I stopped at Delilah’s room and peeked in to see if she was awake yet. “Hey baby doll,” I said. “Whatcha up to?”
She was kneeling in front of her dollhouse, the contents scattered all around her. “Daddy, I’m NOT a baby!”
“I know. I know. You’re not a baby. It’s just what I like to call you.”
“I don’t want you to call me that,” she pouted.
“All right. I’ll try and remember, okay? What are you doing? Rearranging?”
“Uh-huh,” she said, concentrating on the kitchen part of her dollhouse. “The mama is making muffins.”
“You want to come downstairs with me while I have breakfast? I have to leave for work soon.”
“No, I’m busy.”
I laughed knowing this wouldn’t be the last time she would be telling her old man she was too busy for him. “Okay, I’ll see you when I get home this afternoon. I love you, bab…Delilah.”
“Love you, too, Daddy.”
I walked away smiling and headed downstairs, the smell of something baking filling the downstairs. I followed the scent to the kitchen and found Callie wiping down the counters, unaware I’d walked in. Slowly and quietly, I snuck up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist.
“Shiii…shoot!” she gasped. “You scared me. Why are you always doing that?”
“Sorry. You scare too easily,” I said, nuzzling her neck. “Something smells good.”
She leaned into me slightly, her body relaxing from my touch. “I made blueberry…” She trailed off.
I ran my nose up her neck, placing a soft kiss behind her ear. “I’m sorry. What was that?”
“I made…Mmmm…God, I can’t think when you’re doing that.”
“Doing what?” I asked, smiling against her skin.
“Muffins. Blueberry muffins,” she said as her breathing halted.
“That wasn’t what I was referring to when I said something smelled good.”
She snorted loudly, an adorable noise she made whenever she thought I was bullshitting her. She swatted at my hands, wrapped and untangled herself from my grip.
“Oh, come on,” I moaned. “It’s true. You do smell nice. Always with the orange and honey body wash from the shower.”
She turned around to face me, rolling her eyes at me once she did. “You think you’re so smooth.”
I took the sight of her in and watched as she turned and bent down to retrieve something from the oven. Wearing simple white cotton pants and a light-colored T-shirt was anything but ordinary on her. The pants were snug in the perfect place to accentuate her killer ass and her T-shirt was just tight enough to emphasize her breasts, which were sans bra at the moment. Her hair was piled up in one of those ponytail, bun thingies exposing her long neck and delicate ears. I continued watching her as her back was turned to me and she removed the muffins from the pan, placing them on a plate next to the stove. Once she was finished, she picked up the plate and turned to face me.
“What?” she asked.
“What? What?”
“What are you staring at?”
“I wasn’t staring…,” I stuttered. I quickly realized I was coming across rude, glaring without telling her why. If we were going to give us a real chance at a relationship, I’d have to learn to not be embarrassed to express these things to her. It was new territory for me as well, Lexie never being one for any type of affection, whether physical or verbal, but with Callie, she was open to it.
“Quit gawking before I punch you,” she snapped.
I snatched a muffin from the plate before she yanked it away from me quickly. She placed it on the counter, grabbing a paper towel and shoving it at me.
Yes, she’s so very open.
I smiled at her slight temper as I started picking the blueberries out of my muffin. “Sorry I was staring. You just…you’re so beautiful.”
She snorted. Again.
“I’m serious,” I insisted.
Her eyes casted downward. “Look, you don’t have to go all…gooey…because of last night.”
“I’m not being gooey,” I said. “Well, maybe a little, but is that so wrong?”
She was quiet for a moment, continuing to look at the floor, until she lifted her eyes to me slowly, a cautious smile emerging. “I’m learning. Thank you.”
“Me, too,” I responded, grabbing her hand. “There are going to be a lot of things to get used to, to figure out together.”
“Daddy. I can’t find my My Little Pony,” Delilah screamed from upstairs.
“Like that,” I said, pointing upstairs. “She’s going to be something we’re going to have to figure out together.”
“We? Together?”
“Yeah, together,” I responded.
“What are we going to tell her?” she asked.
I sighed. “Honestly? I don’t think we’ll tell her anything today. I need to wrap my brain around how to explain to her first. She’s already placing you in the ‘mommy’ role. She’s upstairs right now playing make-believe and having the mommy make blueberry muffins, like you.”
“I think you’re right.”
I did my best to ignore the sting in my heart when she mentioned the possibility of us not being together. I wasn’t an idiot. There was always a possibility of things not working out. No one knew that better than me, but it was too soon to think about it.
“Daddy!”
I brought my hand from hers to her face and settled my palm against her cheek. Her eyes flutter closed, her face content against my touch. I brought my face closer to hers, but just before I kissed her, I heard the tiny steps of my daughter pounding her way to the kitchen.
Callie’s eyes opened, hearing the same thing I did. “She’s coming.”
We stepped away from each other, our private moment over.
“Daddy? Can you help me?” she called from the hallway.
“Coming, sweetie,” I shouted.
I started to walk out of the kitchen but stopped short of exiting completely. Turning back around, I called to her as she was facing the sink.
