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“Do you not find it strange that you don’t know those things?”
Oh great, not her as well. “Your point being?” I ask, pulling her toward my car.
“My point,” she sighs, “is that we don’t know much about each other.”
I slow to a stop, staring ahead. She has no idea. I swallow, shake those thoughts away, and face her, smiling. “What’s your favorite food?”
“Smoked salmon.”
“I knew that. What deodorant do you use?”
Exasperated, she looks at me tiredly, her eyes looking to the sky briefly when they roll. “Vaseline.”
I execute a dramatic phew. “I feel like I know you so much better now.” I open the car door for her like a gentleman and smile. “Happy?”
“We’re driving?”
I look at my car, my forehead heavy. “Well, I’m not walking, and I don’t do public transport, so yes, we’re driving.” I usher her impatiently into the car, biting my lip, ready to hit her with news I know she won’t appreciate. “Anyway, we need to shoot over to The Manor to check everything is in place for tonight.” I quickly shut the door, ignoring her sour face as I round the car and slip in. Truth be told, I don’t want to waste part of our day doing mundane things such as checking that things are in place, but I also can’t leave Sarah and John to deal with the busiest night in The Manor’s calendar. Not that I do much, really, but willingness is key. Presence is key. I’ve never been so present in my life. Besides, we’ll need to eat at some point this afternoon, especially if Ava’s having a drink tonight, which I know she will be. “Ready?” I ask, starting the engine.
“Why are you even asking me?” She goes into her bag and pulls out some lip gloss, pouting as she applies. “If I say no, will we be staying?”
“No.” I pull off, hitting the gate fob and putting on some music. I look across to her in the seat beside me, my mood significantly better than a while ago. I have three whole days with her. It’s going to be wonderful.
I grip the wheel with both hands and smile at the road, thinking I need to make some space in the dressing room for her. She can have it all. Every inch of space. Or maybe we could renovate one of the spare bedrooms and make it a dressing room for her. I dismiss that idea. She’d have to leave our bedroom to go there and dress. But we could convert a bedroom into another office. Actually, she can have mine. I only have an office because it came with the penthouse. It was destined to never be used. Now? It could be Ava’s. She could work from home. I’d have design tables bought in, computers installed, have every tool she needs to do her work. Filing cabinets, printers, a library for her reference books. It would be amazing, she’d love it, and best of all, she’d never have to leave.
I feel her eyes on me and look across. No doubt she won’t like my idea. “What?”
“I was just thinking about how much I love you.”
I smile like an idiot. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe she’lllovemy idea. “I know you do.” I squeeze her bare knee, raising my brows when she opens the window. She can’t possibly be hot, she’s hardly dressed. “Where am I heading then?” I ask for the sake of it, giving the illusion of control, hoping she tells me she doesn’t mind and she’ll go wherever I decide to take her. Follow me anywhere. Fat fucking chance.
“Oxford Street. All of the stores I like are on Oxford Street.”
I sag. Oxford Street? And...“All of the stores?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t there just one shop you go to?”
“I want some new shoes as well. And maybe a bag. You won’t find it all in one store.”
“Iwould.”Allof the stores? I’m about to introduce Ava to a new way of shopping. She’ll love it. Guaranteed. Anyway, I can’t get whatIneed from Oxford Street.
“Where do you go?” She looks at me, curious.
“Harrods. Zoe sorts me out every time. It’s quick and pain free.”
“Yes,” she huffs, laughing but not laughing. “That’s because you pay for the service you get.”
“The service is second to none and worth every penny. They’re the best at what they do. Anyway, you’re not buying the dresses, so I get to choose the shopping style.”
“One dress, Jesse, you owe meonedress.”
I’m not getting into an argument over it. Women love shopping. They love being spoiled. She’s simply letting her pride and precious independence stop her from making the most of this. On the bright side, Sarah’s worry is not a worry, not that I ever feared it was. Ava doesn’t want my money. She just wants me.
“One dress,” she affirms.
“Lots of dresses.” I smile, looking more and more forward to spoiling her rotten. I have never in my life spent any money on a woman. I’m about to make up for it.
