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Happy birthday. See you soon. Love you.
One o’clock in the morning and he remembered to wish her a happy birthday. A lot of guys didn’t remember those things at one in the afternoon.
Missed you in the shower. Can’t wait to see you. Kiera typed back and then put her phone down. Something told her their trip was going to be unforgettable.
Several hours later, Kiera sat working on a crossword puzzle. She’d rechecked her bag twice already and had nothing else to do until Gray arrived.
He’d spent the last four days in New York, and had said he’d be at her place by four that afternoon. She’d argued that it made more sense for them to meet at the airport, but he’d insisted that he’d pick her up. He’d said that he wanted to give her her birthday present before they left and that he couldn’t do that at the airport. Since she loved him and he’d been so insistent, she agreed. Which explained why, at almost two on a Thursday afternoon, she was in her apartment, filling in a crossword puzzle.
Kiera answered three across in her puzzle, pausing when her phone rang. Without looking, she picked it up.
Kiera pressed the talk button, expecting it to hear either Joanna or Stephanie’s voice. She hadn’t heard from either yet today, and the three of them never failed to wish each other a happy birthday.
“Hello.”
“Hi, love.” Gray said.
She’d expected Gray at her front door soon, not on the phone.
“Gray. Are you almost here?”
“Unfortunately, no. I haven’t left New York yet. The project I’m working on has hit a snag. A representative from the company is here. We’re trying to iron things out.”
Double fudge. “And that can’t wait until next week, right?” She knew the answer before she asked.
“If it could, I’d be on my way to you now.”
Kiera heard the frustration in his voice.
“As soon as I wrap things up, I’ll be on my way. Tomorrow, we’ll still be on a hot sandy beach, warming our butts and watching the waves.”
“Okay. I guess I’ll hang around home. Do you have any idea when you’ll get here?” Her heart plummeted. Once again, work forced them to change their plans. She’d lost count of how many times it had happened now.
She heard what sounded like traffic in the background before Gray answered.
“Not sure. If you want to go out, feel free. I’ll call you when my plane lands.”
“Okay.”
“Love you. See you s
oon.”
Kiera said goodbye and ended the call. After he insisted she get the time off, he had to work. She took in a deep breath, then blew it out slowly, hoping it would take away some of her disappointment.
Picking up her pen, she looked at the next hint. She didn’t find an afternoon sitting around exciting, but she had no particular place to go either. It looked like she had enough time to finish the rest of her crossword book and think about all the ways Gray would pleasure her while on vacation.
***
Kiera woke up when the mattress dipped. Then, an arm wrapped around her and lips touched her cheek.
“Sorry I’m so late. Happy birthday.”
Gray’s voice clicked her brain on all the way. Kiera rubbed her eyes as she flipped onto her back.
“What time is it?” More bored than tired, she’d turned the television off and come upstairs. Gray had a key. He could let himself in whenever he arrived. Evidently, she’d fallen asleep while she’d waited.
“Three.”
