The smile overtaking my face is nothing compared to the way my heart is swooping and soaring while I set the note on the bed and pull out the dress. The texture is stretchy and soft to the touch. The fabric unfolds, revealing a chic capped-sleeve cocktail dress. It’s a solid piece with a v-cut neckline and a cinched waist, and I already know it will fit me like a glove. Quickly digging into the smaller box, I pull out a pair of black stiletto heels begging me to try them on.
Tears fill my eyes.
No man has ever bought me a whole outfit before.
Most of my clothes growing up were hand-me-downs or thrifted.
Though I don’t want to be paraded around in this dress for Darcy’s business associates, I change into the dress.
Tonight, I will wear the dress.
For him.
For the teenage version of me who would have kicked adult-me in the teeth for not wearing such a nice article of clothing.
For me. For the successful, hardworking woman I’ve become.
As I stand in front of the mirror, I let down my hair. It falls into a heaping mess of coiling curls, and I set to work styling it to wear it down.
But sometimes, no matter how much I’ve changed and grown, I still see the scared eight-year-old girl screaming and crying in the shadows on the street while rain poured and soaked her to the bones. I sometimes still see the other girl, her chest rising and falling for the very last time.
And for the first time since things became real between me and my husband, I wonder if I’m worthy to call a man like him by that title.
Chapter Twenty-One
Darcy
“Yellow is your color.” I trail my eyes up my wife, from her strappy black heels to the classy dress that’s draped so perfectly around her body that I’m jealous of a piece of fabric. The killer? She’s wearing her hair down, and it’s a little untamed. Just like her.
She smirks. “Some guy calling himself mine left it on the floor in front of my door for me to trip over. The least I could do was show him what he’s missing by taking me out to dine with his business partners once again. He could,” she sweeps her hands down her body and spins, “have all this to himself tonight.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing. Her clues have not been subtle, and she doesn’t know I’ve been planning this date for a week after she sat me down and blatantly said she wanted some time for just the two of us. I did have a business dinner on my schedule tonight, but I emailed the team and rescheduled for tomorrow.
Tonight, I wine and dine my wife.
Or, uh, sako and hibachi my wife. Because Japanese food is the way to her heart, and that’s where I’d like to set up permanent residence.
Placing my hands on her waist, I tug her close and whisper, “And what will we do when I get you all to myself,wife?”
Hayden, to my surprise, pats my rear. “Don’t tempt me, Killjoy. I wouldn’t allow you to murder the mood like you usually do if you were taking me out alone.”
I swallow, the realization that she is legally my wife and I am legally her husband sinking into my system like a rock in water. Of course, I’ve had these moments before, but it doesn’t change the intensity when it hits me again. I could take her back to my room, shut the door, peel this fabric right off her skin, and—
No. Not until we agree to make things real. Not until I’m ready to open up to her about my ghosts. I don't want her to run away screaming; it might break me.
I kiss her cheek. “We should get going. Don’t want to be late.”
Twenty minutes later, we’re parked in front of Ginger & Sesame, one of the most sought-out hibachi restaurants in the Upper East side. Tonight, it’s bought-out.
Just for me and my date.
I can’t fight the smile as I open the door to the passenger side of my Mustang to let her out and she laughs, mentioning how I'm like the regency hero I'm named after because my Mustang is my trusty steed. I roll my eyes, but again, I'm taken with her. Hayden looks like glowing sun at midnight, and my heart might actually skip a beat.
“This isn’t where we usually meet your business partners,” she comments.
Placing my hand on the small of her back, I lead her to the entrance. After opening the glass door for her, I follow her inside and am instantly hit with sweet and sour smells. I chuckle when Hayden spins around, a million questions in her eyes as she takes in the empty building.
Well, empty save for the handful of servers and the teppanyaki chef.
