36. Quentin
As soon as Rei’s front door opened and I saw what she was wearing, I nearly stumbled.
She had on a long-sleeved, shimmery silver dress with a hem along her mid-thigh and shiny leather thigh-high boots. It was like she was teasing me on purpose because all I could think about was lifting her dress, just a few inches, to see what style of lingerie she liked to wear underneath.
She smiled at me, and the shift of her facial features made the porch light catch the glitter of her eyeshadow. We didn’t need any fireworks tonight because this woman was the whole damn show.
“You look amazing,” I said as she drew closer, and I settled my hand on her hip, indulging myself.
And yet, she didn’t shy away, placing her palm on the center of my chest, jewelry glittering on her fingers. “You look good too,” she hummed, turning those gorgeous dark eyes up at me.
Was this real life? This woman I’d dreamed of looking at me, spending New Year’s with me? I leaned closer, pressing my lips to hers just to make sure. But kissing her was so good it made me feel even more lucky.
Her lips parted, inviting me in, and I took the opening, wrapping my arms around her waist, curling my fingers into the plasticky sequined material of her dress contrasting with the softness of her curves.
A shiver shook her body, and I realized although I could stay out here, kissing her all night... “You’re cold.”
She gave me a sheepish look, shivering again. “A coat didn’t go well with the outfit.”
Chuckling, I hurried her toward the warmth of the car, helping her inside. “Divi, can you turn up the heat?” I asked while she buckled.
“Sure thing,” he said.
I shut the door, walking around to the other side and settling into the back seat. Divi passed me a large velvet box, and Rei leaned in. “What’s this?” she asked.
“We’re getting married tomorrow; you need a ring,” I said. “I picked the ones that felt like you, but if you don’t like them, I’ll have more delivered.”
Her brows arched. “On New Year’s Eve?”
“On Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah, and the last day of the Earth,” I answered. “You deserve a ring that you love.”
Her lips curled into a touched smile. “Wow, Q... you’re a romantic.”
My chest swelled a little too much. I was about to open the box and reveal the rings when she asked, “What ring feels like me?”
“The one that talks the most,” I teased.
She tossed her head back and laughed. “Funny too.”
I loved making her laugh. But I also wanted to answer her question with more than a joke.
“I wanted something with shine,” I said, reaching out to finger the bubble hem of her dress.
My fingers grazed her thighs, sending a shock straight to my cock.
Her eyes were on my fingers, and I swore her breath hitched.
But I continued, “Something one-of-a-kind, that no one else will be able to wear because there’s no one like you.” I lifted her chin with the crook of my index finger so she’d look in my eyes. “Something high quality, sturdy, to withstand all the time I hope to spend with you.”
Her lips parted, an emotion I couldn’t quite read filling her eyes. Something like hope.
“And finally, something as beautiful as you are to me.”
A small smile graced her lips, and I wanted to kiss them, but that only led to me getting so distracted the rings would be long forgotten, and we only had so much time on this drive to my parents’ place. So I flipped the heavy lid open, revealing nine options to choose from.
Most were diamonds with various settings, from more modern cuts to vintage options. But at the jewelry store, one had caught my eye beyond all the others. A silver band with a large emerald stone at its center, surrounded by small diamonds.
Rei picked it up, examining it in the dome light. I echoed the words the jeweler had told me. “It’s from an up-and-coming designer who grew up in Hong Kong and moved to the US for college. This is part of his first line. The only one in existence.”
Her hand shook as she turned it over and then slipped it on her ring finger.
Then she held out her hand for both of us to see.
Delicate shimmers radiated from the stone as it caught all the light in the cab.
The ring looked like it was made for her, green matching her dress tonight, complementing her tawny skin.
“I love it,” she breathed. Then a tear slipped down her cheek.
All the breath flew from my chest at the sight of her crying. “Rei,” I said, reaching for her, brushing the tears away with my thumb, only for another one to fall. “Are you having second thoughts?” I asked.
She shook her head and held on to my hand, bringing it close to her chest. I could feel her heart beating fast. With tears gleaming in her eyes, she asked, “How is it you see me so much better than people I’ve known most of my life?”
Her pain transferred to my chest, settling there. “Your family?”
She nodded, sniffing as she did.
“We don’t have to go to this party tonight if you don’t want to,” I said. “We can go home and sit on the couch, watch it all on TV. Or your favorite show...” I hated that I didn’t know what that was. I had so much to learn about her, but I was about to become her best student.
A sad smile transformed her features. “The Mindy Project.”
“I’ve never seen it,” I said, “but I’m ready to watch all of it, tonight if you want.”
She gave a weak chuckle. “There are too many seasons for that.” She patted my leg, the gesture familiar, warm, and still my body wanted more. Then she met my gaze again, brown eyes black in this darkness. “There is something I wanted to say to you, about the wedding.”
I wanted to be that guy who could handle everything that came my way, but I braced for heartbreak, for betrayal. “What is it?” I asked.
“The five-year contract,” she said.
I raised my eyebrows.
“I don’t want it to be a part of our day.”
My head rebounded as I processed her words. It was about the last thing I’d expected her to say. “It’s more than fair, for what I’m asking of you. Marrying a complete stranger.”
She shook her head, a tear cascading down her cheek. “You’re not a stranger, Quentin. You’re a good man, and I—” She swallowed, and another tear fell. “I’m falling for you. You’ve already had to sacrifice so much for this wedding to happen. Please, remove the contract from our agreement.”
My heart thudded painfully in my chest as it swelled to hold my feelings for her. “You mean it?”
She nodded, leaning in slowly to kiss my lips. I held her gently, kissing her back. So many of our kisses had the salty tang of her tears, but I hoped in years to come, I could make her the happiest woman alive.
The car bumped, and we looked around to see Divi had pulled into my parents’ driveway.
She reached for her purse, murmuring, “Give me a second to make myself presentable.”
I nodded, watching transfixed while she got a small compact out of her purse and dabbed at her eyes and fixed her makeup until it looked like she’d never cried at all.
A sad realization hit me that she must have done this dozens of times before to be so practiced. So when she said she was ready, I held on to her hand. Not because I wanted to put on a show for my family, but because I wanted her to know she wasn’t alone.
She would never be alone anymore.