Chapter 15
By the time she got out of the soothing shower, the hint of anger had dissolved. She wasn’t going to let it get to her. After all, he had said he didn’t mean for it to come out that way. And, as she reminded herself, she didn’t exactly tell him that she knew the difference between a salad fork and a dinner fork. For all he knew she didn’t. Because of all she didn’t share he likely believed she hadn’t been exposed to anything but the simple life. He never knew anything about her lifestyle growing up. All she had shared with him then was that her mother had died and she moved to Durham to live with her nana and granddad. They’d never met Victor, so he probably thought that they were two people struggling to raise their daughter’s daughter. She’d brought to the table the limited insight he had of her, and she couldn’t complain about how he served it up.
Fantasy stood in the spacious walk-in closet and went through her things. She was still thinking that they wouldn’t go out to dinner. She was going to suggest that they order in and watch a movie. It concerned her that his temple was tight and he looked a little tired. She knew he’d had meetings during the two days before she’d arrived, but he had mentioned that he had cleared everything else just to spend time with her. She opted for a relaxed lounging set with wide-leg spandex heather gray pants and a pale pink ultra soft sheer tee. All of her makeup had been removed, and she replaced it with just a little color on her lips, moisturizer, and a brush of lightweight foundation. There was nothing added to her eyes or cheeks. Fantasy looked in the mirror one last time and ran her fingers through her hair a few times.
Victor was sitting on the sofa looking at the paper. “You look nice.” He knew he had put his foot in his mouth and he would have to work overtime to get it out.
“I look relaxed. I don’t know if I was going for nice, but I’ll accept that.” She sat on the sofa beside him and crossed one ankle over the other. Fantasy smiled and handed him a beautifully wrapped small box. “Happy birthday again.”
Victor folded the paper and put it to the side. “Thank you. But, before I open it, Fantasy, I’m sorry. I wasn’t implying anything hurtful.” He looked like he wanted to cry. He was trying to project calm, cool, and having it together when he was an emotional breed. He was hoping that she could get used to it.
“Let that go. I did; it went down the drain while I was in the shower.” She leaned back farther into the comfort of the sofa and sighed. “I feel so much better and I’m ready to relax, so please just open the gift. I want to see if you like it.”
Victor looked at how neatly it was wrapped. “You won’t mind if I just tear into it.” He was struggling, trying to get in the box.
“It’s your gift.” She was looking at him, not wanting to miss his reaction.
He got the bow off, tore the wrapping off, and removed the top from the white box. Inside was a long midnight blue jewelry case. He looked at Fantasy as he opened the case, and when he saw what was inside his mouth opened. “This is nice.” He removed a very nice, very expensive gold bracelet that had cuts of white gold. It was indeed a handsome bracelet that looked like it cost much more than he would want her to spend. But he dared not say anything about the cost and risk offending her yet again.
“I’m glad you like it.” Fantasy smiled.
“I’m putting it on right now, if you’ll help me.” Victor handed her the bracelet and moved his wrist toward her.
Fantasy slowly hooked the bracelet around his arm and touched it lightly. “There. It looks nice on you. I knew it would.” This time she leaned in and kissed his lips.
This kiss was different. For one, it was behind closed doors; also, it was just the two of them. At first they were just enjoying the feel of each other’s lips then, after a second, Victor leaned farther into her and his tongue touched hers. Instead of moving away, she pulled it farther into her mouth and the kiss deepened. She caressed his arm and he gingerly rubbed her back. When the two parted, he put his forehead against hers and they stayed that way for a minute.
“What a gift,” Victor said breathlessly. He knew there was a problem below but he didn’t want to look down to confirm it. How was he going to spend all this time with her and not be aroused?
“I’m glad you like the bracelet,” Fantasy replied.
“I was talking about you being here and the kiss. I enjoyed that just as much. Our first real kiss in twenty-one years.” Victor knew he would remember it forever, and he hoped that she would too.
“I enjoyed it too. But the bracelet is gift number one. You have a few more. My plan is to give them to you at different times throughout our time together.”
“I like the sound of that.” Victor kissed her again. He thought it would be a quick one, but it deepened like the first, and he forced himself to pull away while he could.
“I feel so relaxed,” she said.
“So, we are going for an evening of rest and relaxation.” Victor stood up. Even though he was a little slower since being ill, he still seemed to bounce off the ceiling when he started doing something or was focusing on a particular situation. He went to a bag and removed a stack of movies. “We can order room service.”
Fantasy smiled. She’d conjured up the same evening before walking out of the bedroom into the suite. “Oh, you have a great collection. I don’t get a chance to watch movies often. By the time I decide to go to the theatre and see something, it’s out on DVD. I guess I just don’t make time.” She paused, realizing she was about to tell him why. It would be because of her job. That was a conversation she wasn’t ready to have, so she switched gears. “So what haven’t you seen? I don’t want to bore you by watching something twice.”
“I don’t mind watching something twice. If it’s something good I can watch it several times. You just pick what you want to watch.”
Fantasy put her feet under her butt and went through the DVDs.
“I’ll be right back.” Victor left the living area and went into the bedroom he occupied. After a few minutes he returned. Fantasy was separating out what she wanted to see. He sat back down with her and smiled at her. She was looking down and he kissed her forehead. “I can’t receive without giving.” He handed Fantasy an equally nicely wrapped box.
She dropped all the DVDs and grabbed the box. “I have no shame. I love receiving.” Fantasy giggled, ripped the paper off, and discarded it somewhere behind her. The velvet box that held her gift was black. When she opened the box she smiled. “Great minds.”
Victor reached for the box. “May I?”
“You may.” Fantasy handed him the box.
He looked at both of her wrists. On one was a white gold watch with a diamond-accented band, and on the other was a tennis bracelet. He reached for the wrist with the watch, and placed the three-diamond bracelet beside the watch and fastened it. “It looks good.”
He couldn’t help but wonder where the expensive-looking jewelry had come from. Then he considered the fact that she was a single woman and had no kids and, thus, no one to buy for. She could likely afford nice things every now and then.
“I think it does too.” She hugged his neck and kissed his cheek.
His eyes fell to the front of her tee and widened. She was much bigger there than he remembered. Her ample supply was almost busting out of the tee. They almost looked fake, but he didn’t believe she would alter her body in any way. He was definitely not complaining. Victor liked everything that he saw.
“How about we go ahead and watch a movie?” He twisted his arm and looked at his watch. It was only 7:45. He could foresee one thing: it was going to be a long night.