Page 44 of The New York Nighthawks, Vol. 2

DEMPSEY

When the ringing of my cell phone woke me, I almost shut it off and snuggled back into bed.

I’d kept Skye up pretty late, and we both needed the rest. But as I reached over to decline the call, I saw Gil’s name on the screen.

I’d never dreaded hearing from him before, and I should have been racing to answer, considering the information I was waiting for.

No matter which way it went, his news would change everything. There would be no more ignoring the future and hoping that Skye would want to stay when the time came. Wishing she’d fallen as hard for me as I had for her. The what-if was here, and I had to face it one way or the other.

I hit the answer button and whispered, “One sec,” into the phone before setting it back down. Slowly, I extricated myself from being wrapped around Skye and slid out of bed. Finding my boxer briefs on the floor, I tugged them on, grabbed my phone, and went to my office.

“Gil,” I finally greeted as I dropped onto the big chair behind my desk. “What’s the word?”

“Are you sitting down?” he asked, his voice thrumming with excitement.

“You pulled me out of a warm bed with my very naked, sleeping wife. Spit it the fuck out, Gil.”

“Best Sports sent over an offer.”

I was elated and disappointed all at the same time. “That’s great, Gil. Thanks. Email it to me, and I’ll look it over as soon as I’ve had some coffee.”

“Uh…did I miss something? Why the hell aren’t you celebrating, D?”

“I am…I…” I held in a sigh. It was hard to explain without admitting to a fake marriage, no matter how real it was to me. “I just haven’t woken up yet.”

“Sure. I guess we’ll talk later?” He sounded worried now, but I had too much on my mind to care.

“Later.” I hung up and leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling and trying to figure out what to do next.

I was ecstatic about the endorsement and the fact that my dream was finally going to become a reality.

Except, it wasn’t as important to me as it used to be.

Skye was my top priority now, and without her, everything else would lose its luster.

I opened the top drawer on my left and picked up a small velvet box, then flipped the lid open. A diamond-encrusted infinity band winked at me in the rays of the sun coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

As I studied the ring, renewed determination filled me.

Why the fuck was I sitting here moping like a pussy?

I’d already decided I wasn’t letting her go.

I would fight to the death, and if I’d been reading her right, I wouldn’t have to.

I was confident that Skye was in love with me, and I saw it in everything she said and did.

Which meant that this news would be exciting to both of us. A new adventure to dive into together.

With that in mind, I turned on my computer and got to work on making plans.

A few days later, I lit the last candle and looked around to make sure everything else was set up just right.

The room was filled with vases of Skye’s favorite flowers, and the lights were dimmed so that all the votives around the room cast a romantic glow.

Dinner for two from Skye’s favorite restaurant was spread out on the dining room table, with two tall candles, two flutes, and a silver bucket filled with ice and a bottle of sparkling cider.

I wasn’t sure if that last one was necessary, but I was hedging my bet that several weeks of unprotected sex—multiple times a day—had knocked up my wife.

And wouldn’t that just be the icing on the cake?

Best Sports, Skye, and a baby? It seemed like too much good for just one person, but I didn’t care.

Fate would have to pry them all from my cold, dead fingers.

Glancing at the clock, I saw that Skye had finished class thirty minutes ago, which meant she’d be home any minute.

I’d picked a day when her class load was light so she wouldn’t be exhausted.

She’d been more tired than usual lately, and I wanted tonight to be a celebration, rather than something else to exhaust her.

I was waiting in the vestibule outside our front door to intercept her when she arrived home. “Hey, baby,” I greeted her with a tender smile.

“Hey.” She beamed at me and came easily into my arms when I pulled her in for a deep kiss.

“I have a surprise for you.”

Skye lit up and bounced on the balls of her feet, making me laugh. My girl loved surprises.

I turned her so that her back was to my front and covered her eyes.

“How am I supposed to walk if I can’t see?” she asked with a giggle.

“Do you trust me?”

Her voice was soft when she answered, “Yes.”

“I’ll guide you where you need to go,” I crooned in her ear. Then I walked her inside and back to our bedroom where I had an outfit laid out for her on the bed.

“Ready?”

Skye bounced again, widening my grin. “Yes!”

I removed my hands, and she gasped when she spotted the soft pink, silk dress she’d admired in Saks Fifth Avenue last week. It was flowy and comfortable while being classy and incredibly sexy.

“Why don’t you get changed and meet me in the front room for the rest of your surprise?”

Skye spun around and threw her arms around me. “There’s more? Dempsey, the dress is a wonderful gift, I don’t need anything else.”

I chuckled, and she frowned at me. “I’m not laughing because I think you need more, baby,” I explained when I realized where her mind had gone.

“I’m laughing because you seem to think I’m going to stop spoiling you at some point.

Skye, I will never stop. I love pampering you, spoiling you, doing anything that will put that beautiful smile on your sweet mouth.

” I gave her a quick kiss and patted her on the ass.

“Now get changed.” Then I spun on my heel and marched out of the room.

If I stayed while she attempted to change, we’d never make it to dinner.

When she found me in the dining room, I was standing by one of the tall windows, staring at the view. But at the sound of her gasp, I turned and my mouth went completely dry. “Wow,” I croaked. “You look…” Words failed me.

Skye’s cheeks turned the same shade of sweet pink as her dress, and she did a little twirl. “Thank you. For the dress and the compliment.” Then she swept her hand out. “And all this…did I forget something?” She chewed her lip, but when she saw my scowl, she immediately stopped.

“No, baby, you didn’t forget anything. I want to talk to you about something important and then we’ll celebrate together.”

“Oh?” Her interest was piqued, and when I crossed the room to take her hand, she looked up at me expectantly.

I didn’t say anything as I led her to the table and helped her take a seat. “Patience, Mrs. Tate,” I teased.

Her lips pinched, but she didn’t voice the retort I knew was rolling around on her tongue.

I waited until I was seated around the corner of the table from her, then reached across to take her hand. Smiling, I drew little circles on her palm, enjoying the way it sent a path of goose bumps up her arm.

“First,” I began, staring into her deep brown eyes, “Gil called. Better Sports made an offer. A very generous one. But the best part is that when Gil told them what I wanted to do with the money, they offered to donate a large portion of the equipment.”

Skye’s eyes went wide, and her mouth formed a little O. Then, out of nowhere, her entire face crumpled, and she burst into tears. It was the opposite of the reaction I’d been hoping for.