“Yes, he does. That’s okay, though, since I’m up to something too,” she said with a wink. “Come in.”
As I walked into the dining room, I saw our ordinary table and chairs and the same dinnerware we always used. Nothing looked different, as far as I could tell. Nina wore a yellow sundress, which was more formal than we usually were for dinner, but even that wasn’t really different since she was barefoot, like she always was around the house. I took a seat and crossed my arms to pretend I was angry at her keeping secrets, even though I knew she was planning something sweet in her typical Nina way. “So what’s this thing you’re up to?”
Nina sat down in her chair to my left, just as she had that first night we’d had dinner together all those months ago. She looked just as she had that night, and for the first time since then, I wanted to replay that moment. Taking the serving fork in my hand, I served her a slice of ham. After scooping out some sweet potatoes and cauliflower onto her plate, I smiled at the recognition on her face. She remembered that night too.
As I filled my plate, she said quietly, “You better give me some more ham. I’m feeling like I need to eat some more now.”
Never a big eater, Nina sounded like she was trying to tell me something with that, but if I was supposed to figure it out, I was missing the point. I placed another slice of ham on her plate and took a long look at her. Nope. She didn’t look any different, but there was definitely something she was hiding.
“Suddenly a fan of ham tonight?” I asked. “I figured the ham was for me since it’s my favorite.”
“It is. I just think I should eat more.”
I cut up a piece of ham and served it to her as I tried to figure out her cryptic hints, but it was no use. I had no idea what she was up to. “I hope I’m not ruining your surprise, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to be getting here. Maybe we should begin with my surprise?”
She seemed to consider the idea for a moment and nodded. “Okay. I’m pretty curious what surprise you could have for me, so I can wait to give you yours.”
Taking the jewelry box from my jacket, I slid it across the table toward her. “Surprise.”
Her eyes grew wide at the sight of the black box in front of her. “What is this? What’s this for?”
“Being you. I sold one of my businesses, and since I sold it for you, I thought it would only be right to get you something.”
She opened the box and saw the diamond necklace Angelo had sworn up and down she’d love. Not that I doubted his choice, but it was a little extravagant for her taste. A diamond studded choker, the necklace dropped down to showcase three one caret diamonds that Angelo said would land just above her cleavage. Five carets total, it was fancier than what Nina usually wore, but I wanted her to see herself as I did.
As a goddess. My goddess.
“Oh, my…it’s gorgeous, Tristan,” she said in a voice full of awe as she lifted the necklace out of its velvet box.
I stood and walked behind her to help fasten it around her neck. “Here, let me help. Angelo says it’s called something like a Venus necklace.”
Nina held her hair up, and after I closed the clasp, I walked around to look at her wearing my gift. Just like a goddess. “I hope you like it.”
She looked down and lightly ran her fingers over the diamonds resting on her tan skin. “Oh, it’s beautiful.” Looking up at me, she asked, “Why did you get me this? Not that I don’t love it, but what’s the occasion?”
“I sold my part in that club in Florida—the one I went in on with Chase. After I told him about wanting to get out of Top, I decided I didn’t want to be in Club X with him either. So I contacted the other owners and they were happy to buy me out.”
“So you just went out and bought me a necklace because of that?” she said with a shy smile, not seeing the connection.
“I wanted out of those businesses because of you. I’m a happily married man now, so I didn’t want to be bothered with clubs and Chase.”
“Was this Club X like Top?”
I knew where she was going with that question. “Not exactly. I just didn’t have any interest in being involved anymore.”
“You said the owners were happy to buy you out. What about Chase?”
Nodding, I explained, “Chase got himself into some tight spot with money, so he was happy to hear they’d buy him out too. Everyone won and everyone was happy.”
Nina ran her fingers over the necklace again. “How come you never took me to this Club X like you took me to Top?”
Always with the questions. “Well, in the first place, I should never have taken you to Top, but I never took you to Club X because you meeting Chase was bad enough. I didn’t want to introduce you to the owners, three eligible bachelors, one of whom reminded me of myself.”
Arching one eyebrow, she looked at me intrigued. “So you worried I might like this man? I think you’re crazy. There’s nobody like you, Tristan.”
“Well, not exactly like me, but the oldest brother Cassian reminds me a little of me when I was younger. I couldn’t be sure you wouldn’t fall madly in love with him and never want to come back.”
Nina rolled her eyes and made a clucking sound with her tongue. “You’re silly. I would never do that. It’s nice to know you were worried, though. Makes you even more charming, if that’s possible.”
“Good. I can always use a little more charm, especially with you, Mrs. Stone. So now you can tell me what you’re up to with this surprise dinner.”
From under the table, Nina pulled out a baby’s onesie like the one we’d found in the attic and placed it on the table. Inside near the collar was my name sewn in so the nanny had known it was mine. I picked up the tiny blue outfit and ran my fingers over the fabric, noticing how soft the cotton felt. Lowering it, I looked at Nina, confused. “Did you find something in the attic today?”
Shaking her head, she smiled sweetly. “No. I just thought you should see that.”
I looked down at the onesie and back up at her. “Okay. Now I’m feeling really stupid because I have no idea what you’re trying to tell me, Nina.”
“I just thought you should get used to seeing that around. We’re going to have more around like that, but maybe in pink. I don’t know yet.”
Nina’s words filtered through my brain, and my jaw dropped as her meaning became clear. A baby? She was having my baby. “When? How? How long have you been thinking you’re pregnant?”