He smiled willingly. "Done. Should we shake on it?" He held out his hand and I eyed it before letting it engulf mine.
***
I lit another candle as my phone rang.
"So, what was today's delivery?" Olivia greeted me.
I shifted the phone to my other ear as I lit another candle. "Nine historical romance books. One for each time we made love," I answered, blushing as I recalled the note that had accompanied the package that had been dropped off earlier that day. For the last two weeks, Alec had showered me with gifts. One day it had been a dozen daisies for the number of weeks we'd known each other. Another day he sent a bag of Sour Patch Kids for the time I had confessed my weakness for them. Each delivery was left on my doorstep and always had a small note, reminding me of its significance. The wooing didn't end there. Alec would text me sweet messages during the day and spicy messages before I went to bed, ensuring that he would be the star of my dreams. I saved each note and text message, reading them over and over again. I fell a little more in love with him each day.
"Oh lord. That boy has got it bad," Olivia sighed. I knew she thought Alec and I had gone off the deep end, but even her fear of commitment couldn't break the bubble of happiness I seemed to be floating on. It wasn't the gifts or even the messages that Alec had bestowed on me. It was the other things, like the day he took me to the park to fly kites with him and Lily, or the morning he and I went to the zoo to see the peacocks. The best part was the late-night phone calls that seemed to last forever that won me over. Surprisingly, he'd stuck to his word and hadn't tried to touch me or kiss me since the party, but he had wooed me in every other way possible. Now, after two weeks, it was me who was ready to end the deal. I wanted him so badly it had begun to consume my every thought.
"It's sweet," I lamented, blushing again. Olivia just didn't know what it felt like to be in love. I stood up to turn off the lights, smiling at the flickering candles I had set around the room.
"So, I guess that means you're ready to get back on the Alec train. Admit it. You want his steam engine back in your station."
I snorted at her crude words. "Sheesh, Liv. You're worse than a guy."
"Ha, you wish, slutbag."
My doorbell rang before I could throw out my own term of endearment. "He's here. I'll call you tomorrow. "
"Fine, but at least let him walk in the door before you throw your panties at him."
I giggled like a schoolgirl. She wasn't that far off. "Can't make any promises. Love ya," I said, heading for my door.
"Love you too, even if you are a ho." She snorted with laughter, disconnecting the call.
Tossing the phone on the counter, I glanced in the mirror, smoothing my hair down one last time before pulling the door open.
He looked more gorgeous than should have been legal, but my feelings ran deeper than that. What I felt was as much affection as attraction.
"Are you ready?" He inhaled the scent of my candles that had filled my small apartment. "That smells good."
I nodded my head, knowing when he said "ready," he was asking about our date, but I wanted something else. I surprised him by reaching for his hand and slowly dragging him into my apartment.
His seemed confused until he took in the dimness of the room. "Are you sure?"
I stepped closer to him. "I've never been more certain." I looped my arms around his neck so my body was pressed against him. He placed his hands around my waist, anchoring me in place. The contact made me tremble. It had been so long since I had felt his embrace.
"I wasn't done winning your heart back," he said huskily, running his hands up and down my side.
"My heart is already yours," I whispered, placing my lips on my favorite spot on his neck that I had first licked so long ago. This time it was his turn to tremble in my arms.
"And mine is yours," he said as his lips claimed mine. "I have something for you."
"I know, let's go to the bedroom and you can give it to me." I grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the hallway.
"No, well, I want that for sure, but I want to give you this first." He reached behind his back, into his pocket. "I was going to give it to you at the restaurant, but this works too." He brought his hand around holding out a single, perfect peacock feather. "I'm hoping this will be our new beginning."
His hand moved to the back of my neck, massaging me gently. "Nicole, I love you." His voice was deep and husky, but more importantly, sincere.
"I love you," I echoed a moment before his lips crashed to mine.
Chapter Twenty-One
"Are you ready for this?"
I shook my head. "Not on your life. I can't believe I allowed you and Olivia to talk me into this."