Savior

Chapter 64

-xx-

Don't cancel your plans. Enjoy the night with your sister. I'll see you when I get home. xo

Jackie had secured the pair tickets to a wine tasting and dinner at one of their favorite vineyards in the area. Steve had taken Madison out on a daddy-daughter date to the movies so the sisters were making the best of their evening.

Cate was anxious for Derek to get home; they had so much to celebrate, and then he got rushed off to a case out of town.

"Snap out of it, Cate, and drink," Jackie said with a laugh. Cate grinned at her sister and raised her glass in Jackie's direction before taking a sip.

"I love it here," Cate added as the two walked the outdoor patio area. The two sat down on a stone bench by the fire.

"You should get married here," Jackie joked.

When she noticed how quiet her sister was, she turned to her and saw Cate in deep thought as she looked across the vineyard. "That's not a bad idea," she muttered.

"I was kidding, Cate," Jackie replied.

The younger brunette shrugged as she turned to her sister. "Where else should I really get married? How much wine do I drink?"

"It's poetic for you, since you're such a lush."

Cate lifted an eyebrow as a laugh escaped her throat. "Speak for yourself." The two women laughed.

"What happened to your dream of a courthouse wedding?" Cate giggled.

The younger brunette took a sip of her wine. "We don't want anything huge – especially with the house going under contract. But I want to be able to celebrate how much I love that man."

Jackie grinned from her seat next to her sister. "What does Derek want?"

Cate scoffed softly. "He was onboard with a courthouse wedding," she said with a chuckle. "It probably won't be for like a year, anyways. Between his work schedule, and the new house, I don't want to rush anything."

"Check out the availability here. It's gorgeous, Cate," Jackie said as she pulled out her cell phone to look up the vineyard. "And it probably comes with unlimited wine, so you can't beat that."

Cate pursed her lips together as she swirled the wine in her hand. She peeked over her sister's arm to look at the website with Jackie. The two 'oohed and ahhed' over pictures of weddings that had taken place at the vineyard.

"I'll have to come back with Derek to see what he thinks."

Jackie rolled her eyes. "That man will do anything to make you happy. He won't care where you get married as long as you do."

Cate rested her elbow on her knee and leant down, watching the fire in the pit in front of them. She pursed her lips as her mind wandered. In just six days, they had gotten engaged and were given the news that the offer on the house was accepted.

There was so much to be happy about, but something in the back of her mind caused her excitement to dwindle away. Derek had sent her a text before they took off for their case that relaxed her for a short period of time. "The other shoe will never drop, Catie. It's you and I forever, and I will do whatever it takes to make you the happiest woman on this earth."

Jackie was right; this man would move the sun for her if she so much as asked him to. She needed to shake the thoughts in the back of her mind and focus on the bright future ahead of her. It was almost blinding, but things could only go up from where they were at that moment.

"Let's do it," Cate muttered as she snapped away from staring into the fire. "I'm going to check what they have available for next year."

Jackie grinned as Cate stood from her seat. Her younger sister had her cell phone in her hand and was snapping pictures of the venue to send to Derek.

-xx-

Cate could not contain her smile as she stepped through the doorway to their apartment building. Derek had beaten her home, and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't excited to see him.

The brunette tucked her hands into the front pocket of the hooded sweatshirt she wore. It was light enough for the summer months, but just enough to be able to keep the windows down in her truck on the drive home from her sister's.

As she stepped through the lobby, she gave Carl a quick wave behind the counter on her way to the elevator, but turned when she heard her name behind her.

Her brow furrowed as she turned around to see Savannah walking towards her. Cate released a deep breath that she did not realize she had been holding. "Cate, hey," the black woman said as she stepped next to the brunette at the elevator.

"Hi Savannah," she offered back, trying her best to keep her tone steady. She laughed inwardly; what a time for her to see Savannah for the first time – after a few drinks with her sister.

"Listen," the other woman began and paused to release a sigh. "I apologize for the last time I saw you. I didn't realize," she let the words linger between the pair.

Cate pursed her lips into a smile. "No worries." Cate could only hope that Savannah did not see her biting the inside of her lip. She tried her best to steady her breathing.

"I mean it, Cate," Savannah said, reaching out to Cate's forearm. She immediately retracted her hand when she saw Cate take a deep breath. "I just didn't put it all together before."

The brunette tried her best to offer a simple smile. "How were you supposed to know?" she asked softly. "We're not exactly shouting it from the rooftops for everyone to know. It's for us."

