“What?”
“You liked the car I got for you to drive around in before your test, so I thought I’d give it to you.”
“You gave me a car?”
“You said you’re not mad at me.”
“I’m not mad. I’m…” I flounder, because a car? “You can’t give me a car, Harry.”
“Too late.” His dimples flash, and I’m a melting mess. “It’s yours. And so am I.”
Any other objection dies at his heart-stopping confession, especially when I can’t drag my gaze from his mesmeric blue eyes. I’ve never been a great romantic, but Harry’s my fairy tale come true.
“One day,” I say, as I wind my hand around his neck, “I’m going to buy you a car.”
“And when you do, I’m not going to give you a hard time about it.” His breath is warm against my lips, and I lean into him for our long, denied kiss, but he stays just out of reach. “I love you, Alice.”
And they lived happily ever… I laugh, because who needs a fairy tale?
“I love you, too.” And our kiss is hotter than the volcanoes of Exitium.
Epilogue
Alice
Four Months Later
In the quaint tea shop Harry and I often visit when he travels up to see me, I sip my tea and watch him as he frowns intently at his tablet. He doesn’t often work when we see each other, since we only get together every other weekend and have better things to do with our time, but he’s not stopped checking his current scene since he arrived last night. And although I don’t mind, it is Valentine’s Day, and if there’s more than a coding problem, he needs to share it with me.
“Are you sure everything’s okay?” I lean over the table and thread my fingers through his. “There’s not something you’re not telling me, is there? Everything’s on track?”
Luckily, Oscar Jarrod turned out to be a closet romantic, and when Caleb explained why Harry didn’t turn up for the golf last October, Oscar simply saw it as additional proof that Beauty and the Geek were a winning combination.
With Jarrod Holdings behind him, and Oscar’s personal investment for the success of Blitz, Harry’s dream to crack the US market is set to launch in two weeks.
He looks at me over the top of his glasses. “You’re still my number one even if you don’t work at Blitz anymore. And I know for a fact Charlie’s always on the phone double-checking stuff with you.”
Major exaggeration there. “Charlie never leaks confidential information. That comes from the partners.”
He gives a brief grin before his frown replaces it. “Come on, Harry. You can’t fool me. Something’s bugging you.”
He exhales a long breath, like a man about to face his own execution. “I want you to check out this new scene and tell me what you think. You’ve got to be brutally honest, and whatever you say won’t change anything.”
“Okay.” I’m not sure why he wants my opinion if he doesn’t intend to take any notice if I have any suggestions, but obviously my input is important for whatever reason.
“I’ve been working on this new character.” He shows me the screen where a warrior queen stands brandishing a blazing sword, with a mighty dragon at her side. I frown and peer a little closer, because she looks strangely familiar. “Empress Alice.”
“You named her after me?” Not that she really looks anything like me, but on the other hand…
“I said I would. She’s part of the next expansion.”
“Wow. That’s so cool. And not zombie-ish at all.” I’m insanely thrilled he not only remembered that conversation from all those months ago but has taken the time to create a new kick-arse character, who works alongside a dragon, and give her my name.
“Yeah.” He doesn’t sound nearly as thrilled as I do as he passes me the tablet. “Hit play.”
I hit the key, and the screen dissolves into a medieval turret, complete with dozens of ancient-looking books. Empress Alice stands in the middle of the room, and a knight wearing the distinctive armor of Exitium enters from the left.
He pulls off his helmet and I gasp. “Is that you?”
Harry grunts. “That character isn’t part of the expansion.”
“What’s he doing here?”
Harry doesn’t answer, not that it matters since I’m riveted on the screen, where his character is approaching the empress.
The Exitium knight removes his armor and tosses it across the room before dropping to one knee. “Your Imperial Majesty, Empress of the Fire Mountains, I am your devoted servant.”
I sigh. “That’s soooo sweet.”
Harry growls and finishes his coffee.
“My heart belongs to you and no other.”
I sniff. This is beyond sweet. Although Harry is pretty good at saying what he means, he never gets mushy. But sometimes a girl likes a bit of mush, and this has to be the most unique Valentine Day’s gift ever.
“I kneel before you, bereft of my Exitium shielding.”
I shoot Harry a surreptitious glance, but he’s glaring into his empty coffee cup.
“And ask if you’ll consider pledging your life with mine for all eternity.”
I gasp, enthralled, holding my breath for the empress’s reply.
The screen fades to black and I look at Harry. “She didn’t answer.”
He doesn’t answer, either, and shivers race along my arms. The question, pledge, whatever you call it, wasn’t directed at the empress at all. “Oh.”
“Take your time.” He leans back in his chair, folds his arms, and avoids looking at me. “No rush. No pressure. Just wanted to get it out there so you know where I stand. Or kneel.” He gives a faint sigh.
I have the mad urge to crawl over the table and drag him into my arms, except we’d probably be banned from the teashop forever.
“I don’t need any time.” I reach across the table. He unfolds his arms and takes my hand. “The answer’s yes. I’ll always be right by your side, Harry, in Exitium and beyond.”
He grins, the tension vanishing as he leans over the table so he can kiss me. “Love you.”
“Love you more.”
“Not possible.” He kisses my fingers, and there’s a wicked gleam in his Mediterranean blue eyes. “Let’s get out of here so I can show you how much this knight loves his empress.”
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Acknowledgments
First, a big thank you to my amazing editor, Candy Havens, who asked me if I’d like to write about hot Brit guys—I didn’t have to think long about that one! Thanks also to the fabulous team at Entangled, especially Shayla and Riki. And to my gorgeous Tiara Girls—Sara for straightening out my illogical leaps and Amanda for pointing out I needed to rethink an entire thread! I lost sleep over that, but it was worth it :) Big squishy hugs for Mark and the offspring, love you guys! And special remembrance snuggles for Goldie and Bambi, my first furbabies.
About the Author
Christina Phillips is an ex-pat Brit who now lives in sunny Western Australia with her high school sweetheart and their family. She enjoys writing paranormal, historical, and contemporary romance where the stories sizzle and the heroine brings her hero to his knees. Christina is addicted to good coffee, expensive chocolate, and bad boy heroes. She is also owned by three gorgeous cats who are convinced the universe revolves around their needs. They are not wrong. If you would like to know when her next book is available, sign up for her new release mailing list at her website: http://christinaphillips.com.
Steamy adult romance by Christina Phillips…
Hold Me Until Midnight
Hold Me Until Morning
Hold Me Until Forever
Hooked
Payback
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