Page 115 of Where We Bloom

Millie: Tell us.

Dani: Are you already engaged?

Millie: Oh shit, I didn’t go there! Wait, are you?

With a giggle, I type out my response.

No, def not engaged, but we’ve said the I love yous. We were arguing, and it just popped out.

Alex: Who said it first?

Dani: Why does that matter?

Skyla: This makes me so happy!

He said it first.

So many heart, kissy, and celebration emoji come through that it makes me burst out laughing.

Okay, I have to finish getting ready. I’ll text more from Ireland.

Dani: Send us a pic of the two of you together tonight. We’ll want to see.

You got it. Love you all! xo

With a happy sigh, I take the red dress off the hanger and slip it on, then turn back to the mirror.

I’m going to make my billionaire swallow his tongue.

Chapter Twenty-One

CONNOR

I’m leaning against the kitchen island, sipping two fingers of Macallan, when Billie descends the stairs. All the air leaves my body.

Christ Jesus, she’s bloody staggering.

Her dark hair is glossy and curled in loose waves around her shoulders. Her makeup, as usual, is flawless, and she’s added a darker eye along with raspberry-red lips. Her diamonds sparkle at her ears and around her neck, and as my gaze lowers, my cock joins the party.

Because every delicious curve is showcased in a red dress that has my mouth drying up. Off the shoulder, the sleeves are long, ending just before her wrists. The bodice crisscrosses over her breasts, and then the dress falls in a billowy skirt with a slit that shows off her incredible leg as she walks.

With black heels to complete the look, I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than my angel looks tonight.

At the bottom of the stairs, she lifts an eyebrow and turns a circle, and I feel the smile spread over my face.

“We can’t go,” I declare.

“Oh, we’re going. Do you know how long it took me to look like this?”

I cross to her, and she slides her hands up the lapels of my tux, smiling at me.

“If we go,” I say as I lean in to press my lips to her forehead, “I’ll have to make Miller kill every man who ogles you, which means there will be a lot of deaths tonight,a ghrá.”

“You promised me a night on the town.” She lifts an eyebrow in that sassy way she does that makes me want to devour her. “So if people have to die, it just is what it is.”

I chuckle and kiss her hand, then tuck it in my arm and escort her to the elevator. “If we don’t leave now, I’ll mess you up.”

“You can do all of the messing later.”

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