Page 107 of Reckless Love

Elle hands me a small rectangular box. I shake it as I always do, and she rolls her eyes playfully. I hand her a similarly sized box. I’ve had this gift for a while now and have wondered how she’d receive it. I’m feeling a little more confident now that it’ll be okay.

“You go first,” I say.

She smiles and opens it without hesitation. It’s always so fun to give her gifts.

She gasps when she opens the box. I bought her a Tiffany watch. She loves that Tiffany Blue® and this one is stainless steel with the blue dial and small diamonds surrounding it.

“Rhodes,” she whispers and then smiles.

“If it’s not the right one, we can pick out one you like better.”

She giggles then and I can’t tell what’s striking her funny.

“I love it,” she says. “I love it so much.”

“Oh, good.”

She surprises me by looking at the back. I thought I’d have to show her the inscription, but she findsit and her head falls back with her laugh. I frown, not sure how to take her laughing so hard at me havingYours, Rhodesengraved on the back of her watch.

She wipes her eyes and reaches over to squeeze my hand. “I love it, Rhodes. It’s so perfect.You’reperfect.”

She kisses me and it sends my heart into overdrive. I love her mouth and everything about her.

She pulls back. “Here, open yours.”

I grin and carefully open it.

“Rip it,” she says, laughing.

“But it’s so pretty. I don’t know how you can get it so pretty. I have to pay to have that done.”

She gives me a smug look. “Maybe I’ll teach you sometime.”

“Mmm, I don’t think these giant fingers will ever be able to do this.”

“They’re just right for other things,” she whispers.

I have to adjust my candy cane.

“Keep it up,” I tell her, “and this candy cane will be trying to hop out of these pants.”

She laughs and I open the box and stare at it in shock.

“Elle, this is…beautiful.” I look at her in concern. “You didn’t need to spend so much money on me.”

She gives me a pointed look. “You did.”

I give her a pointed look back. I don’t saybut I can afford it, even though we both know what I’m thinking.

The BVLGARI watch is theshit. It’s dark green, my favorite color.

She nudges me. “If it’s not the right one, we can pick out one you like better…”

I lean over and kiss her. “I love that we got each other the same thing. I’m just…it’s…I love it.”

She touches the watch. “Keep looking,” she says, her lips quirking up.

I pick it up and study it closer and then turn it over.Yours, Elleit says. She covers her mouth with her hand, laughing and my eyes well up. Her laugh quietens and she scoots closer.

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