Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
He kissed me, wiping away the tears. “Thank you.”
My flowers were waiting for me when I got to the office. Today was a massive bouquet, so large I couldn’t fit it on my desk. Bane walked past me, eyeing the flowers with disdain. “You really have to control your suitor,” he muttered. “Do I need to send flowers to compete?”
“No,” I insisted. I didn’t want more flowers. “Listen, Bane, maybe you could call them. Or better yet, take your intimidating self into the shop and demand to know who is sending them. It’s starting to bother me.”
“Why?”
“Because a mysterious stranger sends me flowers every week. No other contact. Nothing. It feels wrong—especially now.”
“Especially now?”
I glanced at my ring. “Yes, now.”
He smiled and lifted my hand, kissing it. “I wouldn’t worry, Magnolia. I read something the other day about various experiments people do. Like sending flowers or friendly cards as part of a social experiment to see how people react and if the offerings change their outlooks. Maybe you are part of one of those.”
I frowned. “I never thought of that.”
“I’m sure they’ll stop soon enough. In the meantime, in the wise words of your deliveryman—enjoy.”
He left for his meeting, and I touched the petals of a beautiful lily. He was probably right, but part of me felt a weird sensation. As if I wanted him to get upset over the flowers and throw them away, ranting only he should be sending me the pretty blooms.
But since he didn’t love me, that reaction would make no sense.
I felt a little sad as I went back to work.
Later that morning, I sat in the lounge, smiling as Rylee joined me. “You sneaking a break?” she asked.
I grinned, shaking my head. “Bane’s in a meeting. I needed a coffee.” I hunched closer. “What the hell happened yesterday?”
She shook her head, her eyes confused. “I have no idea. Sam insisted on driving me home so I could get to work on the problem one of my clients has—” She stopped at my quizzical look. “I have a few outside clients I design websites and software for.”
“Ah.”
“He followed me into my apartment, all serious and curious. He told me I needed a better place to live—somewhere more secure. I told him if he wanted to pay my rent, feel free to make suggestions. Otherwise, it was none of his business.”
“Ooh,” I breathed out. “What did he say?”
“He got all up in my face, telling me he was looking out for me. I told him I had just met him and to back off. Then he laughed and told me he’d see me soon and left.” She paused. “But not before he grabbed me and kissed me.”
My eyes widened and I grinned. “Oh, Bane is gonna love this.”
She gasped, her eyes going round.
“I have to tell him,” I protested.
“No!” She grabbed my hand. “When the hell did this appear?”
“Oh. Um, this morning.”
“Magnolia, it’s gorgeous!”
“It is,” I agreed. “A surprise too.” I told her how he asked, and she smiled.
“He’s so sweet under all that bluster.”
“He is.”
She turned my hand various ways, catching the light. “It suits you.”
I studied the elongated cushion cut with the pavé band. It glittered and sparkled under the lights, sending bright dots onto the walls. “I didn’t expect it.”
She stood. “I doubt he expected you.”
I had to laugh. “Probably not.”
“I have to get back. Lunch this week, right?”
“Sounds good.”
She left, and I stared at my ring.
I hadn’t expected him either.
Chapter Twenty-Five
MAGNOLIA
The following week, sitting at my desk, I frowned at the multitude of changes to the budget Bane had handed me earlier, asking me to update it. This client was frustrating him to no end. Bane was grumpier than usual, which was pretty damn grumpy. He hadn’t even commented on the flowers that arrived, the pretty bouquet bright and cheerful. He’d shot them the same disparaging look as usual and ignored them.
His mood was also due to the fact that I refused to move in with him yet, and he was almost surly at times. I wanted to enjoy the time at the house while I could. Spend some evenings with my memories. I loved my nights with him, especially waking up beside him, his strong, warm body next to mine, plus the inevitable, pleasurable sex that happened when he woke up. But everything was happening so quickly, I was trying to make sure I didn’t get swept up in the Bane-hurricane.
Besides, I had to admit, I still liked ramping him up. Watching him glower at me as I got ready to leave at night without him, thoroughly enjoying his intense, passionate kisses as he tried to persuade me to change my mind. I also hid my amusement when he would show up at my place, a bag of ramen or Chinese in hand, insisting he had to make sure I was eating. Offering to help pack things up in order to hasten my departure from the apartment. I had agreed during a prolonged and mind-scrambling orgasm to let him hire movers to take all the boxes and furniture from the attic and move it to his storage area the other night. The fact that he’d had it done in twenty-four hours shouldn’t have surprised me, yet it still did.