Page 63 of Stuffed

"Are you kidding?" I perch on his desk. "This is everything Ivy and I have dreamed of—using the bakery to make a real difference. She’s so beyond excited to start teaching and I can’t wait to start with the business courses."

"Even if it means spending more time with your demanding, workaholic boyfriend?"

"Especially that." I run my fingers through his messy hair. "Though I have to warn you, I can be pretty demanding myself when it comes to kitchen standards."

"I remember." He grins, pulling me into his lap. "The great Christmas dinner disaster?"

"Hey, that smoke alarm was totally your fault."

"Was not." He nips at my neck. "You distracted me."

"Did I?" I shift in his lap. "Like this?"

His hands tighten on my hips. "Tessa…"

"Yes?" I blink innocently.

"We're supposed to be discussing business."

"Are we?" I start unbuttoning his shirt that I'm wearing. "Because I thought we were discussing new beginnings."

His eyes darken as more skin is revealed. "Tessa…"

"Yes, Mr. Mercer?"

"You're making it very hard to focus on blueprints."

"Good." I stand, letting his shirt fall to the floor. "Because I have some plans of my own for this office."

What follows makes our New Year's Eve celebration look tame in comparison.

Later, sprawled across his desk with construction plans scattered around us, I can't help but laugh.

"What?" he asks, tracing patterns on my bare back.

"Just thinking about what people would say if they knew the great Zane Mercer, Chicago's most eligible CEO, spends his mornings christening office furniture."

"Don't forget rescuing cats." He kisses my shoulder. "Though, speaking of Espresso, we should probably head home soon. He gets cranky when his breakfast is late."

"Home?" I turn to face him.

"My place. Our place." He tangles our fingers together. "If you want it to be."

My heart skips. "Are you asking me to move in with you?"

"I'm asking you to build a life with me." His voice gets rough. "The shelter, the bakery program, everything… I want to do it all together. Wake up together, work together, make a difference together."

"Even if it ruins your reputation?"

"Especially then." He pulls me closer. "Let people see who I really am. Who we are together."

Tears prick my eyes. "I love who we are together.”

“Is that a yes?”

"Yes." I kiss him deeply. "To all of it. The apartment, the shelter, everything."

His smile is brighter than the morning sun. "Good. Because I already had Espresso's cat tree moved to make room for yours."

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