Perfectly Scripted (38 page)

Her eyes, wet with tears, shined brightly. “I’m perfectly fine with that too.”

Holliday

Four Months Later

“Holliday, hurry up or we’ll be late for the party!” Ronan called from downstairs.

“I’m trying!” I shouted back, staring at my shoe collection. “I can’t find my black Jimmy Choos.”

“Try under the ottoman in the den.”

I tapped my fingers against my forehead. Then I padded on bare feet towards the den, bending down to find them right where Ronan had said they’d be. After scooping them up, I raced down the stairs to find him waiting for me with my clutch and my coat in hand.

I slid on my heels. “They can’t start the party without me. I’m the guest of honor.”

“That’s true,” he said, before kissing my cheek. “Then I guess it will be okay that we’re ten minutes late.”

My palms smoothed down his navy bespoke suit and drifted up the fine wool fabric to straighten his tie. “I suddenly remembered why I couldn’t find my heels, so whatever you’re thinking, put it out of your mind.”

“Fine. But I don’t think you realize how absolutely sexy you look in that dress.” He smiled his green eyes dazzling.

I spun around, giving him a full view of my dress. It was a black, sleeveless, drop-waist shift dress with an open back and glittering beadwork at the neck and hemlines.

“You look so hot, especially when you wear a suit.” I grazed my teeth over my bottom lip. “They call it ‘suit porn’ for a reason.”

He laughed and gave me wink. “Happy twenty-seventh birthday,” he said, reaching for a box on the credenza.

He presented the gift to me, and without hesitation, I traded him my clutch for the shiny package. “Oh, my first birthday gift.” I tore at the bow and ripped the paper off. Upon lifting the lid, I pulled the glass bottle out. It smelled heavenly, like a spring garden after a gentle rain shower. Sweet pea and freesia came to mind. The square bottle had silver, round top and a black ribbon wrapped under the cap.

“What’s this?” I asked, feeling my cheeks warm at the sight of Ronan’s affectionate name for me etched in glass.

“That is a fragrance I had my sister, Molly, create especially for you. I know that you aren’t supposed to bottle up your feelings, but I did in a sort of way. This fragrance is every bit as sweet as you. It’s also intoxicating and lovely, just like you.”

“Oh, Ronan, this is the most thoughtful gift,” I said, lifting the cap to inhale the sweet mixture.

“If you don’t like it, she will keep working on it to make it absolutely perfect.”

“It’s perfect, truly. I love it.”

“Really?” he asked, dipping his head to meet my gaze.

Wracked with emotion, I looked up at Ronan, my eyes welled with tears. “Thank you for this. I love you.”

“Don’t cry, please,” he said, pulling me close.

“These are happy tears.” I hadn’t thought it was possible to love Ronan more than I did, but he kept proving me wrong. “You are so getting laid tonight.”

“Good to know. I was feeling particularly lucky today.”

“I actually have a gift for you as well.”

Leaning against the wall, he smirked. “You just said I was getting laid. What more could I possibly need? Besides, it’s your birthday, not mine.”

“Next Friday will be the end of an era.”

“What’s the occasion?”

“I’m leaving Ricchetti Designs, and I’d like to become involved with the Connolly Campaign if you’d still like that.”

His entire face lit up. “Of course, I’d love that. How does Charlotte feel about you leaving?”

“Well, she’s thrilled for me because I’ve decided to start my own company. I will still consult for Ricchetti Designs, but I won’t be involved in the day-to-day operations.”

“You’re starting your own company?”

“Yes. PR and event coordinating.”

“That’s wonderful news. I’m so proud of you.”

“Plus,” I said, moving closer to him, “it will give me more time to spend with you. I’m the boss, so I make my own schedule.”

“I do like the sound of that.”

My phone vibrated in my clutch. The screen flashed a message from Charlotte wondering where I was.

I hit reply and told her that we were fifteen minutes away. He lifted his eyebrow, giving me that smirk I found so irresistible.

“Does this mean you’ve given us extra time, you know, for a quickie in the limo?”

“No, you sex fiend,” I replied, pulling him by his tie. “Let’s go. I have more presents to receive.”

“Happy birthday, Holliday!” Tinley squeezed me tight.

