Chapter Twenty
Savannah knew the Harwood Inn was magical at Christmastime, though she’d never actually stayed there overnight on Christmas Eve. In fact, tonight would be her first night to sleep at the inn, not counting the night of the ball and the ice storm. But starting with Felicity’s Ball, the inn went all out for Christmas.
Savannah and Harlan checked in late afternoon. The big common room held an enormous lighted tree decorated with every kind of glass ball and ornament, some dating back to the original Harwood House. There was a cozy fire crackling in the grand fireplace, a garland on the mantel with Santa, his reindeer and sleigh, and elves on one end and a carved wooden nativity scene on the other. The room was filled with comfortable couches and chairs in several seating arrangements. Bookshelves filled with books lined one wall and mistletoe hung in the doorway entering the room.
Savannah and Harlan’s room was one of the river rooms, which Becky Harwood had recommended when Savannah made the reservations, as it was spacious, romantic and private.
It was two-story, the first floor a large room with an overstuffed couch, wood floors, a cowhide rug, a fireplace and a large TV hanging on the wall. There was also a mini-refrigerator and a coffee pot. A bottle of champagne chilled in a cooler, with a tray of cheese and crackers beside it.
Up a wooden staircase was a spacious bedroom with wood floors and paneling. Another rug, this one Oriental, covered the floor and two chairs and a small table formed a sitting area off to one side. The bed was a work of art. King-sized, with a beautifully carved wooden headboard and footboard, it was covered in a white comforter and a bevy of pillows of all sizes, in pastel blues, greens, and yellows.
“I’ve never spent the night at the inn before. Other than the night of the ball and that doesn’t exactly count,” Harlan said. “This is beautiful.”
“Yes, it is. I think Becky gave me a deal since she feels like she knows us now, after we spent the night in their living room.”
“This looks a lot more comfortable than that couch was.”
Savannah laughed. “I hope so. We have dinner reservations in half an hour, so we have time to have a glass of champagne before we go.”
“Good idea,” Harlan said. He popped the cork and poured a glass for each of them, then tapped his glass to hers. “To us.”
After drinking a glass of champagne they walked to The Haven, the restaurant on the far side of the ballroom where Felicity’s Ball had been held. The restaurant wasn’t crowded. Only a few couples, all of them adults, were dining. It was early, though, so there might be a bigger crowd later on. The lighting was low, the tables set for Christmas. A red tablecloth formed the base layer with a green cloth overlay. In the center of the table was a crystal and silver votive with a lighted candle that smelled like Christmas trees. Beside it sat a small vase with several red and white carnations. The crystal and silverware gleamed and the plates were white with red poinsettias circling the edge.
The four-course prix fixe menu came with a choice of appetizer, a salad, a choice of Prime Rib, Virginia Ham, Grilled Quail, or an Asian Fusion Mahi-Mahi for the entrées, and a variety of side dishes ranging from traditional to ones that were specialties of the house.
“What are you going to have?” Harlan asked Savannah.
“Prime Rib. I only eat it once or twice a year and they know how to cook it just right here. What about you?”
“Same as you. Prime Rib. And since you won’t let me pay for the room—” Harlan began.
“Absolutely not. It’s my gift to you.”
“Then let me get dinner.”
“What part of it’s a gift did you not understand?” She studied him a minute. “Don’t tell me it makes you uncomfortable to let a woman pay for dinner.”
“Not ordinarily. But this is no ordinary meal. Or ordinary Bed & Breakfast, for that matter.”
“Since you apparently got me jewelry, I doubt this compares.”
“Who says I got you jewelry?”
“If you didn’t, then why did you drag me into Sparkle and Shine and have me try on practically everything in there?”
“For fun?”
“So you didn’t get me jewelry?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
No matter how much Savannah wheedled, and she wheedled a lot, Harlan remained firm that she’d have to wait.
They took their desserts back to the room with them, to save for later. “Want a glass of champagne?” Harlan asked Savannah.
“Not right now. I’m still full from dinner.” She picked up her smartphone on the counter where she’d left it while they were at dinner and took it to the couch to sit beside Harlan. She turned on the playlist she’d made especially for this night.
After listening a moment, Harlan said, “You made a playlist from our senior year in high school.”
“I did. Do you like it?”
“Of course.” The next song came on. “You really went all out.”
“Do you remember?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” He took her hand and kissed her palm. “This is the Night is the song that was playing the night we first made love.” He put his arm around her and she snuggled against him.
“I wasn’t sure you’d remember. It was a long time ago, after all.” This is the Night segued into another song from that era. “I was at a loss about what to get you for Christmas,” Savannah said. “So I arranged a romantic night together. One we should have had a long time ago.”
“It’s the perfect present.” He kissed her, a long, slow play of lips against lips and tongues touching, easy at first, but growing hotter. He ended the kiss. “Hold that thought.” He left the room and went upstairs. When he came back down he had a large wrapped package in his hands. Large, as in a jacket-sized box.
“Merry Christmas, Savannah.” He handed her the package.
“I don’t think this is jewelry.”
“Open it and find out.”
Savannah unwrapped it carefully, only to find another wrapped box inside of it. And another, and another. She stopped counting when she reached a small narrow gift box that looked suspiciously like a jewelry box. “Oh, Harlan, you shouldn’t have.”
“You don’t know what it is yet. Open it.”
She pulled off the wrapping and opened the long box. A narrow, velvet box lay inside. She took it out and opened the lid, gasping at what she saw. A beautiful narrow bracelet of diamonds and sapphires lay glistening on the white satin interior. “It’s gorgeous. And way too expensive.”
He ignored that comment. “Hold out your arm.”
