashley pulled into the cabin’s driveway. “Being a robotics engineer, I share Beckett’s fascination with technology so I understand the allure of gadgets. You’re wielding some serious magic if you’ve managed to become more interesting to Beckett than his electronics.”

“I’m not doing anything though,” I said. “I’m just being me.” Well, the me that I’d created here in Vermont anyway.

“And that’s apparently all it takes, Sadie.” Ashley smiled. “Just keep being you.”

I thanked her for the ride and bid her a nice day at Faraday’s. “Tell Hank I said hello.”

Then I stood outside the cabin as Ashley drove away, wondering again what Beckett would think if he knew my real story.

What I was doing in Vermont, however, felt more real than anything I’d ever been or done in Verdalach. Princess Aislinn was a distant memory now. I’d keep her in the past where she belonged.

Chapter Twenty

Beckett

“We’re sorry if we interrupted your cozy morning with Sadie,” Flora said when I threw myself into the chair perpendicular to the couch.

“She would have had to go home eventually,” I said, though all through breakfast I’d been secretly brainstorming ways to hold her captive for the day. Yes, I’d spent a large portion of yesterday and all night with her, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted more, which was a new situation. With other women, I’d have my fun with them then I’d immediately want to get back to my own things—work, family, gadgets.

This meeting with Darius and Flora, for example, would have normally been front and center in my mind. I’d be all prepared and most likely set up in my office.

Instead, I’d completely forgotten the meeting existed. Hell, I’d forgotten the outside world existed. In the hours that Sadie and I had been together, my focus had revolved solely around her.

But that probably wasn’t healthy, right? To become so consumed so fast by someone wasn’t sensible. Especially when that someone had dropped out of the sky.

“Hey, when you guys were checking in attendees to the event yesterday, Sadie didn’t mention anything about where she lived before coming to Vermont, did she, Flora?” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

Flora shook her head. “We only talked about the event and other business stuff.”

“You don’t know where she lived before?” Darius asked.