“How did she even go about that anyway?”
“I mean, it’s pretty simple. She kept calling him until he picked up. And when he hung up on her, she called his lawyer. Essentially, he gave her the money to shut her up.”
I giggled. “I take it no one knows about your book.”
He shrugged. “I’m giving it time.”
“Giving it time? You published the first book in your series two weeks ago, and it’s already been downloaded ten thousand times.”
“I mean, half of those were freebie giveaways.”
“But that’s still five thousand downloads at regular price.”
“Are you saying I should feel bad about taking my father’s money?”
She scoffed. “Hell, no. Not at all.”
“What I’d like to do is make my father’s money stretch before I start sending it back over to Cecilia in chunks. You know, half for me, half to help her out. Because she didn’t have to give me the entire sum to travel. I would’ve been okay on even a third of it.”
“You’re a good man, Clint.”
“And you’re a good woman. I’m still not sure how I wound up with someone like you.”
I smiled. “You throw it down good in bed.”
He grinned wildly. “Whatever it takes, I guess.”
I threw my head back in laughter before I closed my laptop again. When I opened my eyes, I saw a small gift bag sitting on top of it. My laughter died down as I looked at the beautiful white bag, tied shut with a pretty purple bow.
“What’s this?” I asked.
Clint licked his lips. “I, uh, saw this in a window when I went up to buy the croissants. I figured you should have it, Cleaver.”
My eyes flickered to his. “Cleaver, huh.”
He winked. “It’s cute, for a dorky girl.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.”
I snatched the gift up and tugged at the bow. But when I gazed down into the small bag, I gasped. I looked up at Clint as he smiled at me, then I reached into the bag to pull it out.
It was a beautiful silver necklace with a charm dangling on it. A quill, of all things. It shone in the sunlight of Rome as tears rushed my eyes. I looked over at Clint and he got up from his chair. He came over and held out his hand, beckoning with his fingertips.
“Let me put it on you. See how it fits.”
I dropped it into his palm before gathering up my hair. And as he clasped it around my neck, he trailed his fingers over my shoulders. I shivered at his touch. My eyes fluttered closed as his lips fell against my ear. He kissed me softly, chuckling as goosebumps flooded my neck. And as I licked my lips, he massaged my upper arms.
“For the budding English nerd. I guess quills can be used for doodles and such, too.”
I giggled as my head fell back, but he promptly stopped me in my tracks. He cupped my cheeks from behind me and let his lips fall to mine. I slid my hand through his hair. I bent backwards, trying to press my lips deeper against his. Our tongues collided. I found myself in a completely different world. He smiled as he released my lips, neither of us caring about who might be glancing our way.
And as he gazed into my eyes, I fingered the charm around my neck.
“I love you,” I whispered.
He grinned. “I love you too, Rae.”
He kissed me again and my heart felt fuller than ever. The thought of all the adventures to come made me shiver with anticipation. We had our entire future ahead of us. Clint, with publishing his stories of life and love and dreams. And me with my tutoring. Which was almost grossing me a full-time traveling income. As Clint pulled back, I gazed into his eyes. I looked up into the eyes of the man I loved and knew I had made the right choice with my life. School could wait. In fact, school didn’t have to happen at all. Not if I didn’t want it to.