“Callie?”
“Yeah?” she answered, looking over her shoulder at me.
“Your ass in those pants? Sexy as hell.”
* * *
I was driving to work an hour later and my body, my brain, everything, was buzzing. This thing between Callie and me was the stuff of fucking fairy tales. It blew my mind. Now that it was all out in the open I wanted the world to see us together. I wanted everyone to know she was mine.
I wanted our life together to start immediately.
When I got to the office, I called Abel, and then my parents. I invited them to dinner at Stars on the Lake. It was a favorite of ours reserved for special occasions, and it had the most incredible view. Next, I called Sophie, our babysitter, to see if she was available for that evening. When she said she was, I asked her to be at the house by five.
Even though I was buried in work, there was something I needed to do before I could concentrate on anything else.
I stopped in Saks Fifth Avenue and told the salesperson exactly what I was looking for. After rushing off, she returned with several choices for me. The one I decided on caught my eye immediately. I knew it would be perfect. Once I paid for it, and filled out the necessary things to have it delivered to the house, I left.
“Hey, baby,” I said, calling Callie.
“Hey, what’s up,” she asked.
“Something’s going to be delivered to the house later this afternoon for you.”
“For me?”
“Yeah,” I said smiling. “For you. I want you to have it on and be ready when I get home at six.”
There was a slight pause. “What is it?”
“A surprise.”
“It’s not some trashy outfit, is it? I know you dig dress-up shit, but Delilah will still be up at six and—”
“It’s nothing like that. I think you’ll like it. Oh, and Sophie will be there around five so you’ll have time to g
et ready.”
“Are we going out?” she asked.
“No more questions. I’ll just see you when I get home.”
“Okay,” she said, sounding uncertain.
“I’ll see you then. Bye.”
We hung up, and while I needed to get back to the office, I had one more stop to make. Luckily, Harry Winston’s was only a few blocks away.
Chapter Twenty-One
CALLIE—
I stood in my bedroom, in my bathrobe and with a towel around my head, staring at what Aaron had delivered to the house. On my bed was a Saks Fifth Avenue garment bag with the zipper pulled down to uncover the stunning cobalt-blue dress inside. Next to it was a shoe box with a pair of heels the exact color of the dress, with shiny, red soles that meant they cost more than my car.
It was a lovely gesture. My boyfriend, who I was living with and loved, picked out a pretty dress and shoes for me. It was thoughtful and sweet. He was taking me out. The babysitter was already downstairs with Delilah so I could get ready and it was so, so nice.
It was.
But there was a small part of me that felt like it wasn’t.
It was amazing, of course, but it just seemed abrupt in a way. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it just didn’t seem right. I didn’t even know how he knew what size I was.
I shook my head and tried to get rid of all negative thoughts. Aaron was just doing something thoughtful, and there was nothing more to it. That was what I kept telling myself.
I kept telling myself that while I did my makeup and blew my hair dry.
I kept telling myself that while I curled my hair and pinned it up.
I kept telling myself that as I got dressed, feeling the expensive fabric of the dress and the satin of the shoes next to my skin.
Over and over again.
There was a knock on my door, and Aaron popped his head in.
“Hey,” he said, entering.
“Hey yourself,” I said. I smoothed my hands down my dress. “Thank you so much for this. It’s really too much and—”
“You look beautiful.”
I winked at him. “Thanks. Looking pretty hot yourself.”
He had on a dark suit, with a white collared shirt and tie. I wasn’t sure where we were going, but judging by what he was wearing and what I was wearing, it was pretty ritzy.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Dinner.”
“Okay,” I said, uncertain. “I take it we’re not going to Billy Boy’s Country BBQ, huh?”
“No. We’re going to Stars on the Lake, with my family.”
“Whoa.”
And when I said “whoa” I meant it. Like, as in, Whoa, what the hell are we doing going there?, the place that was at the top of one of the largest buildings in Chicago. I never had the luxury of going, and while it was exciting to think about, it was one more thing that didn’t sit well with me.
He walked toward me and took me in a careful embrace, trying not to mess me up too much. I knew I had to stay all in place, but I was so desperate for him. I wanted him to hold me close and run his fingers through my hair, easing me in a way that only he knew how to do. Instead, he ran his hands up and down my back, sighing deeply.
His fingertips brushed up the back of my neck. “I’m so glad you wore your hair up.”
“Oh yeah,” I said, pulling away from him so I could look at him. “Why is that?”
“Well, not only do I think you have the sexiest neck and collarbone I’ve ever seen, but I got you a little something to go with your dress.”
Before I could even think about what he was doing, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. I’d never been given anything in a velvet box, but I knew what they usually contained. Panic immediately set in.
Oh God. Please let it be Xanax in that box. A small, shiny pill to help with the panic attack that is about to ensue. Come to think of it, I’d take two small, shiny pills. Xanax and some sort of antivomit medication. Please, dear Lord, please, don’t let it be…
He opened the box.
It is.
Not.
