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I can’t imagine wearing this to the office. Janie would faint at the sight of it, since she knows diamonds as well as I do.
“There’s no way I can keep this beauty around my neck every day,” I laugh. “It’s most definitely a special occasion piece.”
He shakes his head. “Not at all, sweetheart. Like I said, it deserves a special place around your neck, just like this house deserves a woman like you in it.”
His smile is electric, just like always.
“Ok,” I tell him. “I’ll wear it every day. My memento of us, and how much you love me. I’ll be honoured.”
He pulls me to him and holds me tight, lifting me up from the barstool. I hold him right back, smiling against him, heady as the latest glass of De Chante works its wonders on my senses.
“Shower then bed,” Ant whispers, and I nod.
“Definitely shower first, as long as I’m steady enough to stand up in it,” I laugh.
He laughs along.
“Don’t worry, princess, you’ll always be able to lean on me.”
I reach out for Ant, head thumping when I wake up, but his side of the bed is empty. Crap. My phone is on the bedside table, so I check the time. Almost midday. I haven’t slept in this late in a long, long time.
I’d love to say I feel refreshed as I climb out from under the covers, but I don’t. My throat is dry and I’m aching all over, opting for Ant’s dressing gown over mine since mine is a soiled mess on the floor.
He’s fresh from a workout when I arrive downstairs. He looks fabulous in his low-slung shorts and sweaty t-shirt, shooting me a smile so fresh that it makes me feel ten times more hungover. Such a contrast. I’ve been retching up the remnants of champagne and wincing as I pee upstairs, he’s been down here doing HIIT training.
“Hey, baby. Didn’t want to wake you from your beauty sleep earlier.”
I point at my face. “I wouldn’t call it much of a beauty sleep. I look like I’ve spent a solid twenty-four hours in a nightclub.”
“Nah, you don’t. You look amazing, like always.” He switches on the coffee machine for me. “You’d look even more amazing with your necklace on, though.”
I feel guilty as I put my hand to my throat, like it should have taken priority over the dressing gown this morning.
“Sorry, I’ll put it on as soon as I get dressed.”
“Excellent.”
He brings me a full pint of iced mineral water along with my coffee, offering me the glass before the mug.
“Drink this first, Cass.”
There is such authority in his tone that I feel like a kid.
“My head needs coffee,” I laugh, but he raises his eyebrows with a smirk.
“Your head can have all the coffee it wants once you’ve re-hydrated. You need it, trust me.”
“Fine, thank you,” I say and drink my water first. I give him a smack of my lips when I’m done and reach a hand out for the coffee.
“That’s my girl,” he replies and ruffles my already ruffled hair.
“You going to get me to eat broccoli for breakfast next?” I joke.
“I was thinking porridge and blueberries rather than broccoli, but I can mix it in if you want some. Berries and broccoli. Nice combo.”
“I was thinking more of eggs, sausage and bacon.”
“Sure,” he says with a dismissive shrug. “If you’d rather have a fry up over some sweet, healthy berries then that’s your call. I’ll get the pan ready for you.”
I think about my options as he pauses at the fridge. I look at him, so fit and healthy and it inspires me to do better myself. Sure, I’m slim, but I’m not exactly a health and fitness freak.
“Don’t bother with the pan,” I tell him. “I’ll go for the porridge and blueberries, please.”
I love the surprise on his face.
“Well done, you.”
I’m not sure my stomach agrees with him, since it’s still churning like a monster and craving a bacon sandwich, but I take his word on it.
As usual, his word is right. The porridge tastes amazing. He sits down beside me with a bowl of his own and I squeeze his knee under the counter.
“Thanks, Ant. This is great.”
“A great start to a great day,” he replies, and I must flinch at the thought of going anywhere. My head feels too hungover to step out as far as the porch.
Ant smiles between spoonfuls of porridge. “Relax. I was thinking a hangout on the sofa day together, not climbing the nearest mountain, don’t worry.”
“Sounds like heaven.”
He clears our bowls away before I can stop him, and I wish I’d been quicker to my feet to load the dishwasher before he does. I feel like a little girl being taken care of, not a woman nursing a self-inflicted hangover. I should have gone way easier on the champagne last night. That’s something I need to keep in mind for future reference.
