“What are you going to have?” Harlan asked Savannah.
“Prime Rib. I only eat it once or twice a year and they know how to cook it just right here. What about you?”
“Same as you. Prime Rib. And since you won’t let me pay for the room—” Harlan began.
“Absolutely not. It’s my gift to you.”
“Then let me get dinner.”
“What part ofit’s a giftdid you not understand?” She studied him a minute. “Don’t tell me it makes you uncomfortable to let a woman pay for dinner.”
“Not ordinarily. But this is no ordinary meal. Or ordinary Bed & Breakfast, for that matter.”
“Since you apparently got me jewelry, I doubt this compares.”
“Who says I got you jewelry?”
“If you didn’t, then why did you drag me into Sparkle and Shine and have me try on practically everything in there?”
“For fun?”
“So you didn’t get me jewelry?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
No matter how much Savannah wheedled, and she wheedled a lot, Harlan remained firm that she’d have to wait.
They took their desserts back to the room with them, to save for later. “Want a glass of champagne?” Harlan asked Savannah.
“Not right now. I’m still full from dinner.” She picked up her smartphone on the counter where she’d left it while they were at dinner and took it to the couch to sit beside Harlan. She turned on the playlist she’d made especially for this night.
After listening a moment, Harlan said, “You made a playlist from our senior year in high school.”
“I did. Do you like it?”
“Of course.” The next song came on. “You really went all out.”
“Do you remember?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” He took her hand and kissed her palm. “This is the Nightis the song that was playing the night we first made love.” He put his arm around her and she snuggled against him.
“I wasn’t sure you’d remember. It was a long time ago, after all.”This is the Nightsegued into another song from that era. “I was at a loss about what to get you for Christmas,” Savannah said. “So I arranged a romantic night together. One we should have had a long time ago.”
“It’s the perfect present.” He kissed her, a long, slow play of lips against lips and tongues touching, easy at first, but growing hotter. He ended the kiss. “Hold that thought.” He left the room and went upstairs. When he came back down he had a large wrapped package in his hands. Large, as in a jacket-sized box.
“Merry Christmas, Savannah.” He handed her the package.
“I don’t think this is jewelry.”
“Open it and find out.”
Savannah unwrapped it carefully, only to find another wrapped box inside of it. And another, and another. She stopped counting when she reached a small narrow gift box that looked suspiciously like a jewelry box. “Oh, Harlan, you shouldn’t have.”
“You don’t know what it is yet. Open it.”
She pulled off the wrapping and opened the long box. A narrow, velvet box lay inside. She took it out and opened the lid, gasping at what she saw. A beautiful narrow bracelet of diamonds and sapphires lay glistening on the white satin interior. “It’s gorgeous. And way too expensive.”
He ignored that comment. “Hold out your arm.”
