“Mm-hm,” he murmured, “I’ve always liked it, but it has new meaning for me lately.”
“I think you’re wonderful,” she said, putting her elbows on the counter and leaning over it to kiss him good morning. His mouth tasted like mint and coffee, which shouldn’t have been such an arousing, delicious combination, but Elise found that it was. She reached up to brush her fingers through the wet curls on the back of his neck, grinning up at him when she finally pulled away to eat his breakfast.
“I think you’re amazing,” he said, caressing her face with his dark eyes.
“You’re sinfully handsome.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re scorchingly sexy.”
“You’re ridiculously sweet.”
“You’re…” Suddenly he looked down at his eggs, biting on his bottom lip again. When he looked up at her, he searched her eyes, before saying, “I have a present for you. I was saving it for tonight, after the show, but…Want it now?”
A present? She giggled softly in surprise. “You didn’t have to do that!”
“I wanted to.”
“Sure, I’d love it now,” she said, and he rounded the counter, planting another kiss on her lips before heading to the back hall that led to his bedroom, the guest room and his office.
When he returned, he held out a small, robin’s egg blue box that she was positive read Tiffany & Co. in white lettering on top.
“Tiffany’s?” she gasped.
He shrugged, placing the box on the counter in front of her. Fishing a fork from the silverware drawer, he stood across from her and speared a piece of egg before looking up at her.
“It’s just a little thing. To say congratulations and…”
She untied the white ribbon carefully, then opened the box to reveal a sterling silver keychain decorated with a simple silver heart engraved with the date and the words: Tonight it begins… On the keychain were four keys.
She looked up at Preston, her voice breathy with emotion. “And?”
“Stay,” he whispered, searching her eyes like they were a lifeline. “Please stay.”
Touched beyond words, she looked back down at the bright blue box as one plump tear splashed to the marble countertop. She reached for the key ring with shaking fingers and took it from the box.
“At least until the show’s over,” he said, resting his palms flat on the counter, his breakfast forgotten. “I like having you here. I don’t want you to have to worry about finding a place. I don’t want you to leave.”
“What are they for?” she asked, her voice breaking a little as she held up the fresh-cut, shiny keys which jangled lightly as she held them.
“This building. This apartment. My car. And the apartment I own in Philly.”
“In Philadelphia?”
He cleared his throat. “In case you were ever there and needed a place to stay.”
She winced—a slight movement indicating the pain that comes from pleasure—and dropped his eyes, more tears joining the first. With one sweet and simple gesture, he was inviting her into his life officially and without reservation. She understood this, and it made her heart swell with love for him since belonging to him and with him was something she so desperately wanted.
“Why are you crying?” he asked, coming around the counter, but stopping just short of reaching for her.
“Because you’re so good to me,” she choked out, clasping the keys in her hand
All of her worries about propriety sailed out the window as she let herself be surrounded by his kindness and goodness, his thoughtfulness and understanding.
Two fingers landed under her chin and he tilted her head up gently. His green eyes were fierce, but still somehow tender.
“I’m falling in love with you,” he whispered, his eyebrows furrowing with uncertainty. “I know your career is important to you, and I respect that. So much. But if you stay here, I get to see you more, and now that I know what that feels like, I don’t want to give it up. I-I just want you in my life. As much as possible. Please say you’ll stay.”
Overcome with emotion, she whimpered, slipping off the bar stool and flinging her arms around his neck. As she pressed her body against his, he wrapped his strong arms around her, holding her tightly. A moment later, his palms landed on her cheeks and he tilted her head back so that his lips could fall flush onto hers.
She didn’t say yes.
She showed him yes instead.