Page 71 of Why Not Forever?

She nods. “I had a really bad habit growing up. I bit my nails all the time. But I couldn’t run a million-dollar business with nails chewed to the quick. No one would take me seriously. When I started university, I started buying really expensive nail polish and getting manicures. I grew up with money, so the expense didn’t really deter me, but having them look pretty did.”

“I didn’t know that about you.”

She shrugs. “No one does. Except Spencer. My parents didn’t really pay attention to little things like that. Liam was too young to really notice. I’d mostly broken the habit by the time I met Adalie and Derek. Every now and then, when I’m really stressed, I’ll still do it. Spencer catches me sometimes and tells me to stop, but usually I stop myself.”

I bring her hand to my lips, kissing the backs of her fingers. “If I catch you biting your nails, do you want me to tell you to stop?”

She shrugs. “I guess. If you notice.”

“I notice everything about you, Vic.”

She flushes and I want to kiss her properly, but our food arrives and we eat. We discuss what we’ll do tomorrow, since it’s our last day. When we’re finished and I’ve paid, as we’re walking back to the hotel, she seems like she’s considering something.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” I ask.

She glances at me. “I was just thinking about last night when you called me Victoria Marcus. You never call me Victoria.”

I arch a brow. “That’s because you don’t like to be called Victoria.”

“My ex-girlfriend, Emily, used to call me that. She thought it was cute that she had a pet name for me.”

“Did you think it was cute?” I ask, incredulous.

She tilts her head to the side. “Not really. It made her happy to be different from my friends. Though I don’t think she considered the fact that it made her the same as my parents.”

“Obviously not. I won’t call you Victoria again if you hate it, Vic.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I kind of liked it actually.”

I blink, confused. “You did?”

She nods, pulling me to a stop beneath a street light. “I think I just really like being VictoriaMarcus.”

I trail a finger down the side of her face. “Are you saying you don’t regret marrying me, Mrs. Marcus?”

She lifts her chin to give me a haughty look. “I do not, Mr. Marcus. In fact, I’m beginning to think it might have been one of my best ideas.”

My mouth crashes against hers because I need to feel her. Now. I need her to know how much I have ached to hear her say that. I want to tell her that I’m in love with her, but it’s still too soon. So I vow to show her instead.

Chapter 26

Vic

Iwishwecouldhavestayed longer in Whistler, but Tanner still works for my father, who will never give him extra days off. So we return to Vancouver and extend the honeymoon by staying at home as much as we can together, spending the time getting to know each other better.

And, obviously, having incredible sex.

Spencer doesn’t bring up the call, letting me tell him when I’m ready, though I’m sure he’s figured it out. And if my other friends are curious about why I’m coming in later than usual and leaving earlier, they don’t say anything about it.

Early on Friday morning, before we’ve even gotten out of bed, Tanner holds me close and says, “I want to take you out tonight. On a date.”

I smile at the feeling of his lips on my neck and the warmth his words bring me.

“I have to be at Blue Vista late. It’s Date Night. The guests are doing a dance class.”

I expect him to say we can go out after, maybe for a late dinner. Instead, he surprises me by saying, “Are there any spots left in the class?”

I roll onto my back. He’s not wearing his glasses yet, so I’m caught in those deep brown eyes immediately. “Not technically.”

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