Page 21 of The Frock Up
"Do you ever wish you weren't?"
Millie considered my question, her hands lazily gliding through the water. "Sometimes. Mostly when we have a bad month and I have to work out how to keep the lights on. Or when we're dealing with a particularly difficult client. It's hard, you know?"
I nodded. "Two years ago, we sold off an arm of the business—we needed the capital, and the buying company had more expertise in manufacturing that kind of product. It was a win-win all round." I shook my head. "I still have nightmares about the faces of my employees when we announced it."
Millie reached out, her fingers grazing my skin. "Is that why you work so hard?"
"Probably. I have a responsibility to my employees. To their families."
"But what about to yourself?"
I shrugged, a spike of emotion digging in my chest. "If I'm honest, for a long-time work was enough."
"Now?" she asked.
"Now," I paused, unsure of how she might take this. "Now, I find myself distracted by memories of burgers and zippers that won't open."
Her breath caught, her eyes widening.
"Now." I reached out, cupping her cheek. "Now, I find myself thinking more often of how to draw the curve of a cheek than how to get an intake valve to work."
I leaned in, my lips hovering a breath away from hers. "Let me kiss you, Millie. Let me taste you."
She nodded, the movement brushing our lips together. "Yes."
I pulled her to me, her legs automatically wrapping around me under the water, her body molding to mine.
Under the hot summer sun, in the cool of the lake, I kissed the woman who I knew I'd one day marry.
Marry?
I'd known her less than a combined twenty-four hours and yet I knew. I knew she was my one.
Against her lips, as I tasted her sweetness, I grinned.
After a long kiss, I drew back, determined to woo this woman and not rush her.
"Millie?"
"Mm?"
"Go out with me again. Tonight. Tomorrow night. Any day. You pick."
I want all your nights and days.
She blinked up at me, her eyes wide. "You want—really?"
"Definitely."
Her smile set my body on fire. "Okay."
To seal our future date—and because I couldn't help myself—I kissed her again.
Chapter Ten
Millie
"And finally, we'd like to thank Thorn and Kei Designs for organizing this launch. From the start, their pitch aligned with our values—to always give back. Their idea to partner with Safe Sip is the reason we're all here tonight." Ash held up his glass, tipping it towards Keiko and me. "Thank you."
