Page 65 of The Surrender

“I know!” I pull him over to me by the lapels of his jacket, ignoring the flash of pain in my hand, and finally let my excitement leave my body, slamming a hard kiss on his lips. “If she passes her clients over, there will be nothing Leighton can do to match me. Nothing. Plus, Leo Lombardy emailed to accept my services and—”

“Services?”

“Financial services.”

“And who is Leo Lombardy?”

“The guy I had dinner with at Nonna’s.”

“The older guy?”

“Yes. I think one of the senior partners is having an affair with him, hence she can’t take his file.”

“Scandalous.”

“It really is.”

Jude’s nose scrunches to match mine. “I got you something.” Pulling away, he dips and retrieves a bag from the floor by my feet.

Nervous, I eye it. “What is it?”

“Open it.”

The box is long. A necklace? “Why have you brought me a gift?”

“Because I wanted to. Open it.”

I tentatively peel the gift wrap open under Jude’s watchful eyes, my smile unsure, and, on an inhale, pull the box out, lifting the lid. “A pen,” I say, surprised, taking in the silver ballpoint.

“It’s more what it says on the pen.” Jude takes it out of the box and rolls it to show me.

“It’s engraved,” I breathe, taking it from him and reading. I feel my lip wobble, and my eyes fill, making the engraving blur.

I’ve got you. Jude xxx

“In every aspect of your life,” he says quietly.

And my heart melts to nothing. It’s the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received, because it truly means something, and that’s his whole point. “I love it,” I say, reaching over and hugging him hard. “Thank you.”

“I’ve got you,” he repeats, injecting so much strength into his cuddle. “And I love you.”

I feel so overwhelmed. So fulfilled. It’s a new feeling, and I’m a fan of it. I move my lips onto his cheek and inhale as I kiss him. “I love you more.”

“I doubt it.” Jude turns his mouth onto mine and nibbles at my lip. “I could do something very explicit to you right now.”

“There’s no room.” I return to my seat as Jude lifts his arse from his, adjusting his trousers. “Okay?” I ask on a sideways smile.

“No.”

I click my pen a few times as my mobile ringing fills the car, and I dip to my bag, slipping my new pen into the side pocket and pulling out my phone.

“Who is it?” Jude asks.

“My mum.” I look at him in apology. “Do you mind?” I can’t not answer, she’ll only worry, and I bet she’s in a spin after Dad’s given her a rundown on our earlier row. Jude waves a hand flippantly and pulls away slowly, probably being considerate. But this is a Ferrari, and it’s got a screamer of an engine. “Mum.” I wince.

“Oh, Amelia, I do hate this. Your father’s in a terrible mood, he won’t talk to anyone, and he and Grandma have had words.”

If only I could be happy that Grandma has my back. “He’ll come round.” He always does. He’ll sulk for a few days, and then I’ll go for dinner, he’ll give me a silent hug, and it’ll be like nothing happened.