“Thank you, for the tenth time,” I said, taking another glass of champagne from the bar. It was nearly eleven in the evening, and the crowd had mostly filtered out of Lorenzo’s. While chatting about the party, we walked back to the private dining room, and I noticed Ella sitting at a table by herself. I excused myself and told Tinley that I’d catch up in a bit.

“Hey, Ella,” I said, taking a seat beside her on the velvet bench. “You okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” she replied with a sweet smile. “It’s a work problem I need to fix, but it can wait until Monday.”

“Are you sure that’s all it is?”

Her mascara was smudged, and her lips were puffy. It was clear that she’d been crying.

She pushed to her feet. “I’m positive,” she said, giving me a hug.

“Okay. Well, if you need to talk, you can call me anytime.”

“Thank you. I hope you had a lovely birthday, Holliday. Will you excuse me?”

With her phone in her hand, she rushed towards the bathroom before I could reply.

Then warm hands wrapped around my waist from behind.

“Where’s my sister run off to?”

“Phone call,” I replied. “I think it’s a work thing.” It might have been a guy thing, but that was for Ella to talk to Ronan about, if she wanted.

“What’s going on in there?” I nodded towards the dining room.

“It’s winding down. Your gifts were taken to the limo, and Charlotte made sure they boxed up some cake for you to take home.”

“That was nice of her to do that,” I said before taking a sip of champagne.

“Speaking of nice,” he murmured in my ear. “It would be very nice if you’d accompany to the dance floor.”

The rush of bubbles from my champagne tickled my throat, and I hiccupped. “There’s no dance floor in there.”

“Sure there is,” he coaxed. “Let’s dance. I want to hold you.”

He led me to a corner at the far side of the room. I set my clutch and my drink on a nearby table. With one hand at my back, he took me in his arms and we glided casually across the floor. Soon, Matthew and Tinley joined us as well as Lucan and Charlotte.

“We’ve started a trend,” I said with a laugh.

“Where there’s music, there’s always a dance floor.”

I pressed my cheek to his shoulder. Breathing in his scent, I licked my bottom lip. He smelled sinfully good. It was that clean crisp scent that was unmistakably Ronan. Warmth flooded my veins at the feel of his thumb tracing small circles against my back.

“Holliday, I need you
now
.” His voice was thick and provocative.

“I can’t leave my own party,” I protested, fumbling my fingers along the silk of his lapel.

“It doesn’t look like much of a party any longer,” he said, nodding towards the four other people in the room. “Besides, I am quite sure there are rules of exception when you are the lady of the hour, not the hostess. I want you all to myself.”

His mouth was tender as he brushed his lips over mine. My heart fluttered.

“I need you.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek before drifting down my throat. “I want to be inside you. I
need
to be inside you.”

“Yes, I want that too.” My voice was breathy, my pulse racing. “But not here.”

His hand slid down my leg, the stroke warm and seductive. When he slipped his hand between my legs, I bit my lip to stifle a moan.

“My beauty,” he whispered into my hair. “Where are your panties?”

“In my clutch. I took them off for you.”

“Vixen.” His mouth claimed mine as he roughly kissed me with a possessive need.

Heat climbed up my legs, spreading through my thighs.

“Say goodbye, Holliday,” he whispered darkly.

“Goodnight, everyone,” I said as we slipped out of the room.

Ronan

She barely got the words out before I hauled her ass out of the room, through the kitchen, and down to the service elevator. When the doors closed, I caged her against the back wall. Her eyes were wild and lust filled. The delicate skin of her neck revealed her pulse pounding. Holliday’s hands pushed into my hair, her lips sliding heatedly over my throat.

“Bring the limo around,” I barked and then dropped the phone back into my suit pocket. Dean would have to forgive my gruff tone, but I had important matters to attend to.

I smoothed my hands up her back, crushing my lips to hers, thrusting my tongue into her mouth. Then I caught her bottom lip between my teeth, growling as I nipped her tender skin.

“
Ronan
...” she moaned against my neck. The vibrations rippled straight to my cock.

The doors opened, and my ardent hands pushed her forward, through the hallway, and out the side door. As we stepped onto the pavement, the crisp fall night air swirled around us. To our left, Dean had the limo idling at the curb.