Page 95 of Fire Away


Font Size:

“He does,” I reply with a smile. I hold my phone out in front of me and snap a picture of him standing underneath the grand opening sign.

After shaking hands with the representatives from the chamber of commerce and city council, he turns to scan the crowd. Butterflies flutter beneath my chest when his eyes finally land on me. I hold his gaze for a beat, trying my best to let him know with just a look how proud I am of him.

It’s been a few weeks since we moved in together, so we see a lot of each other. But I still haven’t tired of seeing that smile of his. Not one damn bit.

Everyone in attendance erupts in a roar of applause as Warren finally cuts the ceremonious red ribbon. I may not have a voice come tomorrow, but I can’t help cheering along with everyone. His dream is coming true right before my eyes, and I swipe at my cheeks to erase the stray happy tears.

When the photographer positions people at the front for a photo, Warren cups his hands around his mouth and shouts over the bustling swarm of people in front of him. “Family! Get up here for the picture!”

Wade and Gayle are the first to reach him, each giving a heartwarming hug with proud smiles on their faces. They shuffle to the right side of him, taking their place for the photo. Blythe comes next, giving him some sort of cute secret handshake/hug combo. Gage is right behind her and they find a place next to Warren on his left.

The smile I’d been wearing drops from my face and is replaced with a watery and emotional expression when Heston and Tripp walk up to congratulate him. True to form, Tripp brings Warren in for a massive hug with a few slaps on the back and then steps in line next to Gage. Heston shakes Warren’s hand, firm and steady, and grips his shoulder a few times before moving to stand next to Tripp.

They know they’re his family and it’s the sweetest thing I think I’ve ever seen. I clear my throat to steal back my emotions and lift my phone again to take a video this time of them all standing together. The photographer waves his hand, motioning for the few city people to scoot closer to fit into the frame. Everyone is all smiles except for Warren as he looks up and down the line of his family on either side of him.

“One second,” he says to the photographer. He looks right at me then and holds his hand out. “Savvy! Come on, babe.”

Without hesitation, Blythe’s face lights up and she scoots over a little bit, making room between her and Warren. My body instinctively moves toward him, placing my hand in his and letting him pull me into his side.

We didn’t get much of a warning before the flash on the camera went off. When the photographer looks at the tiny screen on the back of his camera and seems satisfied with the result, the crowd claps and I look up at Warren. But he was already fixated on me and I’m not sure he looked at the camera at all.

“Look at all of this,” I whisper with a smile. “You did it.”

He bends down closer to my face and tightens his hold around my waist. Our lips meet in a long kiss. I inhale through my nose halfway through, wishing we weren’t in public at the moment.

When I place a hand on his chest and gently pull away, he pulls his bottom lip into his mouth with a roll of his tongue. His eyes bore into mine, sweet and intense all at once.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he says. “Now let’s go inside and celebrate. Quickly, because I’d rather celebrate with you on top of me.”

I slap him on the pec but laugh as he pulls me through the front doors of his business that’s now officially up and running. A whoosh of cold air conditioning blows my hair over my shoulders as we step inside and walk through the main lobby and into the shop.

There are several white tables scattered around the spacious shop. Music plays above the laughter and conversation, coolers of beer and other drinks line the walls, and two big smokers send wafts of delicious food in the air from just outside the large garage doors.

“Do you want to mingle around for a little bit?” I ask. “Kiss some babies, shake some hands?”

“Plenty of time for that later. Eat with me first.”

Warren leads us to the table where our crew is sitting. Tripp takes a bite of a slider while Heston leans his chair back on two legs, staring at his phone. Gage and Blythe are having a hushed conversation, laughing at each other between sentences.

Before we sit down, Warren’s parents pass by, each holding a full plate of food.

Gayle lovingly squeezes my forearm and leans toward me. “Hope you’re feeling better, dear. It’s so good to see you. Love those shoes.”

I look down at my heels with little cream-colored bows on the backs above the heel and smile.

Wade nods in my direction. “You ever need anything stop on by. No need to call.”

“Thank you.” It’s all I can say without letting the tremble in my voice take over. They love their kids so fiercely and have shown an infinite amount of unconditional kindness toward me. They have no idea, but it’s healed something in me, and I love them for that.

Speaking of love, I reach into my purse and pull out one of the letters that Warren gave me to write on weeks ago and slip it into the back pocket of his jeans. For good measure, I slap his ass and when he turns around wondering what the hell I’m doing, I smirk and casually take my seat.

He feels in his pocket, pulls out the envelope to inspect, but then slides it back into his jeans. It isn’t until a few hours later when the party has mostly died down and we’ve cleaned up that he pulls me into his office.

“If you brought me in here to bend me over your desk to christen your office, I approve.”

“I’d rather clear it off and lay you on your back so I can watch when I slide inside you, but if you want it from behind I’m happy to oblige.”

I laugh as he locks the door and then stalks toward me. The overhead light is off, but there’s a lamp in the corner lighting up the room enough for me to look up and see the sharp angle of his jaw as my arms circle around his neck.