I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I just can’t be cheated on, not again.”
“I’d never do that.”
Looking up through my lashes, I asked, “What was your errand?”
Van reached for my hand, led me to a soft chair, and encouraged me to sit. Crouching near my knees, that I had pressed together, Van looked up at me. His green orbs sparked as they scanned from my lace panties to my breasts and finally to my eyes.
“Fidelity is never an issue, Julia. You’re mine. I’m yours. Our relationship has taken off at cosmic speed, but that doesn’t lessen its sincerity. When I’m with you, it’s as if we’ve always been meant for one another.” He reached out, touching my hair, pulling a pen from the bun and loosening the tie. Skirting my locks over my shoulders, he grinned. “The problem was that when I was younger, I didn’t deserve you. I still don’t. When you were in pigtails, I was fucking up. I did it very well. That’s why we’re so right for one another. I’ve learned from my mistakes, and I know with all my heart that being the best man I can be for you and with you is what you deserve.”
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “I’m sorry.” My palm gently came to his cheek. “You are the man I deserve. I feel your goodness. Your encouragement has been more than I’ve ever had, and I hope that you feel my gratitude and my love in return.”
Van reached into his suit coat pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
“Oh.” My vision blurred. “You picked up my ring.”
He opened the box, showing me three rings.
It wasn’t the large diamond that I picked up. It was the thick round band. I turned it around in my fingers. Finally, my gaze met his. “You got our wedding bands, one for you too.”
Van nodded. “I want you to wear my ring to remind you every minute that you’re loved, that I’m so fucking impressed with you, and that I’ll be with you and encouraging you to spread your wings and fly.” He took his ring from me. “I want to wear this ring after we say our vows for the same reason. I want to look at it and sense your love. I want to wear it, so the world knows that I too am taken. There’s only one woman in my life, Julia, and you’re her.”
He put his ring back into the box and removed the engagement ring. “I’d planned to give this to you right before we left for your parents’, but now is as good of a time as any.”
I spread out my fingers on my left hand, allowing Van to gently tease the platinum band and diamond over my knuckle. As he did, something within my chest burst, filling me with hope in a way I’d never before experienced.
My arms went around his neck, pulling me to him.
“Are you done” —he tilted his chin toward the dining room— “for today?”
I nodded. “I think I’d rather do something else.”
“Cocktails at seven?” he asked.
“There is something I was wondering if you could help with?”
Van stood, taking my hand and encouraging me to stand. “Something with the information on Wade?”
I looked down at the gorgeous ring and wiggled my finger, noticing the way the diamond sparkled under the overhead lighting. When I looked back, I grinned. “As you know, I don’t want to attend my parents’ gala.”
“You have mentioned that.”
“I will. I mean you bought me clothes and now I have the ring…” I undid his tie, pulling the material from the knot.
“Is there something else?”
I freed the necktie from his collar. “Well, Mr. Sherman, I’m afraid that I’m sounding needy. You’ve done so much already.”
“My curiosity is piqued. Tell me what you want, Julia, and if it’s within my power, I will do it.”
Handing him his necktie, I said, “I want to enter the party freshly fucked.”
Van’s eyes opened wide as a chuckle came from his throat. “I can help with that.”
Our fingers intertwined. “I thought you could.”
“Only thought? I’ll have to prove it.”
“Lead the way,” I said with a grin, knowing that was exactly what he would do.