Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“They’re Gina’s favorites,” Bella says from behind me.
Lia laughs. “Something tells me he already knew that.”
Gina gathers the flowers in her arms. “I love them, Daniel.”
I stare into her face and the depths of her brown eyes. “Good.”
“I’ll put them in water.” She sighs. “I was just about to take a walk with Bella and Lia.”
“We don’t want you to tagalong anymore.” Bella giggles. “We need to gossip, so stay here.”
I glance over my shoulder at the two of them huddled together. Bella’s hand is wrapped around her cousin’s forearm.
“The flowers really are beautiful.” Bella smiles at me. “We went to Calvetti’s for dessert and saw Gina there. Marti gave us a honey ricotta cheesecake to share. What’s left is on the box on the counter. You two should enjoy it.”
“We will,” I say. “Be safe out there.”
“Be safe in here.” Bella winks at me. “I love you, Gina.”
“Love you,” Gina calls back. “You too, Lia.”
“I love everyone in this room.” Lia laughs. “We’re leaving now.”
They do, and as the door shuts behind them, my wife closes the distance between us before giving me a kiss that leaves me wanting more.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Gina
“Dance with me.” Daniel holds out a hand as I walk back into the living room carrying the vase I placed the carnations in.
Soft music is filling the air. I suspect it’s streaming from his phone as it sits atop the coffee table in the middle of the room.
Before I can answer, Daniel takes the vase from me. He walks across the room to place it on a table next to one of the windows.
As much as I love fresh flowers, I rarely stop to pick up any. Carnations may not cost a fortune, but it’s an extravagance I’ve never indulged in.
“You want to dance?” I question him. “I’ve seen you dance. Maybe I should grab my phone in case I need to call 911.”
His head falls back in laughter. “You’re funny, Calvetti.”
I reach into the pocket of my dress to grab my wedding ring. Before I think it through, I slide it on my finger. “It’s Lawton, for now.”
I added ‘for now’ because I have no idea what Daniel is feeling. Yesterday, we talked about putting the annulment aside, but that felt like more of a spur-of-the-moment ‘for now’ agreement than a forever commitment.
His hand dives into the front pocket of his pants to yank his ring out. It’s on his finger almost instantly. “Let’s share our first dance, Mrs. Lawton.”
My breath hitches because that’s precisely what this will be. It will be our first official dance as husband and wife.
Before he takes me in his arms, he heads for the lamp I turned on when I got home. He slides the switch to dim the light.
“Perfect,” he whispers before he turns to face me. “Are you ready?”
To fall deeper in love with him? Yes.
His right arm wraps around my waist as he takes my hand in his. I rest my free hand on his shoulder before I gaze up and into his handsome face.
“I chose a slow song for obvious reasons.” He smiles down at me with that same crooked smile that was on his lips before we made love for the first time.
“So you wouldn’t break a leg?” I tease.
“You’re a riot.” He kisses me softly on the forehead. “I chose this song because it’s your favorite.”
I perk an ear to listen more carefully to the lyrics.
“When our hearts are aligned, magic happens,” a soft feminine voice croons.
I can’t hold in a smile. “This version is different.”
“This version is our version,” he whispers. “One of my clients has a daughter who loves to sing. I texted her asking if she’d be willing to record a slower version for us.”
Emotion bubbles in my throat. “When?”
The song continues, and it’s clear that a guitar is the only accompaniment to the woman signing.
Her voice is soulful, and the slow twist she’s put on the song has changed the entire feel of it.
“This morning before we left New Haven.” He laughs. “When she sent me the audio file an hour ago, she said it’s a practice run. I was going to surprise you on your birthday with it, but I couldn’t wait.”
“This is our song,” I whisper through a haze of tears.
“Always, Gina.” He holds me closer as we dance slowly. “It will forever and always be our song.”
“Have you ever thought about me when you’re doing that?” Daniel’s lips glide over my neck.
I can’t focus on that. The only thing I can remember to do is take my next breath.
My finger is circling my swollen clit. Daniel is watching my every movement. He has been since he took a shower and found me stretched out naked on my back on our bed.
My bed.
No… it’s our bed.
Our apartment. Our life.
“Yes,” I confess.