All in all, I’d say watch out, there’s a new power couple in town.

“We’ll franchise,” I tell him. “Saint Nikov’s. Peilly’s. Niclare’s. We’ll workshop it.”

“Perry …”

“I suppose Colin can be involved too.”

“You suppose?”

“Well, he does know the most about the boring stuff.”

“Mkay.”

“And I can make us a signature drink.”

“Of course. In this far distant future where you’re a skilled mixologist and we have the financial freedom to do anything we want.”

Despite his words, I can see it. Not only the future, but he’s giving me that look. The one that tells me even if I don’t believe in myself, he thinks I can do anything.

And I can.

So long as we do it together.

CHAPTER 54

ST. CLARE

SIX MONTHS LATER

.

“I don’t know about this,” I say, determined to sound confident and not at all like I’m bracing from going ass-over.

“What’s to know?” Perry asks, as relaxed putting on roller skates as he is about anything else he attempts. He tugs the laces of his skate as tight as they’ll pull then does them up in a triple knot. We’re both wearing padding and gloves and helmets, while kids half our size whizz past completely unprotected.

For the love of Judge Judy—yes, it’s rubbed off on me—that kid is skating backward. If he can do that, surely I can manage to stay upright.

“Let’s do this!” Perry’s excitement is contagious; at least it is, until he pushes to his feet and almost as soon as he’s vertical, his skates go out from under him and with a quick meep Perry hits the floor, ass-first.

“Shit!” I scoot along the bench and reach for him. “Are you okay?”

Surprisingly, a laugh wheezes from him. “Damn, that hurt. But it’s not like I was shot, so I’ll be fine.”

I groan and tug him back up onto the bench beside me. “One day you’ll take something seriously and I’ll die from shock.”

“Even more incentive to never, ever be serious. Ever.”

I can’t argue with him there. He’s perfect the way he is.

That sickening little rush of nerves floods through me at the thought and I flick a look at him from the corner of my eye. Every day with Perry has been an amazing experience, and for something I was half-convinced would fizzle out once all the action and excitement was over, we’re still going strong.

Very strong.

So strong that I keep having multiple thoughts a day like the one I just had. Thoughts about loving him.

And there are those nerves again.