ng, and I am ready to sleep. Christian
gazes down at me and reexamines the keychain before
climbing into bed. He shakes his head, incredulous once
more.
“This is so neat. The best birthday present I’ve ever
had.” He glances at me, his eyes soft and warm. “Better
than my signed Guiseppe DeNatale poster.”
“I would ha一ve told you earlier, but as it was your
birthday . . . What do you give the man who has
everything? I thought I’d give you . . . me.”
He puts the keychain down on the bedside table and
snuggles in beside me, pulling me into his arms against his
chest so that we’re spooning.
“It’s perfect. Like you.”
“It’s perfect. Like you.”
I smirk, though he can’t see my expression. “I am far
from perfect, Christian.”
“Are you smirking at me, Miss Steele?”
How does he know? “Maybe.” I giggle. “Can I ask
you something?
“Of course,” he nuzzles my neck.
“You didn’t call on your trip back from Portland. Was
that really because of José? You were worried about me
being here alone with him?”
Christian says nothing. I turn to face him, and his eyes
are wide as I reproach him.
“Do you know how ridiculous that is? How much
stress you put your family and me through? We all love
you very much.”
He blinks a couple of times and then gives me his shy
smile. “I had no idea you’d all be so worried.”
I purse my lips. “When are you going to get it through
your thick skull that you are loved?”
“Thick skull?” His eyebrows widen in surprise.
I nod. “Yes. Thick skull.”
“I don’t think the bone density of my head is
significantly higher than anywhere else in my body.”
“I’m serious! Stop trying to make me laugh. I am still a
little mad at you, though that’s partially eclipsed by the fact
that you’re home safe and sound when I thought . . .” My
voice fades as I recall those anxious few hours. “Well, you
know what I thought.”
His eyes soften and he reaches up to caress my face.
“I’m sorry. Okay.”
“Your poor mom, too. It was very moving, seeing you
with her,” I whisper.
He smiles shyly. “I’ve never
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