Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
River
Ava: I’m running late. I’m going to have to meet you at the venue
River: Pipsqueak…
Ava: I’ll be there. I promise
That was an hour ago and she’s still not here. I will lose my shit if she doesn’t show. I’m just about to pull my cell phone out of the pocket of my tux when there’s a commotion near the entrance, and the sight I’m struck with steals my breath.
Holy shit.
She’s a vision, and everyone else in the room seems to agree as all eyes follow her progress towards me. I’m rooted to the spot, completely unable to move at the sheer beauty of her. Helena of Troy had nothing on my girl.
Fuck me.
She wouldn’t just start a war between a few countries, she’d start World War III, and every single soldier would gladly give their life for her.
Her dress is plain in comparison to some of the others in the room, but it just highlights the absolute beauty of the woman wearing it.
She’s in a midnight blue floor length gown that sits off her shoulders in a straight cut across her chest. The sleeves stop midway down her forearms and the dress hugs her figure but isn’t clingy.
The showstopper, though, is the high slit on her left leg; her ankle to the top of her thigh is exposed.
The slit shows of the killer heels she’s currently walking towards me in, heels I can’t wait to feel wrapped around me later.
I finally put my tongue back in my mouth and take the few remaining steps towards her. Pulling her straight into my arms I stamp my lips to her own, her taste flooding my mouth. It’s a taste I’ll never get sick of, a taste I want for the rest of my life.
She tries to pull free of my embrace, but I don’t let her.
My arms tighten around her, and I deepen the kiss, kissing her like there’s no one else in the room.
Everything around me fades as my sole focus becomes the woman in my arms. My woman.
I’ve got a point to make, and after this everyone in this room will know that she’s taken, that she belongs to me.
“I thought we said we wouldn’t do the whole girlfriend thing,” she mutters when I finally release her.
“No, you said that. I distinctly remember telling you no.”
“Well, that was maybe a little much, don’t you think?” She raises her hands and presses them against her flushed cheeks.
“No, I don’t, and I plan on doing it more tonight so get used to it.” She just shakes her head at me.
“You want me to get on my knees and grovel, pipsqueak? Will that make you feel better? Make you believe this? You know I’ll gladly get on my knees for you, I seem to remember doing it twice last night. You were in a much better mood then.”
“Will you stop it?” She looks around her like people might have heard what I said — let them, I couldn’t care less.
“No, not until you finally believe this is real.”
“Whatever,” she mumbles under her breath, and I have to bite my tongue or I’m going to say something I’ll regret. “So, are you in with a chance of winning anything tonight?” She looks around the room as she changes the subject.
“I’ve been nominated for something I did in the city, but I don’t expect to win.”
“Is that the tall one I saw in your office?”
I can’t help but chuckle at the way she’s described it. “Yes, that ‘tall one’ is the one I mean.”
“Why don’t you think you’ll get it?”
I shrug. “There are a lot of people here who have all designed incredible projects. I’m just one of many.”
“Well, I’m not a judge, but I think that building is awesome and now when I drive past it, I can’t help but smile knowing it’s there because of you.”
Well, shit. Why does something as simple as that make my heart beat faster?
“River.” My boss interrupts us as he approaches. “I’m hearing good things. I think you’re in with a good chance of winning tonight.”
I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I can’t help the spike of excitement that shoots through me at his words.
“See, told you.” The back of her hand gently taps my chest with her words.
“And who is this lovely lady?” He turns towards Ava. “I haven’t met you before, darling, but I can already tell you’re too good for this scoundrel.”
“Oh, we’re just friends,” she laughs, and I swear my neck pops at how quickly I turn to glare at her.
“The whole ballroom just saw us playing tonsil tennis, baby. I think the cat’s out of the bag.” Now it’s her turn to glare at me, but I just smirk at her.
Don’t play with me, pipsqueak.
Ava
We’re seated at a table with several of River’s colleagues.
I’ve lost track of everyone’s names, but every single one of them seems to be under his spell.
It’s sickening. He plays this charming gentleman, but I’ve seen the other side of him, the cruel side and it’s not something I’m able to let go of. Believe me I’m trying.
“Let me get that.” He leans over and takes the tomatoes out of my salad and swaps them for the feta cheese in his.
I’m frozen for several seconds as what he’s just done registers. How does he remember that I hate raw tomatoes and that I love literally any type of cheese?
Everything he’s done over the last three-and-a-bit weeks flashes before me. My favorite Chinese foods, dancing under the moonlight, cooking me Italian food, and so much more. I think I may need to start accepting that what he’s doing is real, that he really does love me.
“I like your nails.” I’m pulled out of my thoughts by the comment from one of the office girls, I think her name was Nina. I can’t work out if she’s being catty or serious. She’s been giving River the eye all night, not that he seems to have noticed, to be fair, all his attention has been on me.
“Thank you,” I smile at her. I got them done today and they’re a gorgeous midnight blue that matches my dress.
“There’s something missing, though,” River murmurs beside me as he joins in the conversation.
“What?” I query as I frown at him. What could possibly be missing from a manicure?
“They would look much better with my ring on your finger.” His pointer runs over the ring finger of my left hand and goosebumps break out over my skin.
Nina quickly turns to talk to the person the other side of her.
“You’re insane,” I breathe.
“No, I’m in love.”
“Maybe you are,” I whisper.
His forehead drops to mine. “I am, pipsqueak, more than you can possibly believe.”
***
“And the winner of the Architect of the year award, goes to…” The MC pauses for dramatic effect, and it seems like the whole room holds their breath.
There’ve been lots of awards tonight, but this is the biggest one, this is also the one that River has been nominated for.
“River Scott!” The table erupts around us, but he only has eyes for me.
“You did it!” I squeal as I throw my arms around him.
“We did it, pipsqueak,” he whispers into my ear as he kisses the skin behind it; it seems to be a favorite spot of his.
“River, this is all you, I had nothing to do with it.” He pulls back so he’s staring into my eyes.
“You’re in everything I do, baby. You always have been.”