Savannah was only human and the bracelet was absolutely stunning. She held out her arm. Harlan clasped it around her wrist, then kissed her wrist just above the bracelet.
“You really shouldn’t have, but I love it,” she told him. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I have another present for you,” she said.
“You already gave me enough.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll like this one. It’s just a little something for you to unwrap.”
“All right, but me first.”
“What? Tell me you didn’t get me another present.”
“I didn’t get you another present. Exactly.” He slid off the couch, one knee on the floor.
Savannah’s heart rate shot up into the stratosphere. He took her left hand in his and smiled at her. “I love you, Savannah. It hasn’t been very long since we found each other again, but I didn’t need long to realize that you’re the woman I want to be with the rest of my life. You’re the love of my life. We’ve lost a lot of years, and I don’t want to lose another minute with you.” He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a ring. “Will you marry me, Savannah?”
Stunned, she stared at him. She’d wondered at first if Avery and Rachel were right and Harlan planned to propose. But she’d decided it was too soon, and then when he gave her the bracelet she’d been sure he had no such thing in mind. And now he was down on one knee in front of her, holding the most beautiful sapphire and diamond engagement ring she’d ever seen and asking her—
“It’s too soon, isn’t it? I was worried you’d think that. We can just forget it until—”
“No.”
He got up to sit beside her. “Pretend I didn’t say anything. The last thing I wanted was to pressure—”
“No, it’s not too soon. Harlan, I would love to marry you.”
“You would? Thank God,” he said, and crushed his mouth to hers. Long moments later, he drew back and slipped the ring on her finger, then kissed her hand.
“It’s gorgeous,” she said, looking at it admiringly. “I remember seeing it and thinking how beautiful it was.” The ring had an Art-Deco setting, a sparkling round diamond, set in platinum, surrounded by sapphire baguettes, with more sapphires and diamonds on the band.
“Once I had your ring size, I went back and got it. If there was another you’d rather—”
Savannah snatched her hand away. “I love it. I don’t want a different one.”
Harlan laughed.
“Now for that something I have for you to unwrap,” Savannah said. “Trust me, you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I’ll like anything you give me. But you didn’t need to get me anything else.”
“Wait ten minutes and come upstairs.”
“That sounds mysterious.”
She smiled and left him. A little while later she heard him coming up the stairs. She’d changed into her brand-new lingerie: a lacy black teddy with tiny buttons down the front.
Harlan stopped when he saw her, his gaze traveling from top to bottom, slowly and appreciatively. “Wow. This is my present?”
“I thought you might like something to unwrap.” She popped open the top button. “Me.”
Harlan pulled her into his arms and tumbled them onto the bed. Looking down at her he said, “I love you, Savannah.”
“I love you, too, Harlan.”
He kissed her, then smiled devilishly and undid the next button on her teddy. “Now, about this present…”
*
Christmas morning Harlan woke up with Savannah wrapped in his arms. He lay there a moment, more content than he could remember being in a long time. Maybe ever.
Savannah opened her eyes and looked at him. “I didn’t dream last night, did I? We got engaged?”
He laughed and took her left hand, kissing her knuckle right above her engagement ring. “Yes, we’re engaged.”
“Oh, good.” She kissed him, then moaned when he reached between them to cup her breasts. Her hands slid down to take his cock in her hand and pump it up and down, until he stopped her, unsure how long he’d last at that rate.
Harlan palmed her breasts as he kissed her, drew back and tweaked her nipples, watching her eyes flutter closed and hearing her draw in her breath. He kissed his way down her throat, then licked and sucked each nipple until they were stiff and at attention. He slid one hand down and stroked a finger inside her. She gasped and he felt her tighten around him. Slid it out and back in. Working his way down her body, he touched and tasted every inch of her skin until he reached her center. He flicked his tongue over her and then licked and sucked until she came apart, crying out his name.
Harlan rolled on his back with Savannah on top of him. They kissed and her body glided against his, skin to skin. Finally, positioning her over him, he slipped inside her and she rode both of them to a mind-blowing climax.
Later, Harlan asked her, “Laurel is having Christmas dinner this afternoon. Will you come?”
“I’d love to. But don’t you need to check with her?”
“Already did. When she invited me.”
“Will your parents be there?”
“No, they went on a Christmas cruise. It will just be you and me, Travis, and Laurel and her kids, Cody and Katrina.”
“Sounds like fun,” she said wistfully.
“Do you want to call your father?”
“And say what? ‘Hi, Dad, have you decided to stop being a total jerk? Oh, by the way, Harlan and I are engaged.’ Yes, I’m sure he’ll be happy as a clam about that.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “It’s not your fault. It’s his.”
“I’m sorry he’s hurt you. And that I’m the reason why.”
“You aren’t the reason why. His own stubborn prejudices are the reason.” She twined her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Nothing is going to come between us this time.”
Harlan hoped not but he couldn’t help thinking it wouldn’t be easy for Savannah to give up on her father. As for Taylor, Harlan seriously doubted he intended to change. Not his opinion of Harlan and not how he treated Savannah, either.
Later at Laurel’s, he talked to Travis while Savannah and the kids were in the kitchen helping Laurel with dinner. Savannah was helping, anyway. Who knew what the two kids were doing?
“So, how does old man Taylor feel about you and Savannah being engaged?” Travis asked him.
“He doesn’t know yet. We only got engaged last night.”
“Do you think he’ll be okay with it? I mean, you did bail him out, right?”
Harlan laughed without humor. “Yeah, I bailed him out. But will he be okay with us getting married? Fat fucking chance.”
“Maybe he’ll surprise you. He does love Savannah, right?”
“I think he does, yes. But enough to accept me? I seriously doubt it.”