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He reaches under the counter and pulls out a velvet jewelry box, which he opens for me to reveal two silver cufflinks embedded with ebony stones. Not terribly expensive, but I know he’ll love them. “Oh, they’re beautiful.”
The jeweler carefully takes them out to show me the words engraved on them. One says Stranger88, the other Stranger7721.
I smile. “Perfect.”
“Are you going to tell me now what that means?” the jeweler asks, eyebrow arched as he slips them back into the jewelry box and rings up the sale.
I shake my head and give him a sly grin. “It is a secret between me and the man I am desperately in love with.”
He hands me the bag. “It’s a nice gift. I hope he gives you something just as nice.”
Yes. He’s already given me the most perfect thing I could’ve ever imagined.
Epilogue
I’m late. Oh no, I’m late.
I have a reason to be, though. These days, I’m not moving as quickly as I used to.
When I reach the bedroom, Brooks is standing in front of his dresser, shirtless, trying to pick out a new shirt to wear. I’m so jealous of his abs, right now, I want to scream.
He lifts a white one out of the stack and looks at me. “You got it under control?”
I check my phone and shake my head as I rush for the shower, ripping my t-shirt over my head. “No, we should be there already. Remind me about the casserole?”
“Yep.”
Great. He’s not going to remember. As I undo my bra, still caught in the tangles of my shirt, I realize I need to write out the card. Damn. “I’ve got to—“
I stop as he clamps his hand over my wrist. “No, stop—"
“Tenley.” His voice is calm, but there’s a warning in it. And he’s right. My heartbeat’s going a million beats and hour.
Still caught in the confines of my shirt, I go boneless in defeat and let him pull me toward him.
He sits down on the bed, pushing the t-shirt down over my head so he can look me in the eye. “Hey. Look at me.”
“I’ve got to—“ I wriggle, but he holds me firm.
“It’s a party. No one will care if we’re a half hour late. Calm yourself.”
I’m so worked up, my body’s shaking, the tension spiraling off of me in hot waves. “But—"
“Deep breath.”
I swallow a gulp of air. Let it out, slowly. He’s right. It does make me feel a little better. I stand there, between his open legs, as he looks up at me, hands clamped firmly onto both of my arms.
“Now what?” I ask.
“Take another one.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t have time for this.”
He gives me that silently commanding look.
I take another one. Okay, even better.
He reaches up and gently lifts the shirt over my head, pulling it through my hair. Slips the undone bra straps from my shoulders, and off my arms. Gazing at me with hunger, he slowly wraps a hand around my swollen breast and brings the nipple to his mouth. He licks at it, and I’m instantly wet.
It feels so good. “Okay. Let’s be a lot late.”
Placing both hands on my growing stomach, he kisses his way up my breastbone, up my throat, and to my chin. “Stop tempting me. You know you look too sexy, like this, and if we start, I’m going to want to keep you home all night.”
Personally, I think I look like a whale, but he’s turned on by the way my pregnant belly looks. He, however, has managed to keep those washboard abs, which have always turned me on. But he’s right. We have to go. It’s Jace’s twelfth birthday, and we can’t miss that. “Okay. Tonight?”
He kisses my stomach. “Yes. Tonight.”
He swats my ass as I rush into the shower and turn it on. After hosing off, I run outside and dry my hair in front of the mirror, while mentally going through my wardrobe to find the outfit that makes me look least Orca-like. Hair still wet, I throw it up in a ponytail and put on some quick mascara.
When I throw on a dress and turn around, Brooks is watching me. He reaches for me, his fingers walking their way under the dress, caressing my ass. “Not sure I want to share you, looking that good.”
I swat him away, but only half-heartedly, because I love the feeling on his hands on me. I wish I could enjoy it. I wish I didn’t have this party to attend. I wish…
He wraps his hands around my bottom, squeezes, and stares up at me. Then he lets go. “All right. I’m ready when you are.”
I look at him. Yes, he looks good, the way I like him. His white button-down shirt and khakis are very country club, but that unshaven jaw, his hair a little too long, giving the hint of the man underneath. The man few people in his law office ever get to see.
