“It doesn’t, but my sudden jealousy of an actor surprises me.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. We can’t all be a monumentally talented thespian and environmentalist who looks that hot with a beard.”
“I may have to look into some environmental charities, see if I can compete.”
“Leo’s place in my heart is forever. Don’t even try.”
“I find that strangely rude and upsetting.”
“Then don’t think about it. Think about my gorgeous sapphire necklace. I’ll never let go, Jack!”
“My name is Brandon. If you could refrain from shouting other men’s names, both in bed and in the media, it would be ideal,” he said sarcastically.
“I’ll work on that. So, if I make a whole new aspirational Pinterest board are you going to be a follower?”
“Absolutely. Can I add Pinterest stalking to the pros list?”
“Yes. Also, where’s my dessert from last night?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean if you read all my foodie pins, surely you found a dessert. I’ve only pinned about six hundred of them.”
“I think 439 at last count, all of which were chocolate based.”
“So...?”
“In the mini-fridge.”
“Ooooh,” she said, hurrying to the appliance and finding a beautiful chilled cylinder of layered chocolate mousse and espresso soaked sponge, like a naughty tiramisu.
Almost reverently, Marj took the dish from the refrigerator and carried it to the desk where he sat typing away at his laptop. She took a spoon from the room service cart and held it out to him.
“Try it.”
“It’s not poisoned. Promise. You don’t need a food taster. We’re not royalty,” he snarked.
“Oh, just taste it. It looks incredible,” she coaxed.
“No, thanks,” he said.
“You can’t have dessert?”
“I can, in moderation, but I keep away from refined sugars. It’s safer,” he explained.
“What did ‘safe’ ever get either of us? Not married, that’s for sure!”
“I don’t want to overtax my pancreas,” he said.
“That is without a doubt the sexiest thing anyone’s ever said to me,” she teased.
“Thanks anyway,” he said.
Marj took the spoon and scooped a large bite into her own mouth.
“I wasn’t trying to be an asshole. I thought it was okay for you to eat a little of it. I looked it up on my phone. My phone was cool with you having dessert,” she said, “So I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t. I just don’t like to indulge,” he said. “I work out and follow a strict diet.”
“Then maybe that’s a skill I can teach you. I never had the budget to indulge, but I damn sure can figure it out for both of us!”
“There’s Wi-Fi on our plane, so you can shop online if you want. It’s a long flight back to the city.”
“Do you like living there? Manhattan, I mean?”
“I suppose. It’s where my business is based, although we have offices in Hong Kong, Geneva, and Tokyo. Do you prefer one of the other locations? I’m not opposed to splitting time between two homes.”
“I wasn’t complaining. I just wondered if you live in New York because you like it or because it’s easy.”
“Because it’s easy. I have my home, my staff, my office the way it’s most efficient for me. Everything’s functional and if I want Chinese food at two in the morning, I know I can have it.”
“I’m guessing you could get food in Hong Kong then, too,” she teased.
“True. But would they deliver?”
“You could always send your staff,” she said, “I never knew anyone who had a staff. I bet you don’t even clean your own toilet!”
“I also don’t shop for groceries or make my own dinner reservations. I have a number of conveniences that most people don’t get to enjoy. I’m grateful for them, if it helps,” he said loftily.
“Your willingness to share them with me, should I require two in the morning sushi, would help,” she said.
“Sushi? It’s uncooked.”
“Don’t tell me, your pancreas?”
“Joking about my diabetes is—”
“Irreverent? Inappropriate? Honey, maybe you should’ve talked to me longer before we got married. I’m always this way and I’m not going to chase every remark with a disclaimer that of course, I know diabetes is a serious illness and I mean no disrespect. But, seriously, Brandon, when it’s just the two of us, I have my personality and, yeah, probably I’m annoying. So be brave. You and your pancreas both.”