Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
When we both pulled back from the kiss, I rested my forehead to hers. “My head is spinning, Emma. I don’t know up from down, left from right. My heart feels fuller when you’re around and empty when you’re not. All I know is I think I’m falling in love with you. Hell, I might have fallen in love with you the day you tried to have me kicked out of the library.”
She let out a soft laugh. “Harrison, you’re not falling in love with me. We spent a beautiful night together and–”
I placed my finger to her lips. “Answer me this, have you thought about that night?”
With a nod, she softly replied, “Yes.”
“Do you feel something between us, something more than friendship?”
Her eyes met mine. “Of course, I do. But I know you have Noel, and I know you’re very careful with who you bring in her life, and I know…”
“Do you want to hear what I know?”
“Yes.”
“I know I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I know that both scares me and thrills me. I know I’ve never experienced the feelings I had when I made love to you. I know I want you to spend more time with me and Noel. I know I don’t want to let you slip away from me. I know I made the biggest mistake of my life not going after you that night. Letting you walk out of that hotel room was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, Em.”
“Harrison,” she said on an exhale.
“Whether you want to believe me or not, Emma, I am falling for you, and I really want to see where things go between us. For the same reason you ran, I didn’t run after you. I was scared and confused. The one thing I will never be, though, is regretful.”
“Why me?” she asked so quietly I hardly heard her.
Frowning, I bent down and looked into her eyes. “Why not you? You are beautiful both inside and out. I want to be with you, know more about you. I want my daughter to get to know you as well. I want you like I have never wanted anyone else in my entire life, Emma.”
She slowly smiled and I nearly dropped to my knees at her next words. “What time will you be picking me up this evening?”
Laughing, I captured her mouth with mine and kissed her until we both needed air.
“Six,” I replied, breathless.
“I should be going then. I need to get ready.”
I took a step back and reached for her hand. We walked out of the ballroom and toward the elevator. My mother walked up and stood next to us. When the elevator doors opened, she stepped in first as she said, “It’s about time…looks like I got my Christmas wish.”
As I stood in the mirror and stared at myself, I couldn’t help but smile. The full skirt fell all the way to the floor and was joined at the waist by a fitted bodice. The right side of the bodice extended to the left, giving it a criss-cross appearance. The haltered neck added a touch of sexiness to the gown.
The color was a silver blue that looked good against my dark hair, which had been pulled up and piled on top of my head with curls that hung down and framed my face. Wendy had come over to my house so we could get ready together. The plan had been for me to go with her and her date as a third wheel, but that had changed earlier today when Harrison and I had talked at the hotel.
“Wow, Emma, you look beautiful.”
I turned to see Wendy in a stunning green, strapless gown that was form fitting, but not to form fitting. It was a copy of a dress she had found online and sent to her friend who made it. She had also made my dress. Both where in the vintage style of the 1940s. Her hair was a short bob, so she had insisted on doing my hair. We both did our own makeup.
The doorbell rang and Wendy grinned. “That will be either your date or mine!”
Glancing at the clock, I noticed it wasn’t six yet.
“It’s mine!” Wendy called out as I reached for my clutch purse, then slipped on the silver high heel shoes I had purchased recently. I’d been wearing them as often as I could to work and at home in hopes that I wouldn’t get blisters wearing them to the dinner.
After Wendy introduced me to her date, Joel, they quickly rushed out to the waiting car he had rented for the evening.
I walked to the mirror in my hallway and pulled out the light pink lipstick I had purchased earlier this week and applied it carefully to my lips.
“Okay, Emma. Take a deep breath and just relax. The evening is going to go smoothly, and we’re going to get a ton of donations.”