Page 11 of Texting the Enemy

I elbow him playfully, rolling my eyes. “I just like keeping you on your toes,” I tease back, smiling.

Ford laughs, reaching over to snag a strawberry from the table. “Let’s continue celebrating your success tonight.”

“What have you got planned?” I ask, curious and a little suspicious of the gleam in his eye. Excitement bubbles through me, knowing that whatever Ford has planned, I’ll love. He truly spoils me rotten, and as much as I still insist I can take care of myself, I have to admit I love it when he takes care of me, too.

“You’ll just have to be patient and wait and see,” Ford says with a wink. “You’ll find out tonight.”

Before I can argue my case for him telling me now, he turns and leaves. It’s Friday, so I already planned on spending the wholeweekend with him, anyway. We’ve been talking about moving in together and whose apartment we should move into or if we should look for a new place together. We’re both fully committed to each other and our relationship, so it feels completely natural to me for us to drive to and from work together every day.

At five o’clock sharp, Ford comes by my desk to pick me up, stopping me from working even five minutes past time. It’s one of the things I love most about him, the way he makes sure I’m taking care of myself.

He carries my bag out to the car for me, holding the door open for me like the gentleman he is. After a quick stop at home to get changed into an outfit Ford bought for me—a red sparkly dress and silver heels that are so gorgeous I briefly wonder whether he has better taste than me—we head out for dinner and drinks.

“You look fucking incredible,” Ford says, complimenting me again as he drives. He has one hand on the steering wheel and the other on my thigh, thumb tracing circles on my sensitive skin.

“You’ve got great taste in dresses,” I say back, grinning at him.

He chuckles. “And women,” he teases back, squeezing my thigh.

I don’t realize where he’s taking me until he’s helping me out of the car, and I catch sight of the sign.

“This is the most sought-after place in the city right now!” I exclaim, excitement taking over me. This rooftop bar and restaurant has been going viral for its cocktails and sharing plates, but it’s booked out for months and impossible to get into. “How the hell did you get a reservation here?!”

Ford wraps his arm around my waist, leading me inside and up the elevator to the rooftop. “Don’t you get it by now, Faith?” he asks, tipping my chin up with his free hand so I’m looking him in the eye. “I’d do anything for you.”

Butterflies take flight in my stomach and I steal a kiss that’s cut short when the elevator doors open to the restaurant. It’s just as gorgeous inside as it is in all the photos I’ve seen, full of lush greenery with a bar that wraps around the whole restaurant so that no matter where you sit, you have fresh drinks right in front of you. Three of the walls are glass, giving the perfect view of the city below. French doors lead to a balcony outside where you can take your drinks before or after your meal.

The host greets us and leads us to our table, right by the huge window that gives us the perfect view of the city below as the sun sets. My eyes go wide as I take in the fancy cocktail menu, seeing so many delicious-sounding drinks that I swear my mouth starts watering.

“Have whatever you want, baby,” Ford says, smiling as I debate between a vanilla apricot drink or a classic strawberry one.

Instead of waiting for me to choose, he orders me both, plus a whisky on the rocks for himself and a selection of the sharing plates that I’m drooling over just the thought of.

When our drinks arrive, he raises his in a small toast. “To you, Faith,” he says softly, love shining in his eyes as he clinks our glasses together.

“How are you so perfect?” I say, sipping each of my drinks. I can’t decide which one is best. They’re both insanely good.

“You’re the perfect one, baby,” he argues, and I nudge him under the table playfully.

When our food arrives, it’s just as incredible as everyone says. Between the restaurant and the company, plus the success of the day, this is easily one of the best days of my life.

“I don’t think today could get any better.” I sigh happily as I finish my bite of decadent chocolate lava cake.

Ford chuckles, raising a brow at me. “Oh really? Well, that’s a challenge I’ll gladly take,” he says, standing and pulling the chair out for me too.

I take his hand, and he leads me out to the balcony, which is surprisingly empty of anyone except us. The night air is cool but not cold, and I smile as a soft breeze blows my hair away from my face.

“It’s stunning,” I sigh happily, looking out onto the city below. From up this high, the lights sparkle like fairy lights, and the last rays of the sun are glowing just beneath the horizon, making the scene feel like something out of a movie.

“Truly beautiful,” Ford agrees, but when I turn to him, he’s not looking out over the city, his gaze is locked on me. At this moment, I don’t think I could possibly love this man any more than I do … but then he drops to one knee.

“Oh my God!” I squeal automatically, slapping my hand over my mouth in total shock.

Ford grins at me as he holds up a black velvet box in one hand, opening it to reveal a shining diamond so bright it makes the city below look dull. My gaze is torn between the ring and the man I love, emotions bubbling up fast inside me. Shock, joy, and pure love surround me, and it takes me a minute to hear what Ford’s saying.

“Faith Thatcher,” he says, my name sounding ethereal on his tongue, “from the moment we met, I knew you’d be a force to be reckoned with, and I’ve never been so glad to be right.”

I can’t help but laugh at that because it’s true, after all.

---