I kissed her nose then. “It's both. Can't I show the love of my life what the perfect day off looks like?”
“You can. I can just tell that something is on your mind. And I wish you would tell me so I can worry about it with you.”
I sighed. “I don't want you to ruin my surprise.”
“What surprise?”
I shook my head as I stroked her again. “I'm going to demand an orgasm first.”
Her hips lifted off the seat. “I know it's been a little crazy with my schedule. But in my defense, I thought you were acting strange. Tell me what's going on.”
I kept my word and told her nothing until I slid two fingers inside her, her heat wrapping around me. A quick flick of my thumb over her clit made her place a hand on the dashboard and throw her head back, moaning my name.
When she started to come down, I withdrew my fingers and smoothed down her skirt as I put my fingers to my lips and licked them clean, my eyes on hers the whole time. “Okay, now that we've gotten you a little bit more relaxed, look up.”
Saff glanced up at the skyline that was now growing dusky. “I don't get it.”
“No. That way up.” I pointed at the window.
She glanced up at the bright pink house then the For Sale sign. She turned back to me.
“You didn't.”
I gave her a sheepish grin and a shrug. “No, I wanted you to see it first. But I'm ready to pull the trigger if you are.”
“But we have your place already.”
“No. That was my place with Charlie. And you obviously have a whole manor house.”
She shook her head. “No, that's Rogues Division. That has nothing to do with Saffron Abbot, soon-to-be King.”
I nodded. “I know. I wanted something that was ours. And I saw this house was on the market. It's got five bedrooms, so lots of room for us to grow into It. It's been remodeled, so it's contemporary style, but the exterior is Victorian. It's got a terrace and a roof garden. Enormous bay windows. A spa bathroom that you will probably vanish into.”
She glanced up at the house in awe. “Lachlan King, you surprise me.”
“I hope I keep surprising you. Come on, let's go take a look at it.”
I went around to her side of the car, opened her door for her, and took her hand to help her out. As we jogged up the steps, I kept her hand in mine, letting her warmth seep into me. And for once, I felt like I had a home. A real one. She saw me for exactly who I was.
When we reached the top step, I pressed the code the realtor had given me and we stepped inside.
The foyer was brightly lit with contemporary art on the walls. And Saff was already grinning ear to ear. She belonged here. This was home. Room by room we went, holding hands, planning what pieces of furniture we could put where, what we would need to buy. The fantasy was taking us over.
When we stepped into the master bathroom, both of our phones rang with an audible notification. That special ringtone that we knew all too well.
Our notifications were promptly followed by a ring to my phone. I answered immediately and put it on speaker. It was Gabe, my soon-to-be brother-in-law. “What's up, Gabe? What's the matter?”
Gabe's voice was unusually grave. “It’s Saint. He's been hit by a car bomb.”