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“Okay.” I reach for my tablet and for the next few minutes, we go through his schedule. It’s a busy day because he’ll be out in the afternoon to record a health TV show.
Jace stands up when we’re done and leans across my desk to kiss me. It grows raunchy very fast, his tongue sliding over mine. I love the taste of coffee in his mouth.
“If I don’t stop now, we both know I’ll have to lock you up in my office,” Jace says, drawing back.
“Thank you for the coffee.”
He smiles and disappears into his office. I float in a bubble of happiness as I work. Jace leaves at eight to have breakfast with his brothers. He invites me, as he does every day but I decline. I know it’s their time to discuss clinic matters and my being there will make everyone uncomfortable.
I look up in surprise as I hear someone approaching down the hallway. Jace’s appointments don’t start until nine-thirty and everyone knows that he’s usually at the cafeteria at this time.
A delivery man appears bearing a massive bouquet of roses. “Delivery for Olivia James?”
“That’s me. Please put them here.” Thank God for Sarah’s huge desk because the bouquet is massive.
The delivery man places a box wrapped in gold in front of me. Marcus and Charlotte, I think with a fond smile. I got a message wishing me a happy twenty-fifth birthday but we have a no-gifts rule and I’m surprised they’ve broken it. We’ve always had a tacit agreement not to celebrate birthdays.
“Thank you.”
I pluck the card from the flowers.
Happy birthday to the most beautiful, wonderful woman in the world. The one who makes my heart sing. I love you, Olivia James.
My eyes widen and my heart thumps loudly in my chest. It’s obvious the flowers are from Jace. I read the words again.
I love you.
He loves me. I want to cry and laugh at the same time. Oh, God. My throat feels like closing up. I’m a mess. Will he believe me when I tell him that my feelings for him are genuine when he finds out the truth?
I can’t think about that now. I inhale the sweet scent of the roses then go to the kitchen in search of a vase. I find one and put some water in it and return to my desk.
Jace loves me. I say the words in my mind over and over again like a preschooler.
The roses look beautiful in the vase. Some have fully bloomed and the others are closed up, still buds. I reach out to touch a delicate red petal. It’s fragile, like the love that Jace and I have. It cannot survive a secret the magnitude of which I’m carrying.
I’m tearful but I won’t allow the sob lodged in my chest to escape. My gaze is drawn to the gold-wrapped box. I take it and proceed to undo the ribbons and the wrapper. Inside is a red, velvet jewelry box. I’ve never received jewelry as a gift from anyone. I open it to reveal a ruby and diamond necklace with matching earrings. A gasp escapes my mouth.
“Does that mean that you like them?” Jace’s voice comes from behind me.
“Oh, Jace, you shouldn’t have. This is too expensive.” I turn to him as he moves towards me.
“Happy birthday, my love,” he says and encloses me in his arms.
I bury myself in his shirt and to my shame, a sob breaks out of me. I don’t know why I’m crying except I have all these emotions in my chest and the only thing I can do is cry. I finally draw back.
“I’m sorry, I messed up your jacket.” Jace hands me a handkerchief and I wipe the tears from my cheeks.
“It’s fine,” he says and kisses my forehead.
“How did you know?”
“Your file. The date stuck with me,” Jace says. “Happy tears?”
“Yes.” We hug again.
The phone rings and I sit down to answer it while Jace disappears into his office. It’s one of our resident doctors and I put the call through to Jace. The scent of the roses teases my senses, reminding me of the beach. A longing to be in Jace’s home in Luana bay comes over me.
My phone vibrates with a message. It’s from Jace. It simply says,Open your email.Smiling, I click on the screen and my inbox appears. There’s an email from Jace.Enjoy your afternoon. I’ll pick you up for dinner.Intrigued, I open the attachment. It’s a card. My eyes fill up with tears again and the words on the screen become blurred.An afternoon at the spa. The full works. A facial, deep tissue massage, body wrap, and a surprise.
