I squeezed my eyes closed, my breathing increasing as something like panic fluttered in my chest. “It was a tennis bracelet. A diamond tennis bracelet.”
“Holy shit.”
I nodded. “Right?”
“What did you do?”
I took a deep, calming inhalation.
“Arro, are you okay?” Ery placed a comforting hand on my arm, and I nodded.
Was I overreacting? Was my body overreacting to what happened? Why did I still feel this way? Why couldn’t I just get over it? It wasn’t as bad as my body was making it out to be. Right?
“I misinterpreted the diamond bracelet.”
11
Arro
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO
* * *
Years ago, when Mac traveled more for estate business, he’d given me a spare key to his row house in the middle of the village in case there was an emergency while he was away. His was a narrow, masculine home I’d sneakily made cozier by adding soft furnishings that still felt like Mac might have chosen them. He’d always give me this tender look when we’d meet each other again after his return upon finding something new in his house. He never complained, so I kept doing it.
It was Friday night, two days after my birthday dinner and the surprise gift of jewelry from Mac. The diamond bracelet glittered on my wrist as I let myself into his house. He’d still be at the estate just now, so I had time to get ready. Butterflies fluttered wildly in my stomach. The bracelet had been a message. I just knew it.
Now that Mac realized Lachlan had no problem with Thane dating Robyn’s younger sister, we both knew that we could do this and keep our families intact. The bracelet was Mac’s way of saying he understood that. It had to be because he’d never given me anything so expensive or romantic before. But it was clear he needed me to signal I still wanted him romantically.
And I was ready to give the signal all right. I was so done waiting around for the man I loved.
I kicked off my shoes and dumped my large bag on Mac’s couch and started pulling items from it. Sexy high heels, check. Silk robe, check. Wine, check. Once that was done, I grabbed matches out of a drawer in Mac’s tiny galley kitchen and returned to light the candles I’d placed around his fireplace. He never lit them, but he also hadn’t gotten rid of them.
Their soft glow bounced around the room as I switched off all the lights except for a small table lamp in the corner that gave off an amber hue.
Next, I poured two glasses of wine and placed them on his coffee table.
Finally, I undressed, folding my clothes and tucking them into my bag.
I was totally naked in Mac’s house.
My breasts swelled, my nipples tightening against the cool air as I thought about Mac’s reaction when he came home. Desire flushed my skin as I shrugged into my silk robe, slipped on the sexy shoes, and started the playlist of romantic music on my phone. This was a surefire plan for getting Mac to give in to his feelings for me. The bracelet told me he wanted to, but just in case he still had reservations, I wanted to make it as difficult as possible for him to say no.
Taking a deep breath, I sat down on the couch facing the door and waited, my knees bouncing with anticipation and nerves.
My life was about to change.
Our lives were about to change.
At the sound of his key turning in the lock, I untied my robe so it was ready to drop and crossed one leg over the other so he could see nothing but my naked legs and fuck-me shoes.
Blood whooshed in my ears, and my palms felt a little sweaty.
He was the only man who excited me like this.
Mac stepped inside, staring down at the floor as he did.
He looked up as he shut the door behind him, and he startled, frozen in wide-eyed shock. Something dark, most definitely lust, flickered in his expression, and his nostrils flared. He scanned the room, taking in the mood lighting and music, before returning to me.