“Happy anniversary.”
“Did you enjoy your gift?”
“Yes.” Tears prick at my eyes. Most wives get chocolates, flowers, perhaps a meal or a romantic getaway. I get pain.
“Good, because I have so much more planned once we wake up. You are going to love it.”
I highly doubt that. But what more could he do? Stupid, stupid question. The answer is so much more.
CHAPTER 4
HONOR
Don’t taunt the universe. It knows better than you or I and isn’t afraid to show it.
Gideon squeezes my shoulder as he passes my chair at the dining table and takes a seat at the head next to me. I sip my sparkling water as we wait for the server to bring in our breakfast.
“How are you feeling this morning?” I ask.
He smiles at me as he scrolls on his iPad next to his plate. “Excellent. Are you excited about your present today?”
My heart flip-flops in my chest, and I put the glass down before I drop it. “Yes.”
The door opens, and Marrisa enters carrying two plates. “Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Lowell, and happy anniversary.”
She places my plate in front of me as I smile at her. “Thank you.”
Gideon rewards her with his photoshoot-worthy grin. “Am I paying you double time today, Marrisa?”
She smirks. “Triple.”
“Fair.”
After she leaves, his gaze drops to my plate, and he reaches out to remove half of my scrambled eggs and a quarter of the avocado. That’s unusual. He normally takes more.
“Eat up,” he says, picking up his fork and slicing into his bacon.
I select the correct fork and force myself to eat slowly. If I go too quick, I’ll bring it back up with this trainer suffocating my organs. Gideon returns to his iPad, looking over court documents in preparation for a big trial next week.
He pours us both a small glass of orange juice, making saliva pool in my mouth. This is cruel. He arches a brow. “Drink up.”
My free hand reaches out and wraps around the cool glass. The first sip has me suppressing a groan. Damn, it’s the simple things in life. Fresh orange juice being one of them.
The rest of breakfast passes in silence. My nerves pull taut in my body. When Gideon acts unusually, expect the unusual.
“Finished?” he checks as I dab my mouth on the white linen napkin.
“Yes.”
He checks his watch. “Good. Come on, I can’t wait to give you your present.”
He guides me out of the room and to the front door where Montgomery, Gideon’s personal driver, waits for us. He takes my long camel coat from Montgomery and helps me into it. We are going out? Maybe this is a pleasant surprise. What terrifying things could he possibly have in store for me if we aren’t staying home? Gideon’s public image is everything to him. He would never hurt me outside of these walls.
We climb into the back of the town car and Gideon clasps my hand in his. The smile on his face is genuine, and I feel my lips pull up as I return it. “Are you going to tell me?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, but I know you are going to love it. It will bring us closer together. I know I’m not always easy to live with, Honor, but we are made for each other, and this gift will reinforce how we fit together like two jigsaw pieces.”
The scenery races by as we ride further into the city. He squeezes my hand, drawing my attention back to him. “Let’s take off the trainer for a few hours.” I blink at him. “Unless you don’t want to?”
