Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
I hit the answer button and whispered, “One sec,” into the phone before setting it back down. Slowly, I extricated myself from being wrapped around Skye and slid out of bed. Finding my boxer briefs on the floor, I tugged them on, grabbed my phone, and went to my office.
“Gil,” I finally greeted as I dropped onto the big chair behind my desk. “What’s the word?”
“Are you sitting down?” he asked, his voice thrumming with excitement.
“You pulled me out of a warm bed with my very naked, sleeping wife. Spit it the fuck out, Gil.”
“Best Sports sent over an offer.”
I was elated and disappointed all at the same time. “That’s great, Gil. Thanks. Email it to me, and I’ll look it over as soon as I’ve had some coffee.”
“Uh…did I miss something? Why the hell aren’t you celebrating, D?”
“I am…I…” I held in a sigh. It was hard to explain without admitting to a fake marriage, no matter how real it was to me. “I just haven’t woken up yet.”
“Sure. I guess we’ll talk later?” He sounded worried now, but I had too much on my mind to care.
“Later.” I hung up and leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling and trying to figure out what to do next. I was ecstatic about the endorsement and the fact that my dream was finally going to become a reality. Except, it wasn’t as important to me as it used to be. Skye was my top priority now, and without her, everything else would lose its luster.
I opened the top drawer on my left and picked up a small velvet box, then flipped the lid open. A diamond-encrusted infinity band winked at me in the rays of the sun coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
As I studied the ring, renewed determination filled me. Why the fuck was I sitting here moping like a pussy? I’d already decided I wasn’t letting her go. I would fight to the death, and if I’d been reading her right, I wouldn’t have to. I was confident that Skye was in love with me, and I saw it in everything she said and did. Which meant that this news would be exciting to both of us. A new adventure to dive into together.
With that in mind, I turned on my computer and got to work on making plans.
A few days later, I lit the last candle and looked around to make sure everything else was set up just right.
The room was filled with vases of Skye’s favorite flowers, and the lights were dimmed so that all the votives around the room cast a romantic glow. Dinner for two from Skye’s favorite restaurant was spread out on the dining room table, with two tall candles, two flutes, and a silver bucket filled with ice and a bottle of sparkling cider.
I wasn’t sure if that last one was necessary, but I was hedging my bet that several weeks of unprotected sex—multiple times a day—had knocked up my wife. And wouldn’t that just be the icing on the cake? Best Sports, Skye, and a baby? It seemed like too much good for just one person, but I didn’t care. Fate would have to pry them all from my cold, dead fingers.
Glancing at the clock, I saw that Skye had finished class thirty minutes ago, which meant she’d be home any minute. I’d picked a day when her class load was light so she wouldn’t be exhausted. She’d been more tired than usual lately, and I wanted tonight to be a celebration, rather than something else to exhaust her.
I was waiting in the vestibule outside our front door to intercept her when she arrived home. “Hey, baby,” I greeted her with a tender smile.
“Hey.” She beamed at me and came easily into my arms when I pulled her in for a deep kiss.
“I have a surprise for you.”
Skye lit up and bounced on the balls of her feet, making me laugh. My girl loved surprises.
I turned her so that her back was to my front and covered her eyes.
“How am I supposed to walk if I can’t see?” she asked with a giggle.
“Do you trust me?”
Her voice was soft when she answered, “Yes.”
“I’ll guide you where you need to go,” I crooned in her ear. Then I walked her inside and back to our bedroom where I had an outfit laid out for her on the bed.
“Ready?”
Skye bounced again, widening my grin. “Yes!”
I removed my hands, and she gasped when she spotted the soft pink, silk dress she’d admired in Saks Fifth Avenue last week. It was flowy and comfortable while being classy and incredibly sexy.
“Why don’t you get changed and meet me in the front room for the rest of your surprise?”
Skye spun around and threw her arms around me. “There’s more? Dempsey, the dress is a wonderful gift, I don’t need anything else.”