“It’s still your birthday, and you have a wish to make.”
My brows knit together when she is close enough for me to study the cake.
“I dropped it on the table. Three-second rule. We’re fine. Now make your wish,” she presses.
“Don’t get bossy on me,” I tease her and do as directed by leaning over to blow out the flame, silently wishing that I can admit to her that I’m insanely in love with her and won’t let her even contemplate divorce. One puff and then the smoke from the candle dances in the air.
She proudly holds the cake up. “That wasn’t hard, was it? I would say tell me what you wished, but it’s bad luck. I just hope it was a good one.”
Very good, it’s about you. I’m just waiting for the sign that you won’t walk away and will tell me the same.
“Okay, let’s eat cake.” She sets the cake on a nearby high table and notices that there are no forks. “Hmm. We don’t need them.” She digs her fingers into the icing and offers me a piece crumbling between her fingers. She’s unpredictable this one, slightly eccentric at random moments, too.
I wrap my lips around her fingers, and the taste of the moist chocolate cake mixed with the subtle saltness from her skin is electrifying. Slowly, I pull my lips from her finger, moaning in the process as our eyes latch. I take my time until my lips pop off.
“That’s good cake. Perhaps the best birthday cake yet.” I mirror her actions and bring cake to her mouth.
This woman knows how to suck, and I think I would pay every waiter in sight to all disappear so I can take Hailey against the railing of the boat.
But for now, this is the next best thing.
Her eyes are sultry when she licks my fingers clean; she knows she’s turning me on.
But then her face turns delicate. “Oliver…”
“Yes.”
“My head is spinning from tonight, but you’re eating your birthday cake and made a wish. That’s all that matters.” She ishopelessly beautiful because she also cares and wants me to be happy.
I have the urge to cup her face and slam my lips down on hers, but we will both be covered in cake.
I do the next best thing. I close our distance, and I swipe against her nose with mine to leave a small mark of chocolate. “It only matters if it’s with you.”
It earns me her yearning eyes to illuminate and her lips to tug. “I guess I won’t need to sneak around anymore. I’ll be able to walk right into your house with you.”
“Is that your plan for tonight?”
“It is. I don’t want the birthday boy to have a bad evening that has been a colossal experience. But most of all, I don’t wantmy husbandto be alone on his birthday.”
I dip my head down to place a chaste peck on the tip of her nose before I kiss her lips softly but intently. Pulling away, I whisper, “And I wouldn’t wantmy wifeto go anywhere else but with me.”
“Come on. I want to escape the world for a while. Everything can wait until tomorrow.” She eagerly walks away, only to quickly pivot and pick up the cake. “We can get a doggy bag for this.” Her smile is infectious.
She’s right. Everything can wait until tomorrow.
We just don’t know if it’s the clarity we need.
23
HAILEY
Istretch, my naked body lengthening against the soft cotton sheets and mattress while I yawn blissfully. Feeling Oliver’s warmth next to me, I roll over and cuddle against his bare skin, intent on falling back to sleep since sunlight peeks through the blinds.
But even in a drowsy state, I can feel a set of eyes cutting through me.
He’s awake.
I stir groggily and shift to see him lying on his back staring at the ceiling. “What time is it?” My voice is gravelly.
