Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
It had been a week and three days since Linc had taken Grand to dinner at Britt’s restaurant.
A week and three days of debating an idea, going through with it, and then second guessing himself so many times he’d lost count.
But after making love to Zana last night, after falling asleep with her in his arms and waking up to her wrapped around him, he’d decided enough was enough. He was doing this.
The sound of humming drew his attention.
He looked up from his coffee mug to where Britt was swaying back and forth in front of the stove in his kitchen, lost to a tune in her head.
She’d stolen one of his T-shirts when they’d eventually forced themselves out of bed and was now whipping up her special puffed strawberry French toast. He could get used to her wearing his clothes.
It brought out some primal you’re-my-woman instinct in him. It also turned him on.
He shifted in his seat trying to subtly adjust himself without hands, which were busy turning something over and over in his palm under the table. “You don’t always have to cook for me, Zan. I can make food too, you know.”
“Toaster strudel doesn’t count as food.”
He gasped dramatically with a hand over his heart. “Take it back.”
She ignored his theatrics. “It’s practically a pop tart.”
“And pop tarts aren’t?—”
“Food,” she finished his sentence. “They’re processed sugar and food coloring.”
“Yummy food coloring,” he interjected.
“Besides, I like cooking.”
“Guess it’s lucky you’re a chef, then.”
“Guess so.” She put the warm plate of strawberry goodness on the kitchen table in front of him, then sat kitty-corner with her own plate as he pocketed what he’d been holding. “Get that out of a toaster.”
“God, that smells good.” He took a bite and groaned.
“Better than pop tarts?” she asked, a smug grin on her lips.
She had every right to be smug.
“Orgasmic,” he confessed, stuffing another forkful into his mouth. Laced with cinnamon, the warm, fruity flavor exploded on his tongue.
“Wow. That good, huh?” After taking a bite from her own plate, she closed her eyes and moaned. “Okay, it is pretty damn good.”
“Orgasmic good? And don’t forget, you’ve had a few of those recently to compare it to.”
Instead of responding, Britt took great care in smoothing the wrinkles out of the napkin on her lap.
“Are you blushing?”
Her cheeks deepened another couple of shades. “Of course, not.”
“You positive about that, Zan? Because it sure looks like you’re blushing to me.”
“You must need a new prescription then.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Seriously, when was your last eye exam?”
“Fully committing to the charade. I’m impressed.”
“I’m not…” She stopped trying to defend herself and shoveled in a huge mouthful of French toast instead.
Figuring it might not be a bad time to do this with her mouth being full, he retrieved the small box from his pocket and slid it across the table. Britt’s eyes tracked the movement before turning into saucers.
“Wha-is-matt?” she mumbled around her food, hand in front of her mouth.
He shrugged, shooting for nonchalant even though he was pretty sure his pulse was bouncing in his neck like it was on a trampoline. “Open it.”
She swallowed, all the while watching him with wary eyes. “Linc…?”
“Open it, Zan. It’s not a big deal.” That’s what he kept telling himself anyway.
Sure, it’s not. That’s why you went to the fancy jeweler Jake had gotten Laurel’s ring from instead of the one associated with a grocery store chain.
She wiped her hands on a napkin, then gingerly opened the box. Her gasp sent a shiver down his spine. “A ring?”
He swallowed around the lump in his throat. “People keep asking about it.”
That sounded nonchalant, right?
Britt’s gaze was riveted to the delicate, platinum, leaf filigree eternity band with pale lavender amethyst stones set around the entire circumference.
At least, that’s how the jeweler had described it.
All that mattered to Linc was it had made him think of Zana when he’d first seen it. Intricate and unique. Exactly like her.
And he wasn’t too proud to admit the fact it boasted amethysts instead of diamonds was self-serving on his part. The soft lavender shade was only a couple steps up from clear, but he liked the idea of her wearing his birthstone.
Was that caveman of him? Maybe.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” She looked closer. “Are those amethysts?"
He played dumb. “Maybe? You know jewelry better than I do, Zan.”
“Isn’t that your?—”
“Why don’t you try it on?” He removed the ring from the box and held out his hand.
She remained still until he gave her a nod. After the longest moments of his life, she carefully placed her left hand in his. Hopefully, she didn’t notice the way his hand was shaking, but he definitely felt the tremor in hers.
She’s not taking it off, he promised himself. The ring came in both platinum and white gold. When the jeweler told him platinum was stronger, Linc had sprung for the extra cost. As far as he was concerned, she’d be wearing that ring forever, so he wanted it to last.
By rights, he would have loved to give her a family heirloom, like how people used their grandmother’s rings as engagement rings.
Britt deserved something that meaningful, if such a thing existed in his world, which it didn’t.
The reality was, he’d never been close with his family.
Living through his parents’ divorce had been hell on earth, and his grandparents weren’t even together anymore.
He wasn’t about to tarnish his relationship with Britt by linking it to ones that had failed.
That’s why he’d purchased a ring for her. They could start their own traditions.
He took a deep breath before slipping the delicate band past the knuckle of her ring finger.
The significance of the act wasn’t lost on him.
He’d never put a wedding ring onto anyone’s hand before, and he vowed to never do it again.
Zana was it for him. Even if shit hit the fan and the unthinkable of losing her happened, this was his one and only time. No one else would ever compare to her.
“Does it fit okay?”
“Yes. How did you know my size?”
“Lucky guess.” She didn’t need to know he’d carefully measured her finger when she’d been asleep.
He didn’t have a clue if wrapping a string around it would work when he’d done it or not, but that was the only thing he could think of to do.
She never wore a ring on that finger, so he couldn’t get a size that way, and if he asked one of her friends to find out, it would have been suspicious.
Instead, he’d printed out a ring size chart and carefully covered the different circles with the string until he’d found one that it came the closest to covering in circumference.
Luckily, his idea had actually paid off. Who’d have thunk it?
“So, it’s a prop ring?”
No.
He couldn’t say that aloud, nor could he bring himself to say yes. “Do you see a stage around here?” he hedged.
She wrinkled her nose in response. “If it’s not a prop, then what is it?”
“It’s a wedding ring, Zan.” Mustering his bravado, he added, “What does it look like?”
She held his gaze while he held his breath. He didn’t exhale until she looked back down at the ring.
“It doesn’t look like costume jewelry,” she commented. “And it’s too heavy to be.... Is it platinum? Please tell me it’s not platinum. That’s so much more expensive.”
Damn, she really does know her jewelry.
“Linc, why did you buy me a platinum ring?”
“Nothing but the best for my bride.” He said it like he was teasing, even though he wasn’t.