Page 75 of Tempt

It’s a lovely night,unseasonably warm, so we walk from Sam’s office. I’m tightly wrapped in the red silk scarf he got me, and if I don’t take off my blazer, it functions perfectly as an acceptable outfit for being in public.

Also hidden from public view is my tender bum. Sam makes sure to brush up against where he paddled me, though. He’s thoughtful like that.

We head west, my boyfriend completely mum about where we are going. Instead, Sam’s talking about home renovations, and I’m only listening with half an ear. “What do you think about that?”

“About what?”

“Going back to the lodge next Christmas.”

It’s March. I don’t plan my life out that far, but I like the idea of it. “Sure.”

“I know you don’t like to plan that far in advance.”

I laugh. “You read my mind.”

“But I thought we should maybe lock in those dates. Just to be on the safe side.”

“Does it matter when we go?”

“Well…” Sam stops in the shadow of a theatre, the marquee lights dazzling behind him. “I had an idea.”

“Are we going to a show?”

He glances behind him. “Yes, but not that one.”

“Oh, a clue.”

“Hazel.”

“Sam.”

“Can I have your full and undivided attention for a minute?” He grins at me, and tugs me along, past the theatre.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise. But I want to ask you something first. It’s about houses. Yours, and mine, and if we should keep both, and how much time we should spend in them. How we spend time in them.”

He stops again at the next street, dodges around a group of pedestrians, and pulls me onto a quieter side street.

“Hazel, I’m trying to say, I want to be with you. All the time, and for always. From the moment we re-connected, I haven’t wanted to leave your side. And this is coming out all wrong, but I love working on your house with you. I love having you in my house. And I want to have a conversation about whatyouwant, what you love, so we can be on the same page.”

“I…” He wants my full and undivided attention for this conversation, so I’m taking it seriously. I’m thinking about it. “I love both homes, too. If you don’t mind going back and forth, I don’t, either. And there are some real advantages to living in the city. The naughty office role-play, for example. And that theatre. We could go see a live show. That would be great. Are you worried that I’m going to want you to move to Stratford?”

“I—I was hoping you might. Want something like that, I mean.”

“Oh.” I let that sink in. “Sam, I love you so much. I really do. I don’t care where we live. If you want to keep a place in the city, because it’s easier for work…”

He had talked about leaving the investment firm behind, but something is stopping him. And that’s his choice to make, when it’s right for him.

“Well, the question is a little more personal than that. Because I want to buy you something. A promise ring, of sorts. But it’s a bit bigger than a ring. Too big, in fact, for your house. And if you like it, we might need to keep my apartment in order to keep the gift. I thought about surprising you with it, but I didn’t want you to think I was trapping you in the city.” He tugs me against him. “As much as I do like trapping you, I like it even more when we’ve discussed it in advance, in at least the broadest of strokes.”

I’m speechless. Not just because of the mystery gift, but all the rest of it.A promise ring, of sorts. It’s so innocently sweet, it takes my breath away.

“Is it—”

Sam touches his finger to my lips. “Don’t try to guess. We’ll be there soon. A few more blocks.”

I lace my fingers through his. “Then lead on.”

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