Page 61 of Dahlias, Sapphires, and Cool Autumn Dusk
He adored me with his gaze, tracing his fingertips along the edge of my face in reverence. “No, Sweetheart, you weren’t snoring, although I have caught you before. Not today.” He kissed my lips gently. “But I figured I should warn you my brothers are likely to have a birthday surprise planned for you when we get back to the house. They’ve had hours to prepare.”
“What time is it?” I asked and looked at my phone.Almost five?Normally, we wouldn’t be home from school by then.
We got out of the car on sluggish feet and made our way inside. Barrett opened the door, and as I entered the three other Lent brothers cheered. I grinned, adrenaline hitting my system in a rush at their attention.
“Happy Birthday.” Jeremy picked me up and spun me, despite my damp clothing. “I wish you’d told me sooner, but this way I get to surprise us both. First, we’re going to dinner in a place I think you’ll love. It goes really well with Julian’s gift to you, which is…” He passed me to Julian, and I laughed.
“Baby,” he said then kissed the end of my nose. “We are going to a Broadway show. It occurred to me you probably haven’t ever seen one, and I think you will love it. I managed to get tickets to that musical no one can manage to see.”
Of course he did. “What’s the name of the musical? How do you know if we’ll even like it?”
He kissed me, ignoring my question in favor of suspense. “Happy Birthday. I only wish you told me sooner so I could’ve done more.”
More? Is he kidding?I was easy to impress, and a Broadway show was more than I would’ve thought to ask for if I had ages to plan.
He set me down in front of Phoenix, and I smiled at him. “The twins did their own thing, and I think you’ll love it, but I have something else in mind. Every day when we walk to school, I’ve seen this in a store window and thought about buying it for you. So, today I got it on my way home. I bow to Jeremy’s usual ability to be the gift giver, but I still hope you’ll like this.” He kissed my cheek then whispered, “I was so proud of how you yelled at her. She deserved it, and you did so great.” He kissed my other cheek. “Here.”
He placed something in my hand, but it took me a few seconds to look away from his handsome face. “What is it?” I asked, instead of looking.
“The thing about gifts, Red, is you have to open them. Go on.” For Phoenix, I would almost describe his expression as sheepish.
I lifted the lid on the box then gasped in genuine surprise and pleasure. Sapphire earrings glittered up at me from a darkvelvet bed. “Phoenix, these are gorgeous, but they’re too much,” I breathed, staring at them in awe.
“They’re not nearly enough,” he said, his voice low. I shivered as his words almost seemed to caress my skin. “I knew they would look beautiful with your hair. Go shower, Red. We’ll leave in half an hour, and it would make me happy if you wear them. Please. I know you’ll wear Jer’s pearls, but wear these, too.”
I grinned, stroking them with a fingertip. “I love them. I’ll gladly wear them all the time.”
“Good.” He stepped back, gesturing toward the bedroom. “Go. We don’t need ultra fancy, but probably not jeans. You can be casual, though. I hate to rush you, but hurry.”
“Guys…” I began, but Barrett shook his head.
“Go,” he suggested.
My first birthday since I was eleven years old.I almost bounced on my toes and squealed as I headed to the bedroom. I couldn’t believe they did so much just for me.
Although I’d never done a tasting menu before, dinner was amazing. We all scarfed down the food, loving every bite. I finally managed to stop smiling enough to speak halfway through dessert.
I asked, “What do you all want for your birthdays? I doubt I can pull off something like this, but still…”
Julian took a bite of his tart, closing his eyes in pleasure before he answered. “Honestly? I just want to lie in bed and watch movies with you all day.”
My brows popped up, since I could easily afford that, but it didn’t seem like enough. “Really? I mean, I could use the card to get you an actual gift. They’re already having me followed, so why not spend some of their money?”
He squeezed my fingertips across the table. “I have everything I want, Baby. If I don’t have it, I can get it. Iwanttime with you. Movies in bed, all day. That’s my request.”
Jeremy nodded. “Same, but I don’t want movies all day. I only want your time. You can watch movies with him all day, just save up your energy because I get you at night. I don’t know for what yet, but we’ll do something, and it will be epic.”
Julian pointed at his brother with a grin. “Bake us a cake?”
“Oh yes, bake us a cake, too. We failed there,” Jeremy said then frowned. “You aren’t getting a cake.”
I shook my head, amused. “I don’t need one.”
My ears tingled, my new earrings a heavy and obvious weight against my neck. Big, gorgeous square studs, I thought, touching one in reverence. And I wore pearls around my neck—the Lents dressed me far better than I ever imagined.
“You’re older than me now,” Phoenix teased. “I always imagined dating an older woman. Cougar.”
I held up one finger. “By one month. I’m older by one month.”
