Page 101 of Imperfectly Perfect

“Monti?”

“She said she would walk the line as best as she could, but I can’t fault her for talking to her partner.” Fallon played with the napkin in her lap. She hated being the center of attention more than anything, and she’d been stuck in the center far too often lately. “But in true Athena style, she kept what she could close to her chest.”

“She sounds like a good boss to have.”

“The best,” Fallon mumbled quietly. She couldn’t imagine working for anyone else. At one point, she’d had dreams of her future and ideal careers, but that had never mattered, had it? It’d all been about finding a safe place to land where she’d been needed.

“So I won’t be spending any more alone time with you in the conference room?” Savannah’s smile was filled with mischief.

Fallon chuckled and shook her head. “Unlikely.”

“Well, that’s a pity.” Savannah sipped her wine finally, seeming much happier with the flavor of this one than the one she’d tried the last time. “I kind of secretly enjoy that room when Athena’s not in it.”

Laughing, Fallon relaxed even more. This was going so well. Savannah seemed nearly as relaxed as she was. With a second glass of wine ordered, Fallon shifted her stance and leaned over the table. She snagged Savannah’s fingers and brushed her thumb over the tops of Savannah’s knuckles.

“I don’t think it was a secret,” Fallon said, her voice lowering.

They were so connected in this moment, two people charged together and spinning within each other’s spheres. Their worlds had collided in a cemetery, with death rife and abundant, but together they’d found life and love.

“I’m not really that transparent, am I?”

“Sometimes.” Fallon brought Savannah’s fingers to her lips and pressed a delicate kiss against her warm skin. “Andsometimes you’re still hard to read and understand. I promise. I don’t know all of your secrets yet.”

“Yet?” Curiosity flashed in her eyes.

“Yes. Yet.” Fallon laughed lightly, quite enjoying the way this conversation was going. She was going to lean into their flirtations as much as possible. “If ever.”

“If ever?” Savannah sounded worried now.

“No, I didn’t mean…” Fallon winced. “I mean that it’s really hard to get to know all of a person, and you deserve to keep some things for yourself.”

“And if I don’t want to?”

“Don’t want to what?”

“Keep things to myself.”

Fallon eyed her carefully, trying to figure out if she’d messed this up already. But Savannah seemed far too relaxed for that, so perhaps she was just teasing. “You don’t?”

Savannah shook her head. She reached over the table and snagged Fallon’s hand back. “No, I don’t. I want to share it with you. I love you. I told you that.”

“How did it go with Brinley?” Fallon glanced down at their joined hands, keeping their fingers wrapped together.

“Better than I thought.” Savannah sighed heavily, her eyes closing as if she was remembering the conversation. “She’s excited.”

“Excited? What did you tell her? Because I’m pretty sure that stepparents are supposed to be things of nightmares.”

“Stepparent?” Savannah raised one delicate eyebrow at Fallon, and it was far too late for her to take back what she’d said, and Savannah had clearly noticed her mishap. “I didn’t think we were far enough along in our relationship to be considering that.”

“You know what I meant,” Fallon mumbled. “She’s not afraid about me punishing her or something?”

“Hardly.” Savannah guffawed. “I think she’s excited about cooking with you, and more sleepovers—as she put it—and getting to know you better. She wants you to come to her recital next week.”

“What recital?”

Savannah pursed her lips and nodded her head. “She’s been going to Tia’s studio for the last few months, since ice skating isn’t her thing.”

“She’s been…” Fallon stopped. She really hadn’t known much about Savannah and Brinley, had she? And yet she was already in love, not just a little bit, but fully. “I didn’t realize.”

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