Page 127 of Night and Day

“You okay?” She was watching me.

I nibbled on her lips again. “I am now. Now that I’m home with you.”

Her face softened. “I missed you.”

I curled an arm around her shoulders, and we headed for the door. “I have a surprise for you.”

“Is it more jewelry?” She held up her wrist. There was another bracelet to match the one her parents had given her. I’d had the jeweler make it with tiger’s eye—which Tessa thought matched my eyes—and brown tourmaline—which was the same shade as her eyes.

“No. You’ll have to wait and see.”

“I have one for you too. It’s small so don’t get too excited.”

Mine was not small. I felt a flush of uncharacteristic nerves. What if she didn’t like it?

She’ll like it, Langston.

“Come on.” Inside, we headed for my office. Lots of staff members called out hellos and waved, welcoming me back.

It was…nice. I’d never cared too much about what people thought of me. I’d been so focused on my work and that was all I’d cared about. I’d never stayed anywhere long enough to form strong friendships—except for my executive team—or get to know people.

I dropped my gear on my desk, then grabbed Tessa’s hand. “Come with me.”

In the hall, I spotted Jazz wearing a jaunty dress covered in red poppies.

“Hi, Jazz. Tessa is off the clock for an hour.”

“What?” Tessa’s brow creased.

“Sure thing, boss man,” Jazz said with a smile.

“I’m being kidnapped,” Tessa said. “Again.”

I whipped around. I hated any reminder of what Rupert Fairbanks had done to her.

Her face softened and she cupped my cheek. “I like this kidnapping a lot better. He’s gone, Ro. He can’t hurt us.”

Rupert was in a psychiatric facility. She was right. He was never coming back. I set him out of my mind.

We crossed the lobby and at the front door, Enzo smiled. “Welcome home. Your car’s ready.”

“Thanks, Enzo.”

Once I’d decided to make Windward home, I’d bought myself a sleek Aston Martin Vanquish Volante in steel gray. I opened the passenger side door for Tessa and she slid in. She’d made me promise not to drive the car in winter. To be fair, I didn’t drive it much. I kept it garaged at the hotel because Tessa and I walked to work most days from her house.

I started the engine, took a second to admire the growl, then set off. We drove through town.

“So what’s this surprise?”

“You need to look up the definition of surprise, Ms. Ashford.”

She shot me a look and rolled her eyes.

I’d learned over the last two months that my woman hated surprises. She hated not knowing and not being prepared.

“Have you heard from your father?” Tessa asked.

“No, thank God. Not a peep.”