“They’ll instant message me for more details,” she argues. “You don’t know these people. They are ruthless,” she says with an exasperated tone. She’s being overreactive and she knows it.
I can’t help but laugh. “I know these people, babe. I hired them.”
“They’re all, ‘Tell me about Holt,’” she says in a high-pitched voice, scrunching her nose.
I cut her off. “Speaking of . . .” I glance at her, and she turns her head to look at me. “Hashtag, how hot is Holt? Really?” I grin widely.
Her cheeks instantly flush. “How do you know about that?”
“Saige. Everything is monitored. The IT guys get off on finding instant messages or emails, and they just thought it would be amazing to bust my balls with that hashtag.” I roll my eyes as I remember the shit our lead IT guy gave me when he tossed the papers on my desk that outlined their conversation about me.
“I want to die right now!” She throws her head back against the headrest and I laugh.
“I have to say, I’m honored.”
She grumbles, “This is so embarrassing, but you know I didn’t make up that hashtag. I’m positive it was Kinsley. I’m going to kill her,” she mumbles under her breath and I laugh again.
“Nothing surprises me anymore, Saige. It’s funny. But I wanted to warn you that everything is monitored.”
“Noted,” she sighs. “This Monday sucks so badly, and I’m not even in the office yet.”
I turn into the secured parking garage and wait while the gate lifts. “Go get your coffee with Rowan. He always makes everything better.”
“He thinks you’re hot too,” she admits grudgingly, looking out her window.
I can’t contain my laughter anymore. “I already know this too.”
She just shakes her head at me, stifling a laugh.
Our routine is the same all week. Saige stays with me; I drive her to work. We have dinner, make love, and fall asleep together. It’s exactly how I want my life to be with her. Simple . . . perfect.
Saturday morning, I jog along the lake. It’s unusually quiet, but I welcome the peace. Today is the day of the Jackson-Hamilton annual cocktail party, and Saige is at the spa with Kinsley and Emery getting pampered while I blow off steam hitting the pavement. My lungs are burning and my legs ache as I hit the final stretch of my run with about a mile left, but I push myself harder until I collapse on the lush grass in my front yard.
Lying on my back, I stare into the ominous sky, dark clouds swirling overhead. The cool breeze off the lake casts a chill in the air, and within a week or so, we’ll know the seasons have changed. Fall is not far off. Large trees are just beginning to shed some of their leaves, but the colors haven’t changed as of yet.
I glance at the time on my phone and decide to head inside and shower before Saige returns from the spa. As I shower and dress in my tuxedo, I hear fits of giggles coming from downstairs. The girls.
I jog down the stairs and stand just outside the kitchen where Kinsley, Emery, and Saige all stand around the kitchen island, passing around a bottle of champagne. Their perfectly styled hair and Hollywood-esque makeup stand out against their yoga pants and t-shirts.
They all sip from crystal champagne flutes, and I chuckle to myself as Kinsley whispers loudly, “I can’t believe I’m in Holt Hamilton’s house!”
Saige rolls her eyes and Emery chimes in. “I can’t believe Saige gets to sleep with Holt Hamilton whenever she wants.”
“Enough!” Saige laughs and sets her glass down. “It’s Holt. It’s not a big deal.”
Emery scoffs, “Not a big deal. You’re dating the most eligible bachelor in Illinois, and he’s head over heels in love with you.”
“Alright, alright,” Saige relents, and I decide now is a good time to make my presence known.
“Ladies,” I say, entering the kitchen. All three women turn to look at me, and no one says a thing. “Everything all right in here?” I ask, wondering why they’re all so quiet.
“Jesus H,” Kinsley mumbles under her breath.
“Kinsley?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Nope. Yep. All is good.” She lifts her glass of champagne and tips her head back, emptying the glass.
“You look amazing,” Saige whispers, walking over to press a kiss to my cheek. “I’ve never seen you in a tuxedo before. It suits you well.” She grins and hooks her arm through mine.
“Well, you ladies look beautiful.” Saige is stunning, but I don’t want to single her out.
Saige smiles at me. “We decided to just get ready here. No sense in sending Kinsley and Emery home to get changed, just to turn around and come back downtown.”
My heart flutters a little when I think about her treating my home as hers. I nod once. “Absolutely. There is a guest room with an attached bathroom here on the main level. Please make yourself at home. I’ll see if I can get Mr. Jones to get us a bigger car.”
“No!” Emery interrupts. “We don’t want to interrupt your evening. I can drive. Thank you for letting us get changed here.”
“Very well.” I won’t argue with her, as I want Saige all to myself in the back of my car. “Saige, Mr. Jones will be here in thirty minutes. Ladies, will that give you enough time to change and touch up?”