“Why would you put a bow on my mail?”
He nodded toward the couch and put the tray on the center table. “Have a seat, drink hot chocolate, and I’ll explain.”
I took my seat and picked up the mug, but it was too hot to drink. “Mmm, smells so good.”
He took a sip of his own. “Needs to cool a bit.” He picked up the envelope and handed it to me. “Here, open this.”
His eyes were filled with excitement and a huge grin covered his face. I looked from him to the envelope and took it from him. “What’s this?”
“Consider it a belated wedding present.”
“From who?” I shook it. “Sounds like paper.”
“It’s from me and it is paper, silly woman. Open it.”
“We said we weren’t exchanging wedding presents, that we were just doing the rings. Now I feel bad. I didn’t get you anything.” I should have known he’d get me something. It really wasn’t fair. Although I had to admit I was intrigued by what could be in an envelope.
“You gave me the gift of yourself by marrying me,” he said with a quirky smile.
I cocked my head and narrowed my eyes. “That’s sweet and all, but don’t think I’m going to forgive you for getting me a gift after we agreed we weren’t exchanging them.”
“I guess I’ll have to find a way to live with your wrath.”
I took the bow off the envelope and placed it on his knee. “Silver?”
“It’s my favorite color on you.”
I blew him a kiss and opened the envelope. Inside were several sheets of paper, but I only read the first one. My hand flew to my mouth. “Nathaniel?”
“I hope you like it.”
I looked up at him in shock. “I can’t believe it.”
“The timing worked out perfectly, I really didn’t plan on this.”
I quickly read the paper again. “You bought me the chalet?”“Yes.”
“I can’t believe you bought me the chalet.” I looked around the room. All this was mine?
“Now we can come back anytime we want. And a few years from now, when we’re all tired and grumpy because the kids are driving us crazy, we can hop on the jet and get away for a few days. Linda would love the opportunity to watch grandkids. She’s already bugging Jackson and Felicia about starting a family.”
“Or when we’re tired and grumpy and work is driving us crazy?”
“Or when we’re tired and grumpy and we’re driving each other crazy?” He winked.
I felt almost giddy as the disappointment I had mere minutes ago about having to leave was replaced by elation with the realization that I now owned the property. I put the envelope and papers on the table and straddled his lap. “Are we going to drive each other crazy?”
He dragged his fingers through my hair. “You always drive me crazy.”
“You’re a fine one to talk, Mr. West.” I pressed my lips against his. “Thank you for my wedding present. It’s perfect and I love it.”
“I’m glad. I wanted us to have our own special place we could get away to and when the owner told me it was for sale, I knew I’d found it.” He still wore the quirky grin. “Am I forgiven now for getting you a wedding present even though we said we weren’t exchanging them?”
Of course he was, but I wanted to tease him a little bit longer. “I don’t know. I think there’s one thing you need to do in order to be totally forgiven.”
“Oh?” He looked genuinely surprised.
“Mmm,” I hummed and then whispered in his ear, “You have got to have a playroom added to this place.”
His laughter was infectious and as I was laughing, he rained kisses along my neck. “If you insist on adding a playroom, I know just the architect.”
“Make sure it has lots of windows,” I said, thinking about the day he took me in the bedroom in front of the windows and imagining it happening over and over.
“Going to start making demands about the playroom?” His lips had traveled lower and were grazing my collarbone.
“It’s my chalet.”
“It’ll be my playroom.”
I sucked in a breath as his hand slipped up my shirt. “Would it help if I said please?”
“We’re going to have to do something about this exhibitionism thing you seem to enjoy so much.” His other hand went up my shirt and within seconds my bra was unhooked. “I think maybe we should do a demo scene at a play party?”