“Listen, this isn’t my first relationship as you seem to think.” David lowered his voice and leaned in. “I know what I want, and it’s you—falling asleep next to me every night, waking up with me every morning. I actually don’t like having you out of my sight ever.”
“Well, it’s not exactly possible to keep tabs on me all the time,” I said.
“You’re telling me.” He snorted. “I’ve tried to think of how I might without scaring you or ending up in prison.”
I laughed. “You are so extreme.”
“Only when it comes to you.”
“And work,” I said.
He nodded slowly. “Up until now, it’s been my priority. If that’s a problem, I’ll make some changes to be more available.”
“It’s not a problem.” I rubbed his leg. “I’m just glad you do what you love.”
“I do,” he said, “but at the end of the day, it’s still a job.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I’d still do it, even if I stopped loving it.”
Based on the eloquent way he’d described his hotel project to me, then how effortlessly he’d laid out the Oak Park house’s issues, quirks, and imaginary plans, David’s work was part of his identity. “But you’re a partner,” I said. “And I have no doubt you know how to manage your investments. You shouldn’t ever have to do something you don’t love. Why would you?”
“Wealth, prestige.” He sat back and gestured around the first-class cabin. “It allows me this lifestyle.”
“Thislifestyle?” I asked. “Is that important to you?”
“Definitely,” he said. “I’ll never be the type of man to leave my family wanting.”
Aww. Though the sentiment left me warm and fuzzy, my financial comfort was secondary to his happiness. “Baby, knowing you’re doing what you love would be a million times more important to me than ‘lifestyle.’ I know you feel the same about me.”
“I do,” he said softly. “I’m lucky because I do love it, but security is important to me. I want you to have everything you want.”
“What else could I ask for?” I melted into my seat. “If it all went away tomorrow, but I still had you, I wouldn’t be any less happy.”
“I’m glad you think so,” he said, “but I refuse to find out.”
“I’m just saying.” I reached out and brushed my fingers over his hairline. “It’s not important to me.”
He grabbed my hand before I could withdraw and kissed my palm. “So you wouldn’t mind if I gave up my place in San Sebastián? And we didn’t go to Spain?”
“I know you’re teasing me, but no, I wouldn’t mind.”
“Oh, that’s right.” A teasing smile tugged at his lips. “You hate vacation.”
“Well, I mean,hateisn’t really the right word,” I said, remembering how David had once enticed me with visions of Bali surfing, Montauk oysters, and Swiss Alps hot-tubbing. “If youwantto take me, I wouldn’t—”
“Believe me, gorgeous, you will not hate our vacation. I do want to take you to Spain, and very soon.”
“I’d love that,” I said. “If I could ever get the time off.”
“Don’t you have vacation days?”
“Beman doesn’t like us to take them.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s against the law,” David said.
“Of course he can’t prohibit it, but I don’t need additional reasons to piss him off.”