Savannah nodded solemnly. "He is pretty private." Cate nodded as she released a laugh.

"He is," she agreed, letting the silence become deafening again.

"Well, I hope you two are happy," Savannah began. Cate nodded once more before reaching for the button to call the elevator. The brunette followed her hand with her eyes as it reached for the button and inwardly sighed as she realized she used her left hand. "Wow."

Cate pulled her lower lip in between her teeth as she realized Savannah caught sight of the ring. She quickly forced a smile to her face but fought to turn to the woman next to her. "Yeah," was all she could mutter.

"It's beautiful, Cate."

"Thanks," the brunette responded quickly, anxiously waiting for the elevator doors to open.

When the doors did open, Cate hurried in to the car and pressed the button for her floor, all while leaving plenty of room for Savannah. "Derek probably told you," she began.

Cate held her hand up and shook her head. "That is between you two." Savannah nodded as though she was scolded. Seven…Eight… "I don't agree with what you did, at all," Cate reprimanded. "He is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and you almost broke him."

Savannah bowed her head and let out a sigh. "Cate," she started again.

"No." The black woman snapped her head up to look at the brunette. Her blue eyes were turning gray. "I don't want your explanations or your excuses. You need to let him go, and you need to move on."

Nine… Just get out of the damn car, Savannah, Cate thought to herself.

"Look at you standing up for him," Savannah added with a snarl. "I wasn't aware he needed a protector."

The doors opened on the ninth floor and Cate let out a sigh. The black woman stepped out of the elevator, but held her hand over the doors to keep them open. "He doesn't need protecting," Cate said as she crossed her arms over her chest, being sure to keep her diamond on the outside. "Because I am nothing like you," the brunette added as a smirk crossed her lips. "I will never be like you. I love that man upstairs more than you ever could have, and I will never lie to him."

Savannah stepped back from the elevator doors as she let Cate's words wash over her.

The brunette in the elevator let out a deep breath as she watched the numbers above the elevator doors. She licked her suddenly dry lips as the doors opened to their floor.

After unlocking the door and stepping in to the apartment, she was hit with a floral scent. She quickly locked the door back up and placed her keys on the table next to the front door. Cate could not help the grin taking over her face at the dozen roses sitting on the counter.

For my beautiful fiancée, read the card sitting in front of the vase.

She shrugged off her sweatshirt as she made her way down the hallway towards their bedroom. A smirk took over her lips as she heard the shower running in the bathroom. Cate tossed her sweatshirt on top of the dresser in the bedroom and slipped out of her sandals before walking back towards the bathroom.

Her eyes twinkled as she grabbed the doorknob and noticed it was unlocked. Cate stepped into the bedroom and rolled her eyes at the steam in the room. "Babe?" Derek called out from behind the curtain.

"Hey you," she replied as she stepped closer to the shower. Cate took a deep breath; she would only interrupt him in the shower if they were both getting ready at the same time, but tonight she needed to be closer to him.

Within seconds, she had slipped in the shower behind him, still dressed in her dress from the winery visit. Derek turned as he heard the shower curtain move. "Cate, what are you doing?"

As he turned away from the spray of the water to fully face her, Cate lunged to wrap her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. Derek braced himself against the wall next to him before kissing her back.

His hands ran up and down her sides, getting caught in the now soaked clothing clinging to her body. "Cate," Derek mumbled before pushing her up against the back wall of the shower. "You're insane."

She could only grin as his lips attacked her neck. Her nails curled into his back in an attempt to pull him as close as possible. It seemed amazing to her; her body came alive the second he touched her. Even through a dress that was probably ruined by now, his fingers set her body on fire.

And apparently she had the same command over him.

"You're stuck with me," Cate replied with a laugh before he took over her lips.

"Good," he muttered against her skin.

Derek finally pulled back from the brunette to take her in; from the Snapchat photo she had sent him earlier in the evening, he knew she had taken time to curl her hair perfectly. But watching her come undone by standing under the shower head was the most beautiful scene he could have pictured.

Those soft pink lips that he loved so much; Cate slowly pulled one between her teeth as she eyed him up and down. When they landed back on Derek's face, his brown eyes connected with those beautiful blues. His hand dove into her hair in an attempt to pull the brunette back to him.

"I need you," she begged, her eyes becoming heavy as the water mixed her mascara.

Derek needed no other instruction as he obeyed her every command.

-xx-