Page 26 of Stick to the Deal (Friendship Springs Romance #3)

Birthday Girls' Night

I look around my kitchen at the canvas tote bags on the counter, taking a mental check I’ve got everything ready.

Comfy clothes, check.

Snacks, check.

Booze, double check.

Did I seriously make a mental list and check it off? Goddamn it. A decade with Bree is rubbing off on me.

A knock at the door has my feet moving even as I shake my head with a rueful grin.

I open the door, expecting to find my ride for the evening.

Instead of warm chocolate eyes, steel gray ones are gazing at me intensely.

The smile disappears from my face as I take in the severe features of my husband on my doorstep.

The furrow between his brows deepens as I step back. His hands are shoved deeply into his pockets as he stands there awkwardly in my doorway, a messenger bag and a small rolling suitcase at his feet.

“R-Reginald, what are you doing here?” I wince at the sharp words.

His head ducks and cheeks redden slightly. “Can I come in?”

My own face heats with embarrassment as I realize we’re both still standing in the doorway, facing each other like strangers. “Of course. Sorry, you surprised me. Did you fly in from New York or London? ”

“London.” He follows me through the open penthouse apartment to the kitchen area. His fingers finally leave his pockets to flip one of the straps of the bag on the counter. “You have plans tonight.” It’s a statement, not a question.

Desperate for something to do with my hands, I flit about the kitchen, grabbing glasses to fill with water. “Yeah. Just tonight, though, I’m free the rest of the weekend.”

His hand drops from the fabric. His features are still tense, a muscle spasms in his jaw. Storm clouds dance in his gray eyes. Suddenly he looks so lost, so sad, I’m filled with the desire to cheer him up.

Sidling up to him, I lay my hand on his arm. “I am happy to see you.” I catch his gaze with my own and some of the tension relaxes around his eyes. His hand reaches for me and lightly circles my waist. “I kind of suck at surprises.” I grin at him and his lips twitch into a slight smile.

The hand squeezes my side briefly, then leaves me. I instantly miss the contact and try not to show it.

Reginald digs into his carry-on and hands me two small boxes covered in newspaper with an envelope tucked into the twine. It’s obvious he wrapped them himself; the realization fills me with warmth. My eyes dart between the gifts to the man in front of me.

“Happy birthday.” The flush returns to his cheeks and I’m surprised at how sexy I find it.

“How did you know?” I carefully place the packages on the counter and eye him over my shoulder.

His face tips down, one palm grips the back of his neck while the other dives back into his pants pocket. “The profile from the matchmaker.”

I chuckle slightly and pull out the card. It is a simple piece of folded card stock with his confident handwriting slashed across the crisp white paper.

To my wife,

Like the swans, may you soar free

Happiest of birthdays

R B

In the envelope, I also find tickets to the New York Ballet’s production of Cinderella. I shoot him a grateful smile as I move on to the first box. Inside an acrylic case sit a pair of black pointe shoes. A feminine signature scrawls across the bottom of one.

“Those are from the production of Swan Lake we saw together.” His voice rumbles by my shoulder, where he’s stepped closer to see me unwrap my gifts.

I set the box on the counter where I can see the shoes easily, and move on to the next surprise.

Inside is a novel and a pair of socks. Brows pinching, I flip over the book to read the back.

It is a retelling of Swan Lake from Odette’s perspective by Mercedes Lackey.

The dove gray socks are a thick knit, small black swans embroidered at the cuff of each.

Reginald clears his throat. I glance over to find him rocking back on his heels, both hands firmly in his pockets.

“You seemed to appreciate Odette at the ballet, and I’ve seen you with a novel when you travel.

I thought you might like this interpretation.

The socks are a winter-grade thermal fleece.

Figured they could keep your feet warm…” His voice trails off like he was going to add something else but had second thoughts.

“When you’re not there to?” I chuckle, remembering our first night together. He ducks his head slightly, making me smile. “Thank you.” I turn into him, planting a kiss on his warm cheek and snaking one arm around his neck. “I love it.”

As I’m about to pull away, his arms close around my waist, holding me tight. My breath escapes me in a sigh as I relax into his warm embrace. The tension slowly leaves my shoulders as I lean into him. I’m quickly getting addicted to Reginald’s hugs.

The sound of a key in the lock echoes through the quiet room. We both stiffen as the front door flies open.

“I hope you’re ready to go, suga’, but first I’m seriously about to pee…” Anna comes to a sudden stop. Her eyes are comically huge as she stares at us. “…Myself.”

