“They’re beautiful . . .”
I looked her up and down as I arranged the stems in the vase and waited for the question I knew was coming.
“Who are they from?” she asked.
I laughed. “You aresonot subtle.”
“We’re, like,dyingto know. What’s going on?” She lowered her voice and leaned over the desk. “Are you having an affair?”
“Do you think I’d tell you guys if I was?” I rolled my eyes. “Blabbermouths.”
“Come on,” she pleaded.
“I’m not ready to talk about the state of my love life, but when I am, Serena, you’ll be the first to know.” I changed the topic to something I’d been avoiding thinking about. David and I had booked flights for tomorrow to spend some time with my dad. I had no idea where David and I stood, or if he’d still want to come, but I was planning on going regardless. “I told you I’m working remotely the rest of the week, right?”
“Yep,” she said. “From Dallas.”
“You know what would be even more helpful than a vase and idle gossip?”
Her dimples deepened with a smile. “I’ll put together everything you’ll need for the rest of the week.”
I smiled at her. “Thank you.”
I stayed a little late at work to make sure everything would be in order while I was away, then headed to David’s apartment to get ready for our date.
I chose a tight, black dress with a sweetheart neckline that David had liked on the hanger. He hadn’t seen it on me since he’d taken a business call while I’d been in the dressing room. In the mirror, I turned. Three thick, vertical straps ran from the nape of my neck to my mid-back. Sexy enough for a first date. Even though we were far beyond that, my nerves buzzed. And as always when I thought of David, a quiver started between my legs.
I wasn’t sure what was in store for David and me tonight. After our last talk in my office, surely he had concerns and would lead the conversation. But tonight, I had to lay it all on the line. To show David my confidence in us, even if I had toslightlyfake it until my head could catch up with my heart. He needed to know I was willing to fight for us. That I wasn’t going to back out. And that I loved him.
I fixed my hair into a soft chignon, leaving some pieces free to frame my face, and smoothed on red lipstick. I had a feeling asking David’s forgiveness would go down a little easier when the request came from a crimson mouth.
When the front door opened, I grabbed my clutch, draped a black cashmere coat with leather trim over my arm, and walked out of the bedroom.
From where I stood at the mouth of the hallway, I could see through the living room, past a marble countertop that doubled as a breakfast bar, and into the kitchen. David leaned a hip on the counter, staring off into space, a sweating beer bottle in one hand.
He remained as imposing as ever, even when confined by walls, and looked distinguished and sexy in a black suit. He scrubbed the beginnings of his five o’clock shadow, then ran a hand through disheveled hair that begged for my fingers to play in it.
He took a pull from his beer, looking deep in thought. His grim expression only amplified his dark, severe features. It made him even more devastatingly handsome. I wouldn’t expect anything less, though. I’d been a fool to believe that getting space from him might give me any clarity when just looking at him made me breathless. I was suddenly nervous, and it took me a moment to build up the courage to step into the room.
His head snapped in my direction, and he took a deep breath, staring as I advanced. “Olivia,” he said, letting my name roll off his tongue the way I loved. Only, it was different now that I’d tasted that tongue and inhaled my own name from his mouth. Or maybe it was something on his end that made it sound different, an acknowledgement of our time together. It was sweeter.
Though my instinct was to touch him, his unreadable mood dissuaded me, so I stopped some feet away. His eyes never left me for a moment.
“Thank you for the beautiful roses,” I said.
“I bet that got the girls talking.”
“It did,” I said with a shy smile. “I loved them.”
“Good.”
“Are you ready, or—”
“I’m ready.”
“Okay.” I tucked some hair behind my ear and waited for him to make a move.
He turned his body to me and stepped forward, reaching out to run his thumb over my cheek. “You’re absolutely stunning,” he said. “But you’ll freeze.”
