“Just that you were right about the Ashby family. Thank you.”
“My pleasure, Savannah. Truly.”
His eyes met mine and I could see the love shining in his eyes even though he hadn’t said the words. I hadn’t said them either. Those three words felt too big to just blurt out while he made me come, or when we fought. I’d been searching for the right moment, but there was no right moment.
There was only this moment. “I love you,” I said, hoping he could feel the emotion behind my words.
His smile spread slowly, but it was the shock in his eyes that I couldn’t look away from. They were melted silver as they took in every detail of my face. I knew then; it had been the perfect moment to tell him.
Whether he said it back or not.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Charlie – 1 month later
“Don’t tell me you’re nervous again? You’ve already met my parents.”
How could this confident woman, who could handle a boardroom full of suits or a group of leather-clad criminals, worry about meeting my parents? Again.
Savannah’s blue eyes narrowed to slits as they stared at me in the mirror, hands fisted on her hips, but all I could focus on was her sexy nude-colored lingerie.
“I’m not nervous, but this is different. I’m meeting them this time as your girlfriend.” She nibbled on her plump bottom lip, and I couldn’t resist the urge to step in and take over for her.
“You’ve been my girlfriend for months, Vannah, and they know that. Ma is over the moon about it, especially now that we’re officially living together.”
My house was too small for both of us and Savannah wanted no part of her old family compound, so she sold it off to some oil baron from Texas. We’d found a place together, and that made Ma happy. Not to mention, she was eager for grandchildren.
“Charlie, when your mother met me, I was beaten up, bruised all to hell and going through withdrawals. I have to make a better impression.”
“She was just here for dinner last week and everything was fine.”
Savannah growled. “This is different.” She gave me a gentle push to get out of her way. “And I need to finish getting dressed.”
“Go right ahead.” I dropped on our bed and watched her slow, graceful moves as she stepped into a sexy little one-piece that could have been a dress or shorts, either way I just wanted to peel it off her body. Now. She put on her favorite pair of diamond studs, a chunky necklace and matching bracelet, and examined her reflection for a full two minutes.
“What if they don’t think I’m good enough?”
“I think you’re good enough, and that’s all they care about. Just that you make me happy.” She flashed that sexy little smile, the shy one that never failed to get my cock rock hard.
“You make me happy too, Charlie,” she said, smiling into the mirror.
“Damn right, I do.” She laughed and stepped into a pair of black heels with straps that crisscrossed up her legs and I growled. “Later, the shoes stay on.”
She looked up with a smile and heat in her eyes. “Just the reaction I was hoping for.” With a flip of her head, her thick hair fell around her shoulders. “Okay, now I’m ready.”
“You’re going on the bike like that? You know how I feel about you not being properly dressed when we ride. It’s for your own safety.”
“I know, but we’re barely going like two miles. Can’t you just be extremely careful?” Savannah almost whined.
“Not me I’m worried about.” I said, but I couldn’t resist her and she did look hot. We locked up the house and walked outside.
I started the Harley, and Savannah slid on behind me and got comfortable. “Hold on,” I said, and we were off.
After a three-minute ride, I kissed my woman long and hard right there in the driveway of my childhood home, because I could and because she was sexy as hell dismounting my bike in those shoes and that outfit.
“Come on. Ma made lasagna because I told her it was your favorite.”
She gasped. “That’s your favorite.”
I laughed. “Trust me?”
She nodded. “With my whole heart.”
“Damn, woman. I’ll never get enough of you.”
I threaded our hands together and walked up the steps, feeling buoyed by the way she loved me, so open and honest that it humbled me. It didn’t just make me want to be a better man, it forced me to become the man she saw when she looked at me.
I opened the front door and called, “Hello?”
“Back here,” Ma shouted. I could already hear the smile in her voice before we made it to the kitchen.
“Hey, Jamie? When did you get back, man?”
My kid brother smiled back at me, his hair cut short. Scruff covered his face, but it was him. Only now he was a cop.