I melted against him. “Thank you.” He had woken me extra early that morning and given me a blowjob to start my special day. We’d showered together, then started getting ready for work. “Quinn wants to have dinner with me tonight.”
Daniel frowned. “Oh.”
“Shit. Did you have something planned?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said, stepping away to grab his cufflinks from the top of the dresser.
I grabbed his arm and tugged him back to me. “You could come too, you know. He and Monty want to meet you.”
“Isn’t it too soon for us to meet each other’s friends and family?”
“Not to me. I understand keeping our relationship under wraps at work, but we don’t have to hide around the people we love.” We’d implied on Sunday that we were a thing now, not just casually dating. Thorns gnarled in my gut when a thought occurred to me. “Unless you’re embarrassed for people to know you’re with me.”
Daniel slipped an arm around my waist. “How could I ever be embarrassed? You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner. And you’re a goddamn knockout.”
I smiled. “Look at you. Flattering the birthday boy.”
“Only because it’s true.” Daniel kissed my forehead before stepping away. “Get dressed. I have another surprise for you in the kitchen.”
Excited, I threw the damp towel in the hamper before putting on burgundy skinny jeans, the sexy black boots Quinn had bought me for Christmas, and a snuggly black sweater. Casual, yet cute as hell.
When I walked into the kitchen, Daniel glanced up from his phone and did a double take. “You look nice.”
“Why, thank you.” I glanced around, curious.
“Right here.” He stepped aside and revealed a bakery box.
“Is that…?”
“Chocolate donuts with sprinkles for the birthday boy,” he said, lifting the lid.
“You’re a man after my own heart.”
“I should hope so.” He smiled and grabbed a plate from the cabinet. “Do you want coffee or milk to go with it?”
“Milk, please.”
“Have a seat.”
“I’ve never had this before,” I said, putting two donuts on the plate and sitting at the kitchen table.
“Had what?” Daniel poured milk into a small glass and set it in front of me.
“A guy to spend my birthday with.” I dropped my gaze to the plate, feeling my throat start to tighten. “I mean, Quinn’s made it special over the years, but none of the guys I’ve ever dated even remembered my birthday, let alone did…” I motioned to the donuts and milk. “This.”
“You deserve it.” He pressed his lips to the top of my hair. “And so much more. Now eat.”
“Yes, sir.” I cracked a smile before biting into the donut and groaning at the rich chocolate and soft pastry. “Aren’t you gonna eat?”
Daniel went over to the coffee machine and poured a mug. “I’m all set.”
“One donut won’t kill you.”
His lips twitched, but he didn’t say a word. After I finished eating, I washed my hands—because I was a slob and got chocolate everywhere—and then pulled on my coat. We had to be at work in twenty minutes.
“Separate cars?” I asked, following him to the door.
“Unfortunately.” His mouth formed into a grim line. “Rumors would start to circulate if we showed up at the office together.”
“It’s all good,” I said, keeping a light tone despite the weird ache in my chest. I didn’t want to keep him a secret for forever, but we had to. At least for now. “Lead the way.”
Since I was parked behind him, I backed out of the driveway first and then followed him down the street. The sun peeked over the Blue Harbor skyline, a promising start to my birthday. Sunny days were so rare. It felt like a good omen.
About ten minutes later, Daniel turned into the office parking lot with me close behind him. As vice president, he had a reserved parking spot up front, so I had to park wherever was available. Which, sadly, meant I had to park at the very back of the lot.
Daniel stood outside the building waiting on me when I finally made my way there.
“That’s not suspicious at all,” I teased him.
“I was getting some fresh air before going inside,” he responded in a dismissive tone. “I wasn’t waiting on you.”
“Uh-huh.”
I fought the urge to take his hand as we walked down the hall and stepped onto the elevator. His jaw was tight and his hand fisted at his side as we waited on the elevator doors to open. Was he fighting the same urge?
“Happy Birthday!” Jennifer exclaimed as the doors opened to the third floor and I stepped out into the hall.
“You got me a balloon?” I smiled as I took it from her.
“A balloon with chocolate and a gift card to your favorite coffee place attached,” she said, tapping the heart shaped box. “Sorry for the heart by the way. Valentine’s Day stuff is everywhere, and it’s all I could find.”
“Thanks, Jen.” I hugged her.
“Excuse me,” Daniel said, his hand brushing my side as he passed us to head for his office.
“Did that old grump even tell you Happy Birthday?” Jennifer asked, staring after him. “Or did he forget?”
“He told me earlier,” I said, forcing myself to stop thinking about the morning hummer between the sheets. If I popped a boner at work, I’d have to quit. There’d be no way I could show my face again after that. “Thanks again for the gifts. That was really sweet.”
“Just like you, darlin’,” she said with a smile. “I have to get to work now. We have a status meeting in five minutes.”
“Have fun.”
“Oh, it’ll be a blast, I’m sure.” She sighed before walking that way.
I held the box of chocolates to my chest and smiled as I went to my desk, the balloon bobbing in the air behind me. Right as I sat down, I got a text from Quinn wishing me a happy birthday. I thanked him, and he responded.
Quinn: We still on for tonight? I thought I’d cook you dinner.
Me: Sounds great! I’m not sure if he will or not yet… but can Daniel come too?
Quinn: Of course. I can’t wait to properly meet him.
Hours passed as I created sales graphs in Excel, worked on the monthly budget, put together a PowerPoint presentation showing the advantages of using our company, and made travel plans for Daniel with a client that afternoon. The client had just opened a new bakery along the harbor and was struggling getting word out, so he wanted our company to help take his business to the next level.
Around lunch, a pretty woman came into my work area, holding a vase of a dozen red roses.
“Delivery for Reed Nolan?”
“That’s me,” I said, surprised.
“Here you go,” she said, handing me the vase before walking away.
I placed it on my desk and leaned forward to smell the roses, loving the feel of the soft petals on my nose and lips. Spotting a card tucked inside, I grabbed it and unfolded it.
I wasn’t sure of your favorite flower, but since you’re such a romantic, I felt these were perfect. Happy Birthday to the one who’s stolen my heart.