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“Hey.” He ran his fingers through her hair.
“Hey to you, too.” She snuggled into him, wrapping her arms around his back and tracing little circles there. “Happy birthday.”
He smiled. “Best birthday ever.” Sometime during the past week he’d fallen ass over elbow for her. The lens on the camera of his life unexpectedly focused, as though he’d been seeing the world through a filter. Now, with her there, he didn’t need the filter any longer. Sharp reality wasn’t quite so cutting with her around.
She hadn’t stopped harassing him about putting her on camera. He hadn’t budged. No, he refused to put her at risk.
“I didn’t even give you your gift,” she murmured.
“Thought you just did.”
Between the bedroom activities and the lopsided cake in the kitchen, she had her bases covered. Speaking of bases… He ran a hand over her breast. She swatted his hand and leaned across the bed to the nightstand. He ran a hand over her ass. If she showed it off, the least he could do was appreciate it.
She tossed him a small box and grinned huge. “Here it is.”
“You got me a box.”
“Open it.” She snuggled against his chest.
How could he say no to that?
The brown ribbon slipped off easily.
She nudged him with her elbow. “Keep going.” She bit at her lip the way he adored so much. “They’re kind of from Mitzy, too, but mostly from me because I paid for them and shopped for them. Well, Neilson shopped with me. But he didn’t say anything or pay for anything, so he doesn’t count.” She leaned in, her full attention on the box as he lifted the lid.
Settled in the box were two gunmetal silver cufflinks, embellished with smiling cats. They had yellow gemstone eyes.
He chuckled. “You bought me cufflinks…shaped like cats. You shouldn’t have.”
She punched his shoulder. “They’re sentimental.”
“Yeah?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Okay, clearly you don’t get it,” she said, deflated.
Nope. He was pretty certain he didn’t. He shook his head.
“That night when we found Mitzy? I thought these would be a reminder of that first night. How we started.”
He stared at her, his beautiful Lucy. A woman who bought him cat cufflinks for his birthday because they were sentimental. His heart thudded against his chest. He hadn’t only fallen for her. He’d fallen in love with her.
“Forget it. I thought they were fun. I’ll get you something else.” She reached for the box, but he grabbed her hand, tangling his fingers with hers.
“They’re perfect. Absolutely perfect.” He kissed each fingertip on her hand, loving how her mouth fell open and her breath hitched.
“You don’t have to wear them. They’re silly. I just tho?—”
He held a thumb to her lips. “They’re you. Totally you, Princess. I love them.” And I love you. He swallowed the words, unsure if she was ready to hear them. Uncertain if he was ready to say them.
“We should go,” she finally said, breaking whatever spell he’d been under. “Reservations and all that.”
“After I get dressed and put on my brand new cat-inspired cufflinks. Then we can go.” He winked at her. “Do they light up or anything? Because if they did, that would be amazing.”
“I’m never buying you anything again.” She sat up in a huff, grabbing the top sheet to her breasts, but he snagged her around her waist and pulled her back to him. She fell against him with a small oof.
“Every year for my birthday, I’m expecting something as perfect as these. Cat cufflinks are going to be hard to beat, though.” He kissed her intently. The best birthday present he’d ever received.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
