Page 78 of Worth the Risk

“It’s still plenty early in the night,” I reassure her. “We can still have an amazing dinner together.” She steps into my arms, wrapping her own around me. “I’m curious, though.” I kiss the top of her head. “Why was tonight supposed to be special?”

She unclamps her arms and steps toward the island to grab the one bag I didn’t open. She reaches inside, pulling out a designer shoebox.

“Oh.” I notice the world-famous Christian Louboutin gold script across the top. “It is a special occasion.” I’m curious. “That’s a pretty expensive item to just pick up while running errands. Were you going to propose to me?”

She smiles. “Would you have said yes?”

“Depends.” I shrug. “If the shoes don’t fit me, all the fairy tales say that I can’t say yes.”

“I guess I’ll just have to wear them myself, then.” She’s about to slide the box open when I dart my hand out to keep it shut.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“I don’t want to see them until you wear them.”

“Okay,” she agrees happily.

“Only them.” I wink at her. “But right now, I need to go take care of something.” Her expression falls. “I’ll be right back, but Ineed you to call Gibson’s and order two of what your favorite is. I’ll pick it up on the way back.”

I pull out my phone, selecting one of my buddies that has connections—the kind of connections where you don’t really want to know how he knows them, and send him a name with an address request needed asap.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to go pay Noah a little visit.” I reach over and grab the bag of spoiled food.

“What? How do you know where he lives?”

“I don’t but I will in a few minutes.”

“What are you going to say to him?” I’m glad she doesn’t waste time trying to convince me not to go. She knows me well enough; it wouldn’t work anyway. I’m done holding back with that piece of shit.

“I’m not sure but I’m going to make it abundantly clear to him that if he values living in this city and having a job, he will never speak to you or come near you again.” I grip her chin, leaning in to plant a kiss on her lips. “Anything you want me to add?” She acts like she’s going to say something. “What?”

“When I asked him why he stayed with me, if he truly didn’t believe that I loved him, why torture me by constantly making me feel bad knowing there was nothing I could do to make him happy—he said he stayed just so that you couldn’t have me.”

My blood boils. I lean in closer. “And do I have you, Taylor? Are you mine?”

She nods.

“Good. Call Gibson’s.” I grab the cheesecake. “And when I get back in here in an hour…” I give her my full attention so she understands just how serious I am. “I want you wet and wearing nothing but those heels because I’m going to spread you across that fucking island and eat you for dessert first.”

By the time I’m out of Taylor’s building and in the back of my SUV, my buddy has sent me Noah’s address.

“Hey, Jeff, going here.” I hold my phone up so he can see the map. He reads the cross streets, putting the car into gear.

“Got it,” he says, pulling into traffic. He gets me there in less than twenty minutes. I grab the food and jump out of the vehicle, walking confidently inside with the bag of items.

“Got a grocery delivery for a”—I look at my phone, pretending to read off his name—“Noah Fedders? Unit 431?”

The doorman shrugs, clearly overworked or underpaid or both. “Elevator is over there.” He points to a far corner of the lobby, turning his attention back to the TV across from him.

“Thanks.” I wave, walking toward the elevator and taking the ride to the fourth floor. I pound on his door when I reach it, holding my thumb over the peephole.

“Got a grocery delivery for Noah.” I attempt to disguise my voice.

“I didn’t order anything,” I hear the muffled voice behind the door say.

---