Living Again (54 page)

“Who are you kidding, Ben, you know they are going to love you and offer you the job on the spot. Who wouldn’t want this man?” She tugged on his jacket playfully.

“So biased,” he said, kissing her head. “And I love it. Here we are.”

Kayley turned her head so that she could see where they were, and gasped when she saw the Tiffany store in front of her. Looking down at the infinity bracelet she wore from Christmas, she couldn’t imagine what else she could possibly need here. And just like that, it hit her like a ton of bricks. He wouldn’t take her here to pick out engagement rings, would he?
No,
she thought
. He doesn’t need my help picking that out. He’s the most romantic guy in the universe. Surely he wouldn’t buy me a ring with me here, would he?
Her stomach started toiling with nerves and she could feel her heart rate start jumping. Could this be it? Is this why he wanted her to come to New York? She could feel her hopes soaring through the sky.

Ben opened the door to the boutique and Kayley stopped herself from gasping at the sight of the store. Just stepping in here felt expensive. As soon as they stepped in, several pairs of eyes swung their way. Kayley was dressed in a sweater dress with dressy, heeled boots and a long jacket. Ben was wearing a pair of khaki pants and a sweater. She guessed they looked good enough to be in a store this fancy.

“Can we help you?” A beautiful woman dressed to the nine’s asked them as they stepped closer. Her brown hair was styled perfectly, and she wore a black pencil skirt, a silk blouse, and high heels Kayley wouldn’t have wanted to wear for ten minutes much less hours on end. Her eyes had followed Ben since the second he opened the door. Kayley was used to this, and instead of it bothering her, it actually made her feel good, knowing that Ben attracted all of these amazing females and he came home to her.

“Absolutely,” Ben said confidently, and Kayley tried to force herself to stop shaking from nerves. “You okay, baby?” His hand was on her lower back and he could no doubt feel her soft tremors.

“Cold,” she explained, pulling her jacket closer in explanation. “I’m okay.”

Turning his attention back to the saleswoman, who ironically wore a nametag that said Tiffany, he smiled his mega-watt lady killer smile. Kayley wanted to roll her eyes but was too nervous for what they were doing there. She looked around, thinking that if Ben actually planned to propose here, surely he would have set something up ahead of time. Do people get engaged in jewelry stores?

“I would like to look at a few things,” Ben started. “First of all, I would like to know if you have any bracelets or necklaces that would be suitable for a two year old.”

Kayley looked at him, confused. “You want something for Alexis, here?”

“It’s almost her birthday,” he said, looking sheepish. “I want her to have something from her Daddy that is pretty.”

“She’s two, babe.”

Tiffany the saleslady looked amused. “Well, not really. We don’t usually sell jewelry that small. The only baby type items we have are like memento things, like a piggy bank, and a picture frame.”

Ben looked disappointed. “Well that just stinks. I have a little princess that needs some spoiling.”

“What was the other thing you wanted to look at?” Tiffany’s eyes never left Ben’s. It was like Kayley didn’t exist.

“Well, I wanted to look at some rings,” he said to her, and Kayley’s stomach about came out of her mouth. He really was going to do this?

Tiffany’s mouth made a little O and she finally looked at Kayley. “E-engagement rings?” She stumbled over her words, looking as shocked as Kayley felt. She looked at both of their hands and realized they weren’t married.

“Oh, no, not today,” Ben explained, and just like that, all of the air whooshed out of Kayley’s lungs, and she felt light headed. “See, I got my girlfriend the infinity bracelet for Christmas, and I wanted to get her the ring to match, but I need her to try it on.” Kayley’s blood pounded in her ears, and she no longer heard anything he said. He brought her to Tiffany’s, in New York, to look for Alexis a birthday present and an infinity ring for her? She felt like she was punched in the gut. Tears threatened and she forced them back. No way was she going to allow herself to break down, not here.

Tiffany looked at Kayley with a question in her eyes, probably picking up on her devastation, and then back at Ben. Kayley blinked rapidly, looking out the side windows to watch the cars and people. If she looked at him right now, she was liable to break down and cry. She had no idea why she was being so ridiculous, but she was completely overcome with emotion and didn’t know how to reign it in.

She should be thankful her boyfriend wanted to buy her a matching ring to her bracelet at Tiffany’s in New York. Right? So what in the hell was her problem? Trying to talk herself down off the ledge, Kayley finally looked back at Ben, who was holding the ring in his hand.

