The earrings were beautiful, and I was wearing them tonight, but they’d been a hard present to accept. I’d recognized the quality of those diamonds. I’d shuddered over the possible price tag. And then I’d reminded myself that Jax didn’t see the gift as extravagant at all, and the last thing I wanted to do was reject a gift so thoughtfully given. It was obvious he’d chosen them himself because they were exactly my style. So, I’d thanked him with tears in my eyes, and a kiss.
There wasn’t much else I could have done in that situation.
Jax was, in fact, a billionaire, and his normal and my normal were two different things.
What seemed like a crazy expensive gift to me wasn’t pricey to him, and really, all he’d wanted to do was please me.
His thoughtfulness had touched me more than the actual gift.
However, I was really hoping I’d have time to get used to his lifestyle before he presented me with another insanely expensive gift.
I pulled off the giftwrap, and exposed a red box about the size of my hand.
After I lifted the lid, I pulled out the necklace inside.
“It’s not an expensive gift,” Jax explained. “There’s a story behind it.”
The diamond-cut, white gold chain hadn’t come cheap, but as I fingered the pendant, I knew he was telling the truth.
It was a four-leaf clover, encased in acrylic to preserve it.
“Tell me the story.” I was intrigued, and eager to hear it.
“The pendant used to belong to a buddy of mine in the Navy. I replaced the black cord with a more feminine chain for you, but I wore that clover on every single date I’ve been on since I got out of the military. Jeremy said he found it in a field right before he went into the Navy, and wore it until he found the love of his life. He gave it to me, and made me promise I’d wear it when I went out with somebody new. He swore it would eventually lead me to the right woman.”
I kept stroking my thumb over the pendant as I said, “He was obviously happy with how it worked for him.”
Jax nodded. “His marriage was one of the few happy ones. He was crazy about his wife, and she loved him enough that she tolerated all of the bad parts of being married to a SEAL.”
“Do you think it worked for you?” I asked.
His expression was thoughtful as he said, “I used to think it didn’t. Obviously, none of my dates ever led me to the right woman, but now I’m beginning to wonder if it just worked in a different way. Maybe it weeded out all the wrong ones until I found you, Harlow. I want you to have that because my one-off dating days are over. I’ll never need that again as long as you’re with me.”
My heart was racing as our gazes locked. “What will you tell your Navy buddy?”
“Nothing. He was killed in the line of duty a few weeks after he gave that to me, but I’d like to think he’d be happy that I don’t have to wear that four-leaf clover anymore,” Jax said hoarsely.
I wrapped my hand around the whole necklace, and clutched it as tears marched down my face. “I’m so sorry, Jax.”
“Don’t cry, sweetheart,” Jax said with a frown. “I grieved for Jeremy a long time ago. That four-leaf clover was a good memory, which is why I always wore it like he asked me to do. Now that I don’t need it anymore, I thought you might like to have it.”
I knew exactly what he was doing, which was why I couldn’t stop crying. He was giving me something that meant something to him. Jax was also trying to let me know that he was serious about this relationship, and that his dating days were over.
The necklace had a long enough chain that I was able to slip it over my head. After I did, I wrapped my fingers around the pendant again. “This is the sweetest gift anyone has ever given me,” I told him earnestly. “I’ll keep it safe.”
It wasn’t just a gift; it was a promise that warmed my heart.
He shook his head. “You don’t really have to wear it.”
“Oh, yes, I do,” I told him adamantly.
Not only had it belonged to Jax, but it had also been in possession of someone he’d cared about. I wasn’t ever taking it off.
“I have one more surprise for you,” he informed me. “But it isn’t a physical gift. I want to show you something.”
I breathed a sigh of relief that he was done making me cry for the day. “Tell me.”
He shook his head. “Nope. I have to show you. Have a little patience, woman.”
“How am I supposed to be patient when you’re keeping it a mystery?” I asked.
“Your mom loves mysteries,” he pointed out.
“I’m more of a short story kind of woman,” I teased. “I can get right to the story and see how it ends within an hour or two.”
“What happens when you want a longer book?” he questioned.
“I read the ending first so it doesn’t drive me crazy,” I lied.
He lifted a brow, and I burst out laughing. “You don’t really do that,” he accused.
“I don’t,” I confessed. “But I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been tempted.”
He grinned. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
I hopped out of my chair and grabbed my purse.
Jax wrapped his arm around my waist and lifted a hand in goodbye to all the staff.
Since they were all smiling broadly and waving back, I had to assume he’d already paid, and he’d been a very generous tipper.
The valet had Jax’s Mercedes SUV ready at the door.
Jax slipped the guy a tip, and waved him off so he could open the passenger door himself.
I turned to him before I got in. “Honestly, this has been the most incredible birthday I’ve ever had, Jax. It’s actually been the most amazing week I’ve ever had, too. Every single experience was a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me, but the very best part has been spending this time with you. Having you all to myself like this is special to me.”
Jax had taken some time off, and he’d spent every possible moment with me.
When I was in counseling in the morning, he was usually planning our adventure for the day.
“You don’t think I’m enjoying every moment that I’m with you?” he asked with a grin. “I’ve walked around for the last week feeling like the luckiest bastard in the world.”
My heart skipped a beat as I saw the adoring look in his eyes.
Strange as it might seem to me, I knew he was sincere.
“You’re an amazing man, Jax Montgomery,” I whispered right before I gave in to the urge to kiss him.