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“I hate the idea of telling anyone about my private life,” Annabel said. “How is it anyone’s business?”

“Because you’re in the news. Because you have money, people look askance at you. They want to know who you are,” Olivia echoed Annabel’s own words back at her.

“Stop quoting me,” Annabel growled.

“Mom, this is bothering you,” Olivia reminded her. “They’ll feel it and wonder at the cause of it. You should be honest with them.”

Annabel closed her eyes. “I know you’re right. I could plan something.”

“Valentine’s Day is around the corner,” Olivia reminded her. “I know it’s a bit cliché but with your guys, it would be a nice restart to things.”

“Huh,” Annabel said. “I’ve always hated the plans the men in my life made for holidays.”

“Yes, but you’ll be in control of this,” Olivia said.

“There’s a play,” Annabel scrolled through a list of events.

“Go out somewhere nice,” Olivia encouraged. “Then back to your place for candles and your confession.”

“I can do this,” Annabel muttered.

“You go, mom,” Olivia grinned over the phone.

“They had a box left,”Charles said. “It seats six. Who do you want to invite?”

“Excellent,” Annabel grinned. “We’ll go to the theater and then out to the Midnight Lounge after. Did you get the delivery from the jeweler?”

“It hasn’t come in yet,” Charles said. “He was having a messenger send it over this afternoon.”

“Good,’ Annabel leaned back in her chair. “It’s all coming together now.”

“What are you planning,” Charles asked.

“Valentine’s Day,” Annabel said. “We’ll go out to the theater, then have a meal at the Midnight Lounge, and then back to my place.”

“You don’t like Valentine’s Day,” Charles reminded her. “You swore after the last one you allowed someone to talk you into, you’d never do anything on it again.”

“Don’t remind me,” Annabel said. “I know it’s cheesy. I want to tell them. I want to make a big deal out of telling them. So, I made plans. I want everything to be perfect. Then at some point in the evening, I’ll tell them I love them.”

“Have you asked them to keep the night clear for you,” Charles asked.

“I will. It’s a week away,” Annabel said.

“Most people have their plans already set,” Charles warned her.

“They aren’t most people. Besides, we spend every night together anyway. I’ll ask them soon. I just want everything in place.”

“Don’t wait too long,” Charles said.

“She doesn’t likeholidays and she doesn’t like us to take control,” Ryan reminded him.

“How do we get her to go then,” Andrew asked. “I want to tell her. We need to tell her how we feel.”

“Yeah. I want to know how she feels. We spend all this time together. It can’t be just the sex.”

“Which is fabulous,” Andrew grinned. “Over the top and better than anything. She’s key. I want her to know.”

“Do you think she’ll be willing to move forward?” Ryan asked. “I don’t need a legally binding thing but I want a commitment.”

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