Page 78 of Game Change

“Even the tiger lilies?” She giggles when I ask that, but she nods.

“Especially the tiger lilies.”

“I have something else for you. Close your eyes.” She does, and I pull out the gift from my pocket. I take her wrist and slide it over her hand. “Don’t open your eyes yet.” I take out the matching necklace and put it over her head. “Open them.”

She does and she starts to laugh again. She puts the bracelet to her mouth and bites off one of the candies. Then she puts it to my mouth, and I do the same.

“I love it.” She throws herself in my arms, and we kiss again. “How did you know I love these? They’re my favorites. My mom would get them for me every year.”

“I pay attention.” I kiss her nose and then hold her close. “I have to get out of here before I catch a sexual harassment case because you feel too good.” I kiss her one more time before pulling away from her.

I don’t get to her place until almost seven. I left the office at five and stopped by Uncle Milton’s to check on him for a few minutes before picking up the food.

She’s in black jeans and a sheer red long-sleeved button-down shirt. I whistle when I see her, and after putting the brown paper bags on the table, I take her in my arms. I kiss her slowly, and while I do that, she unbuttons my coat and pulls it off my shoulders.

Instead of kissing her again, I spin her around and pull her back into my body. I grab her candy necklace, break the elastic, and pull it off.

“Hey,” she says in protest.

“I have something better for you.” I pull the other gift out of my pocket and put it around her neck. It’s a Trinity diamond necklace. It has a set of three rings at the bottom, which are white, rose gold, and diamonds. Once I clasp it, she runs out of my arms to the large mirror on the wall.

“Oh my God,” she moans. “I’ve been eyeing this for like two years. How did you know?” She fingers the necklace before facing me again.

“It looks like your style,” is all I say. She flies into my arms again, and I catch her and lift her off her feet.

“I love it,” she says.

“And I love you,” I say back. She gasps.

“What did you say?” she asks.

“I said I love you. I fell in love with you on the island. Maybe from the moment we touched.” She falls back in my arms, and I hold her tight against me.

“I love you too,” she says with her head on my chest. She pulls away and looks into my eyes. “You’re so amazing, and I just love you.” She puts her head back on my chest, and I rub her back.

She finally pulls away and takes my hand. I follow her into the bedroom, eager to fall into bed and work up an appetite, but she takes me into her closet and points. I notice that half of it is empty.

“I made space for you,” she says. Then she pulls me out of the closet and back to the bedroom. That’s when I notice an extra dresser in the corner. It’s the same one she puts her clothes in. “I got this for you, and I’ve already put some of your stuff in it.” She tells me to follow her and leads me to the bathroom. A shelf on the wall holds my extra shaving kit, cologne, and the hand cream Heath gave me.

“I love it,” I say. “Thank you.”

“Now, you look exhausted, so sit down, and I’ll plate our dinner. We can eat in the living room. Then you can take me to bed. I want to make love to you wearing nothing but this necklace.”

“I think I can manage that.”

Chapter 41

Colin

The past month has been quiet. Too quiet. Things have been too good, but today, the energy in the office is different. Milton Kincaid is coming in today. I’ve seen him at least twice each week for the past month, and he’s doing well. He’s going to retire officially, but he will still maintain an office and take on special projects if he wants. Starting next year, he plans to travel more and find a girlfriend, possibly wife number five, if he’s lucky.

My office door swings open, and Heath skips inside. “I’m tracking his location, and he’s in the neighborhood. Uncle Milton didn’t let me track him for the past few months. I wonder what that was all about?”

I don’t answer. I don’t bother to ask Heath if he tracks me, but it’s possible since I often give him my phone to do things.

“Anyway, the large conference room is all set. I gave it some extra love and attention this morning. I’m one step ahead of Ernestine, who I still can’t believe you promoted. You should have given me that job.”

Heath’s a great assistant, and aside from his rivalry with Ernestine and his dislike for Brynne, he does a great job of anticipating my every want and need.

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