“What? When?” I ask, confused.

“After that day in the car.”

“The first day we rode to work together? When I told you about it?”

“Yeah.”

Color has returned to his once ashen face, and then some.

“I don’t understand.”

“SCM purchased the app from the original creator. When we played the game, I knew what the words were.” He smiles wickedly. “I even picked one of them out.”

“Why would you do that?” I ask.

Barrett smirks. “Why do you think?”

“I am so mad at you right now.” My hands push at his chest, but he continues to hold me close. “You made me think I was losing. I was so frustrated I couldn’t win. That you were better at WordIt than me. And I couldn’t touch you.”

I can’t believe he bought the app.

“How much?” I ask. Deciding now when Barrett is groveling is the time to get all the facts.

“How much what?”

“Did the app cost?”

He sighs, looking sheepish again. Not something I’m used to on Barrett. “Two million dollars.”

“You paid two million dollars so you could win WordIt and go down on me?”

“I didn’t buy it with that intention, but it did come in handy.”

“That is not good business sense.”

“I think it makes perfect sense.” Barrett’s lips lower to my ear. “Tasting you, knowing your sweet pussy was mine, was worth every penny.”

Later, when the bridal party is finished taking photos and dinner has been served and Barrett has charmed my mom and dad, I pull him out onto the dance floor.

“Your parents are great,” he says.

I turn to find Baxter in my dad’s lap as he talks with my mom and other guests at their table. While no dog is completely hypoallergenic, Baxter doesn’t seem to bother my mom’s allergies.

I smile. Barrett holds me to him as we move to the slow, romantic ballad. I know we reconciled outside but there’s still more I need to say to him.

“I told your mom about the party. And about us,” I say.

“What did she say?”

“To never host a party at her apartment without her permission again.”

“Understandable.” He brushes a loose hair from my cheek. “And about us?”

“She was on to us from the start, but she liked the idea so much she didn’t say anything.”

“Smart woman.” He grins.

“I want to make sure we’re on the same page with this fresh start.”

“Okay.” He nods for me to continue.

“If we’re going to work, I need you to stop keeping things from me. You not telling me about Frankie to protect your deal is one thing, but not telling me about my apartment being finished and buying WordIt and adopting Baxter…I like surprises but not when they involve major decisions in my life. I want to be involved in those.”