“Of course, sweetheart. And if you need me there, then I’ll be by your side.”
“Thank you.” She presses her lips to mine softly.
“Now, does that mean I can take you out on a date when we get back to the city? I know our schedules are a little hectic, but I think we could find the time.” She opens her mouth to answer but I stop her. “And before you say it, yes, it can be away from the city or somewhere not too public.” I had already thought about that.
She grins and blushes all at once. “Yes, I’d love to go on a date with you, Shane.”
“Good, then it’s settled.” I peck her mouth one last time, never getting enough of her, then reluctantly stand from the bed. “Onto the next part.”
Walking over to my suitcase, I pick up two gift boxes, one big, one small. I carry them back over to Aubrey and sit on the side of the bed as she pulls herself up, covering her naked body with the white sheet.God, she really does look like an angel right now.
I hand over the big box first. “Merry Christmas, Angel.” I know it isn’t technically Christmas until tomorrow, but I won’t see her then and I really wanted to give them to her in person.
“Shane, you didn’t have to get me anything.” She turns pink. “I… I didn’t get you anything. I wanted to, but I didn’t know what you liked.”
“That’s okay, sweetheart. All I need is you. And we have the rest of our lives to get to know each other better,” I tell her genuinely. “Open it. It’s just a little something.”
She tears the wrapping off the box then lifts the lid, revealing a pair of black Prada winter ankle boots with a small heel. They’re pretty simple boots and look similar to the ones she already has, but these are much more durable. Well, if I listen to what my sister tells me.
“Shane, these are beautiful.” She looks them over, smiling as a tiny pink hue coasts her cheeks. “Were you tired of seeing me slip on my way out of work?” She giggles.
“Very much so.” I grin. “If you don’t like them, or they aren’t the right size, we can return them and get different ones.”
“No, these are perfect and the right size.” She then gives me a curious look. “How did you know?”
I scratch the back of my head, feeling a bit nervous. I’ve never been this way. I’ve never been the type to blush or get anxious or stumble over my words. I’m usually pretty freaking confident and sure of myself, but Aubrey brings out this side of me I didn’t know existed every time.
“My sister gave me advice on the boots and Emma told me your size.”
“Well, I guess I owe them both a thank you as well, because I love them.” She places them back in the box and sets it aside just as I hand her the much, much smaller box.
I’m not usually a big fan of buying women jewelry as a present since I find it to be a lazy gift with little meaning. But when my sister came up with this idea, there was no way I could pass up on it. And yes, my oldest sister helped me out with this gift too. She’s one of my best friends, all three of them are, but Phoebe and I have always been the closest, despite our eight-year gap.
She opens the small package next, gasping with her fingertips pressed against her mouth as she looks inside the box. “Oh, Shane…”
“It was made just for you. There aren’t two like it in the world.”
“It’s stunning, Shane. Can you help me put it on?” She takes it out of the box eagerly.
I take the necklace from her hands as she turns around and pulls her hair to the side, giving me her exposed back and neck. I lean in, kissing her shoulder, then look at the necklace as I unclasp it.
It’s a gold cupcake-shaped pendant, covered in diamonds attached to a gold chain. It’s simple, yet exquisite, just like Aubrey. But there’s a little hidden message on the inside of the pendant that she hasn’t noticed yet.
I place it around her neck and secure it at the back before taking her hair and letting it fall behind her shoulder. She turns to face me once more and touches both sides of the pendant, frowning when she feels something. She flips it over and looks down at it, tracing her fingertip over the little bumps.
“What is this?” she asks with confusion.
“It’s braille.”
She looks up at me now. “What does it say?”
“My angel.”
“Shane…” she whispers before dropping the sheet and throwing herself in my arms, fusing her lips to mine with so much emotion I can feel it pouring out of her.
God, I love this woman more with every day.
We kiss for a little while until finally I pull away. “We should get ready before we end up late. I’ll jump in the shower quickly.” I peck her on the cheek then head for the bathroom.
