“Your mouth does things to me, Trina.” He straightens as he makes quick work of the buttons on the shirt. “I’m going to return the favor after our date tonight.”
“We have a date tonight?” I ask with surprise edging my tone. “Did I miss the electronic invite?”
He disappears into the adjoining bedroom but returns seconds later with a dark blue tie in his hand. “I’m inviting you to have dinner with me tonight. There’s a French restaurant called Sérénité that I think you’ll like. They have a private dining room.”
“A private dining room?” I repeat back. “That’s fancy as fuck.”
Shaking his head, he laughs. “It’s perfect for what I have in mind.”
I move toward him, taking the tie in my hands. “What do you have in mind? Sex in a restaurant? I’ve never indulged, but I could be persuaded.”
He watches intently as I take control of the tie and slide it around his neck under the collar of his shirt. “I want to talk, Trina.”
Suddenly, my hands start shaking. I busy them by knotting the tie.
“Do you want to talk about the new manufacturing facility?” I tilt my head. “I’m glad you finally hammered out a deal last night.”
“Early this morning,” he gently corrects me. “I didn’t get in bed with you until almost three a.m., but that’s not what I want to talk to you about.”
“What is it then?”
His hands jump up to stall mine as I fumble with the tie. He holds them close to his chest. “Us. I want to talk about us.”
My gaze trails from our joined hands to his face.
I look into his blue eyes. “Just us? Lloyd won’t be there?”
He leans forward to brush his lips softly over mine. “I want my wife all to myself tonight.”
“You’ll have me all to yourself.”
A smile tugs on the corners of his mouth. “Now, tell me about this hot date you have before work.”
I finish with his tie, adjusting it until it’s perfectly centered. “I’m having a cup of hot coffee with the best barista in the city. She’s my neighbor and a friend.”
His smile widens. “Take your time. My assistant has me out of the office for most of the day again. She works me to the bone.”
I tug on his tie to bring his face closer to mine. “Your assistant knows what you’re capable of. She knows how important work is to you.”
His hand moves to my face. With the pad of his thumb, he traces my bottom lip. “It used to be the most important thing to me. It’s not anymore.”
Hope blooms inside of me that I’m the most important thing to him now. I want to be. He’s quickly becoming the most important person in my life.
Chapter Forty-Five
Trina
Aurora settles herself on the chair across from me.
It’s been a hectic morning at the café, so her break was pushed back twice.
I used the time to respond to several work emails.
I may not be at the office right now, but that doesn’t mean I can’t keep on top of my work.
As I place my phone on the table, my gaze wanders to my bare hand.
I hid the rings in the compartment inside of my purse just before I walked in here.
My hand looks empty, and in some abstract way, I feel that way, too, knowing that I’m not wearing the rings Graham slid onto my finger.
“I’m sorry you’ve been waiting so long,” Aurora says quietly. “It feels like half of Manhattan showed up here today for coffee.”
I pick up my almost empty cup. “How can you blame them? You make the best in the city.”
“It tasted fine to you?”
I laugh that off. “Fine? I wasn’t joking, Aurora. It’s fantastic coffee.”
She tugs on the end of her ponytail. “I had a sip when I first got here, but that was all I could manage. It sent my stomach into a frenzy.”
I lean forward to rest my elbow on the table. “How are you feeling now?”
“Better,” she admits. “I am tired, though. That has nothing to do with the coffee and everything to do with my boyfriend.”
I wiggle both brows. “Do I want details about that?”
“They would make you blush.” She pats one of her cheeks. “I can’t keep my hands off of Eldon lately.”
“Lately?” I ask in a teasing tone. “I thought that was an ongoing thing.”
“Fine.” Both of her hands pop up in mock surrender. “I admit I can’t get enough of him. That’s a good thing, right?”
“It’s the best thing,” I say.
It’s true.
I can barely keep my hands off of my husband. This morning was proof of that.
“Eldon told me that he has a major surprise planned for my birthday.” She narrows her eyes. “Would you happen to know what that is?”
I laugh. “Is that why you asked me to meet you here? You want me to tell you what your birthday gift is?”