Page 34 of Sweet Tooth
I threw my arms around him and pressed my smiling lips to his. “I love it. It’s perfect.”
Just then my phone went off. I glanced to Zane, who was grinning all silly. “Oh yeah – they come into effect today, I should’ve mentioned. So…”
As my phone went off again and again, I finally turned it off without looking at it. Work success or not, today was my day. My day for family. For love.
And, as I looked around, as Zane and I lay on our backs amidst the sea of wrapping paper, and I pulled Parker in too, I saw.
Clear as day now, love was all around us.
23
Zane
What would she say?
As we pulled into my personal spot in the parking lot, I couldn’t resist an admiring look her way.
Jessica was pure silver glory – from her neck bangle, down to her slinky metallic dress, all the way to her shiny shoes.
“Wait here a sec,” I said.
I rushed over and around to open the door for her. She smiled as she got out, although it had a nervous stiffness to it.
“You sure it isn’t too soon to introduce me to your staff? This is your work party, after all.”
I snorted and waved a dismissive hand. “Who cares? I’m the boss, Jess. Plus, they’re going to love you because I do. I’ve even heard that I’m easier to work for since you’ve been back in my life,” he teased.
I proffered my arm and she took it, the two of us walking in silence. If Jess was wondering if the whole work party thing was too soon, then she was going to think my gift was too soon, no doubt.
But I had the little box in my pocket and had told her about her second gift.
As we entered the basement floor level elevators, I pushed the thought from my mind. Right now, it was about us enjoying the party, nothing more.
The elevator came and took us up several floors, dinged its arrival, and we were out. I took her hand as we stepped into the party.
Already, it was buzzing with activity. With spruced-up men and women all chatting and laughing, toasting, and supping. The thousands of little sparkling snowflakes I’d ordered hung from the ceiling undulating beautifully.
Seemed fitting that Jeffrey was the first one to spot us.
“Looking good, boss,” he said. His buck-toothed smile went to Jess. “And this is…”
“Jessica,” I said. Then, realizing it, I added, “My girlfriend.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Jeffrey said, shaking her hand eagerly, before dipping his head my way with a wink. “Never seen this one with a girlfriend, ever. You must be pretty special.”
“He’s pretty special,” Jess said, laying a kiss on my cheek.
He grinned again, then at a “Oy Jeffrey!” call, gave us an apologetic half-smile. “Duty calls.”
As he left, Jessica turned to me with lifted brows. “I’m your girlfriend?”
“About that,” I said.
“When exactly did we decide that we were going to be official again?” she said.
“When you invited me for Christmas?” I said.
Jessica shook her head and her smirk said, Nice try, but no.
“You never asked,” she continued evilly.
I glared at her.
“Fine.” I let out a melodramatic sigh. “Jessica, light of my life, do you wanna go steady?”
Jess paused, letting out an extended, “Hmmm…”
“You serious?” I asked.
“Okay, fine.” Another evil smile that I kissed hard.
I took her hand and pulled her along to the dance floor, where a few people were swaying to Diana Krall. “For that, I get at least one dance.”
Jessica said nothing, only eased her body in mine.
Wafting over, was the delicious aroma of hot chocolate at the chocolate and fruit station I’d set up.
Revolving around and around with Jess, my hands around her waist, I dipped my forehead to hers. “Happy New Year’s, baby.”
Her eyes were full and luminous in a way that made me force my stupid grin down.
“Happy New Year’s, Zane,” she said in a husky voice.
Right now, I craved to take out the box, ask her right here. On top of the glitter-dusted floor, while I got us champagne from the table nearby.
But as much as Jess was at ease with me, I saw that she was a bit uneasy too.
On the outskirts of the dance floor, I could see several employees gathered, waiting for the chance to pay their respects. Everyone’s eyes were glued to Jessica.
For good reason. Jeffrey had been right – no one had ever known me to have a girlfriend as long as I’d been heading Smarty Pens. They’d concluded me an anomaly, an oddity.
And they were only half-wrong. Thing was, I was holding out for my girl. The only one, I knew, who’d make me this happy.
As the song slowed, I took Jess’s hand.
“What do you say to some food and fresh air?”
Jess looked around hopefully. “There’s a balcony?”
“No, there’s something even better,” I told her. “Come on.”
