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“What the hell are you doing, Nova?” Valik came into the kitchen, his eyes wide as he looked at the huge mess I had made.
Tonight was Cian’s and my anniversary—well, our sex-iversary—and I was trying my hardest to make it special. I gazed around at the havoc I had created in the kitchen and groaned. So far, it was all going wrong. The steak was burned, the potato casserole Orin had insisted was “foolproof” was definitely not, and don’t even get me started on the baby corn that I had tried to roast. They looked like tiny little burnt fingers, and it was a thing of nightmares.
I slid down onto the kitchen floor and closed my eyes for a second. How was I going to be a good wife to Cian when I couldn’t even make a simple dinner right?
“Hey, now, no tears on my watch.” Valik dragged me to a standing position and gripped my shoulders. “Now what’s going on?”
The lump in my throat grew, and I laid my head against his chest. “I’m trying to make Cian his favorite foods for our anniversary, and I fucked it all up.” I threw my arms in the air and Valik grimaced as he looked at the burnt corn.
“I see.” He walked over to the sink and washed his hands. “OK, don’t worry. We’ll fix it. He won’t be home for another hour. I’ll just run down and grab some steaks from my fridge, and you”—he motioned to the mess—“take care of this crime scene.”
“Really?” I sniffled. “But I thought you said you had a date.”
His cheeks flushed, and he loosened his tie. “I do, actually. Um, with Milliani.”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I knew they had been flirting here and there in the office, but hadn’t realized she had agreed to go out with him. That was… good. I thought? A part of me was apprehensive considering that I might have just caught Kaviathin watching us. But I had to remember that Valik was a big boy and knew how to take care of himself. And also, they both deserved a shot at happiness, so why not together?
“It’s not until later tonight. We’re going salsa dancing.” He swiveled his hips, completely out of rhythm, and I giggled—well, more like cackled at his lack of moves.
“OK, you go get my steaks, and if there’s time, I’ll give you some salsa pointers.”
By the time he came back with the steaks, I had cleaned up most of the mess I had made. I just wanted everything to be perfect for Cian. He was always taking care of everyone, always the protector. I wanted to be the one to take care of him for once. To show him how much I loved him, which didn’t involve runny potato casserole.
I hadn’t mentioned to him that I thought I had seen Kaviathin’s SUV yesterday. There were a lot of SUVs in the city, but my gut told me it was him, or at least one of his cars. My question was why? Was he checking in on Milliani? Or, worse, me? I should have told Cian when I had gotten home, but I didn’t want to ruin the night, especially over a speculation. It felt like I was keeping secrets from him all of a sudden. First I hadn’t told him that I had found his knife and pictures in the closet, and now this. I would have to say something at some point, but not tonight.
Within thirty minutes, Valik had grilled up the most delicious-looking steaks with roasted bell peppers and onions, while I made some simple mashed potatoes with a side of carrots. It wasn’t as fancy as I had hoped, but it would have to do. While Valik grilled the steaks, I tried to show him some easy salsa moves, but there was no saving him. He was a lost cause, but he seemed totally fine with it. I had a feeling he was more interested in having fun than actually learning how to salsa. He kissed my cheek and ran out the door so that I could get ready soon thereafter.
I slipped on a little black dress and braided my hair just the way Cian liked. A swipe of lipstick and I was at the door with a bottle of wine and two glasses when he walked in shortly after.
“Well, hello, my sexy fiancé.” I stood up on my tiptoes and gave him a kiss.
“Why, hello back to you, fiancée. You look good enough to eat.” His mouth was warm against mine and he walked us backwards until my ass hit the couch. “Shall we go straight to dessert?”
I chuckled and shimmied out of his grasp. “Ah-ah, I’ve got a special dinner planned. But there will definitely be dessert.”
“This looks amazing.” He set his briefcase on the counter and loosened his tie. “Everything’s been finalized with the gala and award ceremony. It’ll be three weeks from tonight. The museum director, Lexi Poppins, wants to meet with you beforehand, if that’s OK?”
“With me?” I uncorked the wine and scrunched up my nose. “Did she say about what?”
“Not so much, but if you’re not up for it…” His voice trailed off as he gazed at the burnt baby corns in the trash can.
“OK, first of all, don’t look in there.” I laughed. “And second, of course. Have her give me a call. I can’t wait.” And I meant it, because Cian deserved every damn award in the world for being the most amazing businessman and fiancé. “Full disclosure, Valik had to come rescue me after I almost set the apartment on fire.”
Cian grinned and rolled up his sleeves. “Maybe I should give him a raise.”
I poured us each a glass of wine and held my glass up to his. “Happy anniversary, my love. May we have a hundred more.”
His lip curled at the side in that way that made my heart squeeze, and he clinked his glass against mine. “A lifetime more of anniversaries, my little star.”
My face warmed at his nickname for me, and we drank to each other. Yes, a lifetime of happy memories was all I wanted with him. No more Ryzen, no more FBI. Just me and him and nothing but a heavenly future.
Soft music played in the background, and I dimmed the lights down low as we sat at the table. The candles on the table flickered, casting a warm glow over us, and my heart beat with happiness. “Tell me about your day.”
He told me about his meeting with the museum director and how the award ceremony would run. The conversation flowed effortlessly between us. He was also working with a technology specialist to develop a new cutting-edge smart building technology, and he spoke with an enthusiasm that was contagious. It was going to integrate with renewable energy and reduce reliance on the grid, as he tried to explain in detail. I had no fucking clue what he was talking about half the time, but I was so damn proud of him. He was trying to make a difference in the world, and that only made me love him more. I joked that I wished I was doing something as cool as him, at which he promptly told me that I was empowering women every single day with our products, so I was better than him.
It was a fib, of course, but I didn’t try to argue with him. He was right to a certain degree—the main reason Juliet and I had started the Shiver Box was to empower women and make them feel comfortable in their bodies. Sex was not shameful, and neither was enjoying it. Screw all the people who disagreed.
He fed me tiny bits of steak, and I moaned around the fork. Damn, Valik really did know what he was doing in the kitchen. Cian’s eyes darkened with desire as he watched me eat, and I had to stop myself from reaching over and ripping his shirt right off of him.
