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“Am I so predictable?”
He smiles at my question. “I spend an unhealthy amount of time following you, thinking about you, looking at you, couch girl.”
My lips pull up in a smile, and when his thumb grazes my lips and my eyes flutter close, I forget that we’re in a public place, surrounded by strangers.
That has never happened to me before.
“Let’s go inside.” Nervous and curious to know what else Zander can make me forget, I take a step forward.
“Sure, babe. Whatever you want.”
Babe.
Zander has used so many endearments in the past twenty-four hours—baby, babe, sweetheart—and every time he uses one, my heart flutters with excitement.
As we enter the park, an enchanting carnival scene welcomes us. There are colorful stalls with an assortment of games, women selling homemade baked goods, and artists with crafts.
My grip on Zander’s hand tightens. I look around at the color, life, laughter—everything I want and miss in my life.
But maybe not for much longer, my heart softly murmurs.
“We can leave if this makes you anxious.”
My heart tightens at Zander’s concerned voice.
“It does a little… or maybe too much. But I’m also liking it. There is so much… life and happiness. Things I’ve always missed.” My hands curl around my wrists, and I resist the need to pull on my cuffs. “It’s also helpful that most people are too busy with themselves… to notice me.”
Before I can dwell more, Zander pulls me in his arms and hugs me tight. I’m sure he’s feeling sorry for my childhood, but I don’t want to think about our past. Today is a happy day, and I want to keep it that way.
“We’ve found a place to spend the day, and at night, we go by your plan.” I pull him by his hand.
“Why, Ms. Marlin, are you impatient for the night?”
His words make my heart jump a little. My cheeks flush and the feverish feeling flows through me like hot lava.
He raises an eyebrow. “Who would have thought after just one dose of my magic fingers, you’d be coming back for more. Wait till you get the real drug, baby.”
“Zander!” His heated voice fills me with an unbridled excitement for that real drug.
“What? Don’t tell me you don’t want it.”
“I’d have never guessed the CEO of Elixir could be so rowdy.”
“I’ll show you rowdy in a few hours,” he whispers in my ear, making me shiver all over.
A loud wail of a child who just dropped his ice cream breaks our trance, and we walk further into the park.
Zander and I roam around hand in hand before settling on a bench. When I’m looking away at the acrobats performing a show, I hear a clicking sound. Zander takes another picture of me when I turn to him and then shows me his cell phone.
He made me his wallpaper.
“Rose. Rose,” someone yells through the thick crowd. I turn to find Clementine Hawthorne scurrying toward us.
My muscles relax, and the corner of my mouth quirks up at the sight of one of my few friends inCherrywood. I wave at her.
“Who is this handsome man?” She cocks an eyebrow at Zander, making me chuckle. I haven’t met anyone more candid than Clem.
“This is Zander. Zander is the CEO of Elixir Inc.”
