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He nods serenely, but his face seems troubled.
“What about you?” I ask brightly. “Are you going to tell your family about us? Your brothers, your sister?”
He puts down his glass and suddenly looks uncomfortable. “Yes, I suppose I should call them to share our wonderful news. They’re travelling across Europe at the moment, but I’m sure they’ll be happy to cut their excursions short.”
“What about Tara? Are you going to tell her?”
“Of course. She can be one of our bridesmaids.”
I squeal with delight. “Oh, Nick, it’s going to be amazing, isn’t it? We’ve got so much planning to do. I want us to get married as soon as possible. It doesn’t have to be anything too fancy. Just a couple of people and—”
“Whoa, slow down,” he laughs. “What’s the hurry?”
I make a face. “What do you mean? I thought you’d want us to tie the knot as soon as possible. What’s holding us back?”
“Nothing. I just meant there’s no harm in taking our time to do things properly. I want everything to be absolutely perfect. I want us to plan things properly, make it the best day of our lives. I mean, who knows? We might even want to get married abroad. How does a spring wedding in Italy grab you?I know a beautiful village in Tuscany. Sprawling vineyards. Old-world charm. You’d love it.”
I reach across the table and hold his hand. “Italy? Oh, my gosh, that sounds so romantic.”
We arrive back in Pimlico around midnight. As we step out the car, I sigh happily at the star-scattered sky, privately wishing this night would last forever. It’s been a truly magical evening, and it all still feels a bit unreal. I can’t believe Nick’s agreed to be my husband. It’s like a wonderful dream I never want to wake up from.
Taking my hand, Nick locks the car and leads me into the house. He switches on the lights, then goes to the kitchen and fetches a bottle of wine from under the sink. Back in the living room, we sit on the couch and he pours himself a drink. Wearily, I kick off my shoes and flex my toes. I’m so glad to be out of those goddamn heels; they’ve been pinching my feet all night.
For a moment, I sit perched on the sofa, staring at the floor, thinking. Then I glance out of the corner of my eye and catch Nick watching me. His face is filled with love.
“What?” I smile.
He doesn’t answer. Setting down his drink, he pulls me onto his lap and kisses me with an urgency that takes my breath away. Grabbing the back of his head, I pull his face into mine and moan softly as our tongues dance together in a tango of lust. There is nothing else on this planet, only him and me and the rapid beating of my heart.
At last, I come up for air, breathing pretty hard. “Mmm, that was nice,” I whisper, half-closing my eyes. “We’re going to be so happy, aren’t we?”
He responds by devouring my lips again, eating me out like he can’t get enough. His hands move to my dress zipper.
“Wait,” I say, pulling back. “I forgot to tell you. I got you another engagement present.”
“What?” He gives me a reproachful look. “Carly, you’ve got to stop spoiling me. Don’t you think you’ve spent enough already? I dread to think how much all this has all cost you.”
“Who cares? It’s only money. My love for you is priceless.” Tenderly, I plant a kiss on his forehead, then climbing off him, I fumble though my bag in search of the gift I bought from the jewellers. “Okay, close your eyes.”
With a playful smirk, Nick screws his eyes shut.
“No peeking now,” I scold. “Hold out your hand ...”
He obliges and I place a sterling silver crucifix into his palm. Instantly, he starts screaming and races out of the room like he’s on fire. Shock rattles through me.
What in the hell?
Scarcely daring to breathe, I follow Nick into the kitchen and find him huddled over the sink, running the cold tap over his hands. He’s got his back to me, so I can’t see his face, but there’s a horrible sense of foreboding in the air; a sense that I’m in the presence of something abnormal.
“Darling, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” My voice is barely a whisper.
He doesn’t answer.
I stand in the doorway. Tense. Waiting. A smothering stillness descends over us.
The tap continues to run. Nervously, I take a step forward and join him at the sink. “Nick, what’s going on?”
He still doesn’t say anything, and I shiver. All of a sudden, the room seems to have gotten cold. I stare at his shoulders. He’s shaking uncontrollably.What on Earth’s the matter with him?
