Her elbow clips me in the jaw, and I grunt.
“Will you stop?” I say, frustrated. “I am trying to give you a gift.”
Haven stills.
“A gift?” she raises a brow. “Why didn’t you say so? I love presents!”
My mouth twitches, but I refuse to smile and let her know that I support her bad behavior.
I draw out the silver chain with a small leaf hanging from the middle. Haven gasps, and her eyes widen.
“Where did you…”
“A storage unit in Division Eight,” I say.
Haven’s fingers reach for it, stroking the little leaf fondly.
“She was wearing it the day she died,” Haven says. “I never thought I would see it again.”
A tear falls down her cheek, and alarm strikes me. This was supposed to please her, not upset her.
“Warrick, don’t cry.” I plead. “I cannot bear to see you upset.”
“This is perfect,” she says. “I don’t know how I will ever repay you.”
“It’s your birthday present,” I say.
“But, I have been mean to you, and you can’t stand me,” Haven says, confused. “Why would you do this for me?”
She doesn’t remember what I said last night. If she had, then this gesture wouldn’t have shocked her so much. It was little work to send out a bunch of men on my chopper and have them rummage through the storage unit that held the items ofthe deceased. It took them four hours to find the belongings of Astrid Mallory.
It was the least I could do after I crashed her birthday. I should have read her file. I should have memorized the date so I could plan an impressive, memorable night. Something far better than what Grayson threw together.
“Because Iwantto,” I say.
I refuse to lose her to Grayson Sullivan or any lesser man because I am unable to get my head on straight.
Haven hands the necklace to me.
“Will you put it on for me?”
She turns around, raising her thick, dark hair. My heart quickens just being this close to her. It’s like all my organs forget how to work when I’m in her proximity. I wrap the necklace around her throat, fingers grazing her nape.
“It’s perfect,” Haven says. She turns to face me when the clasp is sealed. “It is the best gift ever.”
My chest warms when she flings her arms around me and holds me close. The sensation that overtakes my body is stronger than any military victory. It is pure, unadulterated bliss.
My arms tighten around her shoulder.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget the force of her smile just before she threw herself at me.
I reckon I’ll carry the memory of it till the day I die.
Haven pulls away. I’m not sure who reaches for the other first, but before I know it, my hands are tangled in her hair, mouth crashing into hers with open desperation. A small gasp of surprise escapes her, which is swallowed by my lips. My fingers dig into her thigh, drawing her closer. Her palm lies flat on my chest, right above my heart. She must feel how it gallops like a racehorse when she is nearby.
Her hand slides upward, falling softly on my jaw. My mouth drifts to her throat, fingers sliding beneath the fabric of her shirt and tracing the lines of her ribs.
“So beautiful,” I whisper. “My beautiful wife.”
