“Don’t sound so surprised.You’re a pearl beyond price.”
I look away, my eyes smarting.Wow.Okay.Maybe it won’t be over when we get back.
“We’re just friends,” I tell him, touching my diamond necklace to reassure myself it’s there.“We’re not really close, but…he always seems to show up at the right time.Just every once in a while, he’ll roll up in one of his muscle cars or a bike or whatever he’s working on and honk the horn.And he’ll take me for a drive.”I smile because riding around with Axel was such a nice reprieve from the stress of my life.“We don’t even talk much.We just listen to music, or look at the view.It’s nice.Not more than a few times a year, but… he seems to know when I’m feeling down.”I let out a self-deprecating laugh.“Daisy probably calls him.”
“No, I bet he just knows when you need him.He’s quiet, but he pays attention.”
“He’s always been there for me.”
“It should’ve been me,” Matthias growls.His eyes flash blue, and I’m learning that’s when his bear is coming to the surface.His anger and regret, raw emotion bleeding through.“It should’ve been me.I never should’ve stayed away.I missed so much…”
My heart swells.
“I’m here now.”I take his hand and rub my finger over the gold band he put on as his wedding ring.He sighs.I feel his regret and understand it.If I had known he had feelings for me, maybe we could have dated even sooner.
But no, I probably wasn't ready.I'm not even sure if I'm ready now.So I take a deep breath and tell him what I really want.“We have one last night in Vegas.Why don’t we make the most of it?We could have a night on the town.”
“No,” he stiffens.“It’s not safe.”
“Please,” I snort.“As if you couldn’t keep me safe.C’mon, hubby, you owe me a date.I missed our planned one.”
He shakes his head, but I can tell I’m wearing him down.“I’ll let you dress me up any way you like,” I singsong.“I’ll wear my diamond collar.”
His eyes glow blue.I was right–it did mean something.
“And after dinner, we can come back here and spend all night in the playroom.If you wear me out enough, I’ll sleep on the flight home.”
“This is a bad idea.”
I smile because I can see I’m winning.“Please, Matthias.I want the whole world to know that I'm yours.”
He groans and slams his chair back then pulls me out of mine into his lap.“All right, wifey.I can’t say no to that.”
ChapterSeventeen
Matthias
My wife is incandescent when I help her out of the limo and escort her into the Bellagio.
Maybe this wasn’t a bad idea.I took as much Moon Cure as my veins would allow.My arm aches, but it’s worth it.
Maisy is in an off the shoulder blue gown that matches her eyes.With her long white opera gloves and diamonds sparkling around her neck, she looks like a movie star.People rubberneck as we pass, staring at her as if they’re wondering if she’s someone famous.
When we stop at the bar by the roulette tables for a drink, I tell her this, and she laughs.
“That’s so weird,” she wrinkles her nose.“Usually my friend Missy is the one people stare at.She’s the glamorous one.”
The bartender serves us our drinks.Whiskey for me and pink champagne for her.I let her sip a little and then ask, “How long have you and Missy been friends?”
“Since high school.She was the most popular girl in school.”
“Axel has a thing for her,” I confide.
“What?”Her forehead wrinkles, then she nods.“I guess I see it.I once thought there was something between them.They both disappeared at prom.I noticed because he was supposed to be my date.And she pretends like she can’t stand him, but she mentions him a lot.”
“Maybe we should be matchmakers,” I murmur.It’s fun to conspire with my wife, but I also want to torture Axel a little.
“Like Daisy?We can trap them on the Ferris wheel together.”
