Page 102 of The Reality of Us
And he certainly hadn’t planned on finding the perfect one at his mother’s boutique. But when he saw the dark blue tourmaline surrounded by a halo of diamonds set in a delicate rose gold band, he knew it was the one. The round stone was the exact shade of Alice’s eyes, and the shape made him think of wildflowers. It was as unique and gorgeous as she was. Actually, that was impossible. Nothing could ever equal the brilliance that was Alice Aspinall.
He checked no one was within earshot and ducked behind the counter. The only other customers were at the other end of the shop looking at Alice’s candles. The Emancipation of Alice display spanned the whole back wall and included her skincare and homemaker products. Owen smiled, remembering how she’d pored over fabric swatches and samples before deciding which would be the best ones for her cushions and throws. Next month, she was adding a clothing range to her empire.
“I need you to stay calm,” he said to Lulu.
“Oh my God! Alice’s pregnant!” she crowed.
Owen fixed her with a hard stare despite the warmth that spread through his body at the thought of Alice carrying their child. “No, she isn’t. And for the record, that’s the opposite of calm.”
“Well, what did you expect when you sauntered in here and said that to me?”
“That maybe you’d understand I wanted your help with something. And we needed to be discreet?”
Lulu rolled her eyes. “Really? You actually thought that would happen? Oh, my darling boy. No.”
Owen chuckled. Now that he and Alice had been together for a few years, Lulu had been campaigning for grandchildren. Exhibit A: The table covered in baby gear sitting in the centre of the store. Exhibit B: The onesie hanging above it that said If you think I’m cute, you should see my grandma.
“Can you put that blue stone and rose gold ring aside for me? I’ll come back at closing to pay for it.”
Lulu’s eyes widened, and she grasped his hands tightly. “Does this mean …”
Honestly, he should’ve been expecting the whoop of joy that reverberated around the shop when he nodded. The women in the corner startled.
“My son won a big case, that’s all. He’s a lawyer. Nothing to see here, folks!” Lulu offered him a sheepish smile and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Sorry. But really, we can both agree that could’ve been much worse. Here, take it with you now.” With shaking hands, she unlocked the drawer and slipped the ring into a small velvet pouch.
Owen bent down and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Mum. I’ll see you tomorrow night at dinner.”
“You’re sure we can’t bring anything?”
“Nope, Alice’s organised caterers.”
Lulu raised her eyebrows.
“She feels guilty that we’ll be away for Christmas.” Two months in Europe beckoned, and he couldn’t wait to have Alice all to himself every day.
“She shouldn’t. You two deserve a proper holiday.”
“And remember …” He patted the pocket he’d put the ring in.
“Your secret is safe with me.” Lulu tapped a finger against her red lips.
Alice was swimming when Owen got home, her body gliding through the water as she did freestyle. Pop music blared from the speakers on the deck, and all the citronella torches were lit, the flames dancing in time to the beat. Murphy was fast asleep on his outdoor bed, legs twitching as he chased after dream rabbits.
Owen stripped to his boxer briefs, hanging his trousers and business shirt over the back of a timber deck chair. He waited until she stopped in the shallow end and stood. The water lapped around her waist, her neon green one-piece glued to her curves. She said she liked the suit because it made her feel like a real swimmer. Owen liked it because it had a zip down the front that acted like one of those old-fashioned mood rings. If the zipper was up at her neck, Alice needed time to herself to focus, burn off some nervous energy. If she’d lowered the zip, she was in the mood for fun. And usually, it was the kind Owen could help with.
“Hey, Boy Scout.” She grinned.
“Want some company?” he asked.
“Always.”
Ever since they’d put the pool in, Alice had been obsessed with swimming each night. They still ran together a few mornings each week, but she said the calming, repetitive motion of the water helped her quiet her mind after a busy day. And right now, with everything they had going on, every day was a busy day.
Owen sank into the warm water and paused. “Is the pool heater on?”
Alice flicked her hair back. Drops of water chased down her neck, sliding between her breasts. The zipper was as low as it could go. “Only a little.”
“It’s twenty-four degrees today, honey.”