“Uh, Anna, you want to shut the door?” Reluctantly, I step back from the hug. Reginald keeps one arm firmly around my back, so I rest my palm on his chest.

She remains frozen, her eyes darting back and forth between us.

Suddenly regaining control of her body, a dazzling smile lights up her face and she whirls into action, shutting the door and striding forward.

“Hello, you must be the husband.” Her eyes drop to our intimate pose.

“Or at least I hope you are.” She sticks her hand out towards him .

A slight smile lifts his lips as he relaxes next to me. “I am. Reginald Bancroft, at your service. And you would be Anna?”

“Oh, so she’s told you about me? Funny, she’s been very tight-lipped about you.” Her eyes flare with fire as she shoots me a pointed look.

“I thought you had to pee.” Crossing my arms, I glare at her.

The irony is not lost on me. I cross-examined both Bree and Anna’s partners when they first showed up. Not so enjoyable being on the receiving end. I tell myself that’s the only reason I’ve continued to keep the two sides of my life separate.

Anna waves me off with her hand. “I can hold it a little longer. So, Reginald, how long have you been in town for?”

“Flew in today to surprise Nic for her birthday for a few days before heading back to New York for some meetings. I’m assuming you are her plans for the night?” The tension leaves his shoulders.

“Yup, for our birthday girls’ night tradition. You should come.” I stiffen and Reginald strokes my hip soothingly.

“I’d hate to interrupt a tradition. Plus, it was a long flight from London. I’ll rest here and leave you ladies to it.”

I grab his hand and the carry-on bag. “Come on, I’ll get you settled in while Anna pees.

” Shooting daggers over my shoulder at my friend, I tug Reginald to my bedroom.

I point out the area in the closet and three drawers I’d cleared out in case he ever came by, and sit awkwardly on the edge of the bed as he looks around.

He walks over and tugs me to my feet. “Are you staying over?”

“Probably not with the baby there. I’ll let you know either way, though.”

He nods slightly and drops a kiss to my temple. Some of the tension reduces. “Ok, have fun with your friends. Tomorrow we can celebrate your birthday together.”

The kitchen is empty when I return. A flush sounds from the powder room off the living room.

Quick as a snake, I grab the socks and put them in my bag.

My fingers itch to pick up the book and shoes.

The water is still running in the bathroom, so I clutch them both and move them to the mantle over the electric fireplace before darting back to my bags in the entryway.

When Anna reappears, I usher her to the door, anxious to leave the apartment as quickly as possible. The ride to Brianna’s house is quiet, Anna growing tired of my one-word answers to her probing questions about Reginald. She’s practically vibrating by the time we enter the house .

I wonder how long it will take her to take the first shot.

Turns out it’s exactly 3.5 seconds.

“Nicolette forgot to mention how handsome her husband is,” Anna calls out as we walk into Brianna and Colin’s living room.

“She didn’t have to. A simple google search will show you that.” Bree looks drained as she sways with a fussy Nora in her arms. Her faithful dog, Riley, tracking her motion intently from his perch on the couch.

“You looked him up?” I set my bags down and plop onto my normal spot on the love seat.

She adds a little knee bend to the swaying. “Well, you’ve been annoyingly secretive about the whole thing. Gorgeous wedding pictures, by the way. I told Colin we need to go to Sweden for a bit the next time we fly out to the Dublin office.” She turns back to Anna with sharp eyes. “What happened?”

Dammit. I really should find dumber friends.

“He’s at the penthouse. I walked in on the two of them all wrapped up together.”

Two sets of eyes turn to me. One set, cobalt blue, wide with surprise. The other, chocolate brown, burning with victory.

“That’s a tad dramatic. I was thanking him for my present and hugging him.”

Brianna jerks back. “Since when are you a hugger?” Nora’s fussing escalates into full yells as her mother stops rocking. Riley starts barking, clearly giving Bree an earful on his opinion of her parenting style.

“Is Nora ok?” Colin, Bree’s husband, rushes in from their bedroom, looking equally haggard.

Oh, for Christ’s sake. This is the last thing I need. Blindly, I grab the wine from my bag, twisting off the cap, and taking a swig directly from the bottle. Yes, even heiresses drink twist tops.

His eyes dart around the room, finding no immediate danger, he gently takes his daughter from his wife. His large hand engulfs the baby’s back as he holds her. Nora gives a fitful breath and squirms against his chest before settling slightly. “What’s going on?”