His eyes soften. “Well, I won’t keep you.”
“Okay.”
He flashes me a quick smile and before I can take another breath he’s gone, the door closing behind him.
I exhale and the knot at the back of my throat tightens and pulls at my heart.
Fuck. An apology. From my dad. This is a first. I can barely believe it. I look at Ana with her secret smile, and it’s as if she knew this was coming. Christian, he’s your dad. He’s only looking out for you. I hear her voice in my head and I realize I need to hear her in real time. Now.
I return to my desk and grab my phone.
Ana answers in one ring as if she’s been expecting my call. “Hi.” Her tone is soft and breathy, a gentle salve to my ragged soul.
“Hi,” I whisper. “I’ve missed you.”
I can almost hear her smile. “I’ve missed you, too, Christian.”
“Ready for this evening?”
“Yes.”
“Council of war?”
“Yes,” she giggles.
Tonight. We sort the wedding. At her place.
Ana opens the door to her apartment and stands silhouetted in the kitchen light. She’s wearing a floaty floral dress I’ve not seen before that’s sheer against the light. All her lines and planes and curves are etched like a fine sculpture, outlined just for me. She’s stunning.
“Hi,” she says.
“Hi. Nice dress.”
“This old thing?” She does a quick twirl, the skirt clinging to her legs, and I know she’s worn it especially for me.
“I look forward to peeling you out of that later.” I hold out the bunch of blush peonies I bought from Pike Place Market.
“Flowers?” Her face glows as she reaches for them and buries her nose in the bouquet.
“Can’t I buy my fiancée flowers?”
“You may and you do. Though I believe this is the first time I’ve had a personal delivery.”
“I think you’re right. May I come in?”
She laughs, opening her arms, and I step into her embrace and hold her close. I nuzzle her hair, inhaling her intoxicating fragrance.
Home. Is. Ana.
She is my life.
“Are you okay?” She rests her palm on my cheek, her vivid blue eyes searching mine.
“I am now.” I lean down for a quick kiss. Her lips brush mine, and what I mean to be a grateful, I’m-so-pleased-to-see-you kiss…becomes more. Much more. The fingers from her free hand wind around the nape of my neck and she opens up for me like an exotic flower, her mouth warm and welcoming. She sucks in a breath as my hand skirts down the soft fabric that adheres to her body and squeezes her backside. Her tongue greets mine, in every language, until we’re both panting, and desire races through my veins looking for an out.
I groan and pull back, staring down into her beautiful dazed face.
“Okay, Taylor, you can go,” I say.
“Thank you, sir.” From behind me, Taylor steps out of the shadows of the stairwell, deposits my leather overnight bag inside the door, gives us both a nod, and heads back down the stairs.
Ana giggles. “I didn’t know he was there.”
“I forgot, too.” I grin.
To my great disappointment, Ana releases me. “I have to put these gorgeous flowers in water.” I watch as she moves over to the concrete kitchen island and I’m reminded of the last time I was here when Ana was facing an armed and deranged Leila. A shiver runs up my spine. That meeting could have gone so tragically wrong. No wonder Ana’s been on about the two of us spending another night here. I’m sure she’d love to supersede the last memory she has of us in this place. Thankfully, Leila’s recovered, and far across the country at her parents’ place in Connecticut.
“Where’s Kate?” I ask, remembering that Ana does not live alone.
“She’s out with your brother.” She fills a vase with water.
“So we have the place to ourselves.” I shrug out of my jacket, take off my tie, and undo the top two buttons of my shirt.
“We do.” Ana holds up a notebook. “And I have listed everything we need to discuss for the wedding.”
“Can we take a rain check?”
“No. I know what your rain check will involve. And we need to do this, Christian. Council of war, remember?” She waves the book at me, raising that Steele chin in determination.
It’s a good look on Ana.
I know she’s been stressing about the wedding, though I don’t know why. Ms. Gutierrez seems competent and is handling all the arrangements in an unflappable and efficient manner; our discussion should not take long.
“Don’t pout,” she adds, with her familiar amused smile.
I laugh. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
An hour later we’re sitting on barstools at the kitchen counter and we’ve completed the application for a marriage license. Agreed on stationery. Color scheme. Menus. Cake design. And party favors.
Party favors!
“Christian, I don’t think we should have a registry.”
“Registry?”
“For wedding gifts.”
“God, no.”
“But if people want to give something, perhaps they could contribute something to your parents’ charity, Coping Together?”
I stare at her, amazed and humbled at once. “That’s genius.”
Ana nods. “I’m glad you like the idea.”
I lean forward and kiss her. “This is why I’m marrying you.”
“I thought it was for my cooking.”
I nod. “That, too.”
She laughs, and it’s a joyful sound.
“Okay, I’ve asked Kate to be my maid of honor,” Ana says.
“Makes sense.” I ignore my sinking feeling; Katherine is the most irritating woman I know. But she’s Ana’s best friend…so… Suck it up, Grey.
“I’m going to ask Mia to be my bridesmaid.”
“Mia would love that, I’m sure.”
“You’ll need to find a best man.”
“Best man?”
“Yes.”
Well, it can only be Elliot. I’ll have to ask him, and he’ll give me shit.