Page 44 of A Sixpence For Your Shoe

I pull her back to look into her eyes. “You like it?”

She shakes her head. “No, I hate it. But I’m faking being this happy to please you.” She rolls her eyes so dramatically it makes me laugh.

“Good.”

“The bed is so big it’s the size of the entire apartment she lives in now.” Misha says seriously. “I’m not joking about that.”

My arm slips around her waist and pulls her tighter against me. “All I want is to see you smile. I’ll do anything to see you smile, little pet. Anything.”

Her gaze grows intense as she stares into my eyes. “All I do around you is smile, Vincent.”

“Let’s celebrate.” I say, picking her up as I stand.

“OK, how?”

“Dinner. I know just the place.”

“It’s only three in the afternoon and I’m not dressed for a fancy dinner.” She giggles, wrapping her legs around my waist.

“Shopping. Then dinner. I do rather enjoy dressing you up.” I smirk.

“We could just go home first and change there?” She scrunches her nose.

“Where’s the fun in that? And besides, maybe there is something you think your mom needs in the apartment? We can get it now while we’re out.”

“I think my mom has everything here that she could ever need. Besides, I’m going to put money in her account as a gift. Seeing as I don’t have to spend it on rent.”

“Your mom is lucky to have someone like you.” I say, nuzzling my face into her neck and breathing in her beautiful scent.

“No, it’s the other way around. I’m the lucky one.”

We walk into the restaurant just as the sun is setting over the city. Misha is wearing a tight, short red dress and black stilettos and it took every ounce of self-control I had not to drive her straight home instead of coming here. On the way here she spoke to her mom on the phone and there was a lot of laughter and excitement. She told her mom she couldn’t believe it. She’s thrilled.

“Look at those views.” Misha says happily.

I am staring at her though, the views behind her hardly catch my eye compared to her beauty. “I am looking at the most gorgeous thing in the room.” I say and as she glances at me, she realizes it’s herself. Her cheeks flush pink and she scrunches hernose. “How do you always know what to say to make me smile?” She murmurs.

“I’m only sharing what’s in my heart, little raven. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

I reach beneath the table and pull her chair right next to mine. I don’t like it when she’s too far away from me.

Misha shifts to the edge of her seat and leans her head into the curve of my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her and when the waitress comes to take our order, neither of us move.

With orange and blue cocktails in our hands we sit and watch the last rays of sunshine dip below the horizon. We don’t speak. And the silence between us is one of my favorite things because I’ve never had such a comfortable silence with anyone before. She understands me and reads me without words. Her touch tells stories as her fingers trace gently over the back of my hand. She leans close and kisses her warm lips against my neck, then turns her eyes back to the view.

Her silence is comforting. Her body is the book I read.

When our food arrives, she sits up and her eyes meet mine.

“Vincent, I wanted to say how grateful I am for you. You’re changing my life. No one has ever cared enough to do that for me. To see me. I mean, toreallysee me.”

I reach over and brush my fingers over her cheek. Letting my fingertips trace over her soft skin.

“I see you, little raven. I see all of you and I adore every inch of you.”

She smiles, lighting her eyes and making her face shine.

I’m in love with her.

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