“I’m sorry.” He whispered into her ear.
Haven stilled. Her voice was an anguished cry. “Don’t. Don’t touch me, Dylan.”
“I’m not cheating on you. I promise that I’m not.”
“I smelled her perfume.”
“It was innocent. We were at a bar. I might have danced a little with a few women, but I promise you that was all.” His voice dipped. “You’re all that I want, Haven. I want to make a life with you, nobody else but you. I’m sorry that I didn’t call. It’s just, the guys and I lost track of time.”
She closed her burning eyes. Dylan said what she wanted to hear after every fight but was any of it true or was it all bullshit? “What about the phone call?”
“Honestly, I don’t know who was on the other line. I changed my number after we decided to work things out, and sometimes, I still get calls for whoever had the number last. I can tell you what it wasn’t. It wasn’t a woman looking for me. I’m devoted to you.”
She turned around in his arms. “Dylan, if I’m not what you want, just tell me. We don’t have to do this crazy dance.”
“You’re everything I want.” He lifted her out of her chair and into his arms. “Let me prove it to you.”
Haven’s gut said everything about this situation was wrong, but she wanted to believe. Instead of following her instincts, she wrapped her arms around his neck and let him carry her to bed.
Chapter 2
“Where are you taking me?”
There was a hint of a smile on Haven’s face, but she kept her mouth shut. They had worked too hard to ruin it now. The answer would be revealed soon enough. Instead, she remained silent and pushed Ms. McKenna along.
The little minx couldn’t be still and was more than a little antsy. She squeezed the armrest of her wheelchair. “Come on, not even a hint?”
This time, Haven couldn’t contain her own excitement. “Shhh . . . stop trying to get me to spill. It’s a surprise, and that’s all you need to know. We’re almost there.”
Haven wheeled Ms. McKenna into her formal dining room. A simple dining area it was not. The space had once hosted many prestigious people over the years, and while the chandeliers were dated, they held just enough sparkle to remind those who believed in fairytales, magic was real. Ironically, Haven was more doubtful than ever in happily-ever-after but thought it was a shame the room was almost never used anymore.
The second they entered, Ms. McKenna’s nurse and household staff of three yelled aloud, “Surprise!” Her deteriorating health had been getting worse over the past several years forcing her to use a wheelchair. But, if she had the strength, Bertha would have jumped right out of it. Worn, wrinkled hands came up to cradle her pale face in complete shock.
Stretched out before her were a gazillion pink and white balloons, along with dozens of roses of the same color but with splashes of red ones infused throughout. They were strategically placed all around the room. Haven had smelled the fragrant flowers in the hallway before they even walked inside.
Everyone was standing at the upper end of the huge mahogany table that seated eighteen. Placed on the table, was a three-tiered birthday cake covered in so many candles it was probably a fire hazard.
Bertha hadn’t celebrated her birthday in many years. Typically, she would just have an intimate dinner with her nephew, and that would be it. But, today, Bertha was speechless . . . almost. She would never let any moment pass without having something to say. This time was no exception. Her words were spoken like a child full of wonder and amazement. “You did all of this for me?”
Haven’s lips hovered near her ear as she pushed her closer to the table. “We did. And, of course! It’s not every day one gets to celebrate their seventy-sixth birthday.”
Bertha’s pale eyes, once the deepest color of ocean blue, glistened. This time she was truly speechless, and as much as she tried to mask it, her emotions began to spill out.
Ms. McKenna was a tough old lady and rarely did people get to see her softer side. Over the past year, they had been through a lot together, and Haven felt privileged she was one of the lucky few who got to see a glimpse of her vulnerability. Haven choked up as she spoke through her own emotions. “With Dr. Lawrence’s blessing, we ordered your favorite cake—red velvet with buttercream frosting.” Haven pointed towards the delectable goodness. “There’s a candle for every fabulous year of your life. I hope it looks like what you described to me . . . when your father gave you the best birthday ever—minus all the candles of course.”
Bertha’s hands slid down to her throat in complete and utter amazement. “My goodness, all that fire might torch this place.” She had been doing her best to hold back tears but failed miserably. Her voice could barely be heard. “It’s perfect.” No one had done anything this thoughtful in too long to remember. And, why would they? Until meeting Haven, Bertha hadn’t been the easiest person to be around. If she were honest, she’d been a bitter old shrew. Even her only living relative and grandson, Ellis, was too busy conquering the world to visit. He lived out of a suitcase and only dropped in a few times a year. She didn’t see him nearly enough. That’s what made
