“I’m going to take that as confirmation that you know what it is.” Her voice drops slightly. “Give me a hint, Trina. All I need is a tiny hint about what he got me.”
Shaking my head, I sip the last bit of coffee from my cup.
“Did you promise you’d keep it a secret?” she asks.
I nod.
“Are you good at keeping secrets?” The corners of her lips edge up toward a grin.
“I am.”
It’s an understatement.
I’ve kept the fact that I’m married a secret. Now, I’m also holding tight to the knowledge that I’ve fallen in love with my husband.
“Could I persuade you to spill the beans with another cup of coffee?” She giggles. “This one would be on the house. I’ll make it a large. I’ll even throw in a bagel with extra cream cheese.”
I reach over to squeeze her hand in mine. “I have to get to work. You’re going to need to wait until your birthday to see what Eldon got you.”
Her nose scrunches. “I’m horrible at being patient. In a perfect world, he’d surprise me early.”
I push back to stand. “This imperfect world that we all live in has perfect moments. Your birthday is going to be one of them. I promise it will be worth the wait.”
She studies my face. “I want you to have some perfect moments too. One day you’ll find a man you love as much as I love Eldon. I know you will.”
I have.
I found him, married him, and tonight could be the night he tells me he loves me too.
Chapter Forty-Six
Graham
I set the box containing the custom-made watch on the table in front of the man I’m having lunch with.
Then, I take a seat across from him.
“This is it?” Crew Benton asks. “When you called to take me to lunch, I admit I was worried that you were trying to wine and dine me because you couldn’t get the job done.”
I push the box forward with my index finger. “Take a look.”
He has the box open before I can take another breath.
“Fuck me, “ he exclaims even though we’re seated at a table in the middle of Nova with dozens of people within earshot. “This is a goddamn beautiful sight.”
I huff out a laugh. “Is it everything you imagined it would be?”
That sends his gaze up to my face. “It’s fucking amazing, Locke.”
I can’t mask my smile.
Hell, I’m grinning from ear-to-ear, and that’s not just because he’s happy with the one-of-a-kind watch.
I’m on cloud nine because I’m hours away from handing my heart over to the most incredible woman in this world.
“I’m glad you like it,” I say as I glance around the restaurant for a server.
I’m saving the scotch for a meeting I have later this afternoon with one of the district managers at Abdons. I could go for a tall glass of water, though, and something to eat.
I traded breakfast for a blowjob.
I’d do it every day of the week, but it’s left me hungry.
“Don’t tell Harrison, but I like this one better than his.” Crew chuckles.
He doesn’t know the story of the watch on Harry’s wrist. He barely knows Harry at all.
They met at a fundraiser early this year.
I was there too, because Harrison underwrote the entire thing. The cause was close to his heart, so he needed us all in his corner. Sean showed up in a tux, but as usual, Kavan bowed out.
It didn’t matter.
We had a great time, and Crew Benton and his wife, Adley, made a contribution that rivaled the total of Sean and my combined donation that evening.
Crew is the COO of Matiz Cosmetics. He works alongside his closest friend Nolan Black.
The watch that Crew can’t take his eyes off of is for Nolan. He told me it’s a gift to thank him for being a constant presence in his life.
I gave Harrison Abdons first custom-designed watch last year.
He’s worn it proudly every day since never hesitating to tell anyone who asks where he got it.
That has slowly opened a new door for Abdons.
The watch Crew ordered is the fifth we’ve done.
His gaze drifts from my face to my hand. “Wait a fucking minute, Locke. Are you married?”
I nod. “I am.”
“That’s a recent thing, isn’t it?” He lifts his chin. “The last time we met up, you weren’t wearing that ring.”
“I didn’t think you’d notice,” I quip.
“Your watch is on your left wrist.” He points out. “I was checking that out. I would have noticed the ring.”
“It’s fairly recent,” I affirm with a nod.
“It’s great, isn’t it?” He shoves his left hand through his black hair. “Adley is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. My kids are a close second.”
I drop my gaze to my ring. “Trina is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. “
“This calls for a wedding gift.” He smiles. “What do you and Trina need? Or want?”
“We’ve got everything we could ever want,” I say. “All that’s left is for me to plan a honeymoon she won’t soon forget.”
“You haven’t done the honeymoon thing yet?”
I shake my head. “It’s a timing issue. When things settle down, I’ll rent a house on the beach for a few days. She has fond memories of a place like that when she was a kid. I want to give her a new memory to add to that.”
I want that for us. I want to marry my wife again and steal her away from this city to a secluded spot on a beach.
“Will a house in Westhampton Beach fit the bill? The views are stellar and there’s a private boardwalk with access to the beach.”
I lean forward. “You know a place?”
He laughs. “I own a place. Consider it yours whenever you need it, Graham. I promise if you take her there, it’ll be a honeymoon she’ll never forget.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Trina
Leaving work early without permission is enough to send my boss’s temper into overdrive, but I think today he’ll make an exception.
I know he will.
I texted him twenty minutes ago to tell him that I had finished up everything I needed to get accomplished today. Then I told him that I plan to stop by my apartment to water my plant before I head to the penthouse to get ready for our dinner date.
His response made my heart sing.
Graham didn’t text me back. He stepped out of the meeting he was in to call me.
He told me to bring the plant to the penthouse.
His exact words were, “Bring it home, dear.”
I laughed even as tears of joy welled in the corners of my eyes.
It may just be a plant, but it’s a symbol of the life that I had before I married Graham.
That life is about to change forever tonight.
I know that Graham didn’t arrange this special dinner in a private dining room to drop some horrible news in my lap. He’s going to confess what he’s feeling, and I’m more than ready to hear it.
I want to do the same and tell him that I’ve fallen in love.