When the Heart Falls

After much hugging, Autumn leaves. I no longer envy her life or her adventures. I finally have a life I’m happy with.

Jenifer runs up to us, cutting in front of everyone waiting in line, dragging a man with her. “Winter, Cade, look who’s here!”

I stand and hug the man beside her. “Vincent, you made it to the States.”

“It was time to expand my restaurant," he says. "So I left my progeny in charge of the Paris branch and made arrangements to come to New York and open one here.”

Jenifer beams as he slips his arm around her shoulder and kisses her cheek.

My eyes fill with tears of pure happiness. “That’s the best news I’ve heard today. Congratulations, both of you. And thank you so much, Vincent, for not only making my best friend so happy, but also, for bringing your delicious bread to my hometown.”

Cade laughs. “She hasn’t shut up about that bread since we moved back here. I have a feeling we’ll be spending many date nights at your restaurant when you open.”

Standing there with the man I love, my best friend, and a man who actually deserves her, my life couldn’t be better.

Well, if I could breathe, that might be a tad better.



That night in our hotel room, after much champagne and laughter and hugs and well wishes, Cade and I are finally alone.

He shrugs out of his tux coat and drapes it over the chair in our suite, then kicks off his shoes and loosens his bow tie. “Something occurred to me tonight, Ms. Deveaux, and I feel it needs immediate addressing.”

Sitting, I free my feet from the torture of my heels and drop them onto the floor, rubbing my aching heels. “What’s that?”

Leaning in front of me, he takes over the massage, and I moan and lean back on the bed.

“Do you recall the scene on page 120 of your book?” he asks. “The one with the blindfold? I seem to recall your reviews speaking of this scene as being particularly sexy.”

His large strong hands move up my calves and thighs, rubbing the sore muscles as he hikes up my dress.

“I remember that scene, yes.” My body tingles with pleasure and anticipation.

The dress is too tight to push up any higher, so he flips me onto my stomach and slowly unzips the back, his mouth trailing kisses down my spine as he does. “I’m thinking we need to reenact that scene, you know, for research. Make sure it’s realistic.”

I giggle as his fingers glide over my ribs, tickling me. “I think that can be arranged. When were you thinking you’d like to do engage in this… research?”

My breathing deepens, ribs finally expanding as he pulls the straps of my dress off my shoulders and inches it down my body.

Another kiss lands on my left shoulder, then my right. “How about tonight? Unless you’re too tired?”

We aren't too tired, as it turns out, and our lovemaking takes me to new heights in pleasure and trust.

As we fall asleep in each other’s arms, I dream of the next night, Cade’s chance to shine.

Tomorrow, I will finally tell him my very last secret.





CADE SAVAGE





CHAPTER 48





I'M MORE NERVOUS tonight than I thought I would be. This whole week has been a flurry of parties and formal gatherings. I’ve loved seeing Winter get the attention she deserves, but I’ll be happy when we get back to our boring, simple life of walks in the park and long kisses and nights spent making love instead of squeezing into tuxes and dresses.

Tonight I find out if I won the architecture contest and paid internship. I used to think that such moments defined my life, but I’ve learned from Winter that the only person responsible for my fate is me. Still, this would be a huge honor and a major step forward for my career.

When Winter comes in, dressed in an ice blue gown that brings out her eyes, I have to resist the urge to tear it off and throw her on the bed.

She slides her finger up my chest and wraps her hand around my neck, pulling me down until I’m close enough to kiss her.

My pants tighten in response, and she rubs her body against my hard on. I moan into her mouth. “Keep that up and we’ll miss the award ceremony. Not that I would complain.”

She steps back. “Nope. We’re going. I just wanted to give you a little taste of what you would get later tonight.”

I reach around her hips and pull her to me. “Mmm, well, that’s better than any stupid award.”

“Nothing says you can’t have both. Now, let’s go. It’s about to start.”

We don’t need much time since we have a suite in the hotel where the ceremony is being held—we learned it’s the easiest way to handle these events—so she slips her heels on and checks her lipstick.

There’s a knock at the door, and I cross the room to answer it, thinking it’s housekeeping.

Not housekeeping.

“Dad? Mom? What are you doing here?”

Winter comes out of the bathroom and stands by my side, her hand in mine, offering me whatever support I need.