Nestled inside the box were the most exquisite diamond earrings I’d ever seen. Shaped like sunbursts and shining and sparkling from every which direction, it was a sight I’d never seen in person. I felt tears form in my eyes as I gazed at the extravagant gift, but once I saw the name, HARRY WINSTON, printed on the inside cover of the box, the tears started to fall.
“Holy shit,” I said, covering my mouth.
It was too much. It was all too much. The dress, the shoes, the earrings…him.
“Do you like them?” he asked eagerly. “I saw these and thought you would like them, but if you want something else…”
“No,” I said, interrupting him.
I fought to find the words, but nothing that came to mind sounded right. I couldn’t say, “I don’t belong in diamonds.” Or, “This is nice and all, but don’t you think it’s a little soon for a gift worth thousands of dollars?”
I looked at his face, which was losing its enthusiasm as quickly as the seconds ticked on. His smiled faded, and his eyes moved from mine to the floor.
I was ruining it. The moment, the gift, and us was all going to fall apart if I didn’t change my tune. It wasn’t what I thought or felt, but making us okay was more important than that.
I placed my hand on the side of his face. “Look at me,” I said. “They’re the most perfect thing ever.”
“Really?” he asked, his head slowly lifting.
“Yes, really. They’re so beautiful and probably so expensive, and I’ve never even touched a real diamond before, and you’ve already bought me this dress and done so many nice things for me, and no one has ever done that for me before and…and…and…thank you.”
He brought his arms around me once again and held me tight, no longer worried about possibly messing up my dress. I wanted to soak in every ounce of devotion he had radiating off of him for me. When he pulled away, he kept his arms wrapped around me, smiling with such joy I knew I’d done the right thing.
“You’re very welcome,” he said.
He retreated and took the earrings out of the box. He stepped forward again and then, with the gentlest touch, eased the earrings into the pierced opening in each of my ears, securing them in the back.
When he was done, he took me by the hand and brought me to the mirror. I stood in front of it as he stepped behind me, kissing the side of my neck just below my new earrings.
“You see that?” he asked.
“What?”
“That’s my future in the mirror.”
* * *
Aaron could sense my nervousness. I knew he did. The entire drive there, he kept one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding mine, interlocking our fingers. I knew it was only dinner with Abel and his parents. His parents had always been kind to me, but now they knew about us. I was so unsure how it would all play out. By the time the valet opened my door and I stepped out, I’d all but concluded I was thinking like a neurotic twit.
We entered through the large revolving doors, Aaron stepping in behind me and putting his arms around my waist. “I would like to remind you that I don’t like surprises, and today has been a big one already.”
He placed a kiss behind my ear. “This is going to be great,” he said.
We exited the door and walked across the large lobby of the high-rise. At night it was quiet and empty, void of the hustle and bustle of the daytime business action. He took my hand and hit the star-marked button next to the elevator.
Once the door opened, he yanked me inside and bent down to kiss me hard. “Mmmm,” he hummed against my lips.
The door closed and he kissed me again, this time with his hands on my face and his tongue swirling around mine. My body felt weightless, and I was light-headed from the rapidly ascending elevator. Or maybe it was the kiss. I didn’t know.
When his hand moved from my face to my ass, I pushed against him
. “Don’t be getting all frisky when this door is about to open, and we’ll be standing in front of your parents.”
“I was testing the waters,” he said.
“And what does that mean?”
The elevator rang as we reached our floor, but before it opened, Aaron leaned down. “Have you ever fucked in an elevator?” he whispered in my ear.
My jaw dropped as the door opened, and there stood Daniel, Leslie, and Abel, because of course they were there.
Oh don’t mind us, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews. We don’t normally walk around in public with his hand on my ass and my mouth opened. We usually reserve that for the privacy of Aaron’s bedroom, which of course, is pretty much my bedroom now. Don’t worry. We won’t make you watch. Judging by the looks on your face, you’re already thinking I was blowing Aaron, in the elevator, and your horrified looks aren’t anything I’d ever care to see again.
Aaron took my hand once again as we stepped out. “Hey,” he said. “Everyone’s here. Great.”
He shook his dad’s hand with his free one, and then kissed his mom on the cheek. His mother was, for sure, wearing a Chanel suit, while Mr. Matthews had on a dark suit, his hands shoved in his pockets.
With a wave of his hand, a tuxedo-dressed man appeared, and we followed him to a circular table overlooking the lake. The dining room was small, maybe twenty tables, which were all full. I was sure it was paranoia again when I felt all eyes on us.
Abel hung back and whispered in my ear. “Everything cool?”
“No. Check out my ears. Be discreet! What the fuck?”
We pulled away, but we weren’t a half a second apart before he threw discretion out the window.
“Holy shit,” he mumbled loudly.
Aaron turned around. “What?”
“Callie just showed me her new jewelry and told me to shut up,” Abel said.
“I said be discreet,” I hissed. “I didn’t say shut up.”
“Whatever,” he said. “Nice work, Aaron.”
“Thanks,” Aaron said.
Aaron’s parents were quiet, standing together, and their eyes moving back and forth between us.
So Twisted Page 19