“Try this on, baby. See how it looks with your bracelet. I wanted to get you this at Christmas but didn’t want the hassle with sending it back if it didn’t fit.” He picked up her right hand and slid it on her third finger, the finger that would’ve been for an engagement ring had it been on the left hand. “Hmm, it’s a little too big. Tiffany, do you have one a half size smaller?”

“Here,” Tiffany removed the ring and got out a sizing ring. “Let’s size you so we know what I need to look for.” Slipping the sizer on her finger, Kayley still felt frozen and unable to speak. Ben didn’t seem to notice because he was just standing there with a huge grin on his face.

“You’re about a 6 ¼. Here, let’s see how this one does for you. These infinity rings don’t come in ¼ sizes, so we’ll try a 6.” Tiffany met her eyes and a silent understanding passed through them, woman to woman. She knew.

The ring fit perfectly, and Kayley forced a smile from her face, still mad at herself for acting like a spoiled bitch. “It’s beautiful, Ben.” Tears shimmered in her eyes and she let them stay there. He could think she was emotional over the new ring.

“I will love you for infinity,” Ben said, his dimples showing. He kissed her briefly, and yet she couldn’t help but wonder, would he really?

Ben stood, straightening his tie in the mirror of the hotel bathroom. He was dressed in a full suit, something he didn’t often have to wear. He smoothed the tie over his white dress shirt and listened for Kayley. She had still been asleep when he slid out of bed to get ready for his interview. She had been really quiet other than their lovemaking yesterday, and it bothered him. Usually Kayley was very upfront about her feelings and what was going on, and this time he was having a hard time figuring out what was bothering her. He knew that the possibility of moving to New York was a lot of it, but that wasn’t a given so he wasn’t sure what the rest could be.

He had booked her a day at the Four Seasons Spa. She was starting with a hot stone massage to ease away her stress. Then, she was being served lunch while getting a top notch pedicure and manicure. Then, to end her treatment, she was getting a custom facial. She deserved the pampering, and then he knew she had something to do while he was gone today. He was going to meet the Chief and take a tour of the hospital, then have his interview with a panel of other doctors. He hoped to relax with a pampered Kayley when he returned.

Walking out of the bathroom, he noticed Kayley laying in the bed still, but looking at him. A smile crept across her face as she saw him dressed in the suit. She whistled, sitting up. The sheet fell off of her and seeing her laying there naked sent him back to last night. He whistled back, indicating her, and she giggled and put the sheet back up.

“Hey, that’s a visual I can take with me all day,” Ben said, sitting on the side of the bed and caressing her under the sheet. She wriggled, trying to get away but not trying very hard.

“No way, Dr. Yummy,” she teased, using Emily’s name for him. “You have to focus on being a top notch businessman and doctor today. Go knock ‘em dead, babe.”

Ben kissed her, and she breathed in his intoxicating cologne. She loved smelling it on her skin after he touched her. “I booked you a spa day,” he announced. “Head down to the spa in about an hour. You’ll be there most of the day. Oh, and I ordered you room service for breakfast. You may want to put some clothes on to answer the door, or that delivery boy is going to have a
real
good tip.” Ben touched her bare hip, gazing along the beautiful specimen that was his girlfriend. She playfully nudged him, then pulled his tie so that his face was to hers.

“I love you, and you spoil me too much. Thank you. Good luck today. Not that you need it.”

Ben stood, straightening his tie and taking one last longing look at Kayley. “Thanks, babe. I’ll be back sometime this afternoon. Enjoy your pampering. You deserve it.”

Kayley lay on the couch in the living room, wearing the robe from the spa that Ben had purchased for after her massage. She had never felt so relaxed and spoiled in all her life. Her muscles were loose, her fingers and toes were gorgeous, and her face felt like she was 18 years old again.

The phone pressed to her ear, she was catching Emily up on the happenings since she had been gone. “So then we walk into
Tiffany’s
, and I think for sure…”

“Did he propose?” Emily squealed in her ear.

“No, and we didn’t even
look
at engagement rings. He wanted something for Alexis for her birthday but they don’t have anything for someone that small. Then, he bought me the infinity ring that matches my bracelet. Em, I don’t know what my problem was, but I almost broke down crying in the middle of the store.”

“Why? Because he didn’t propose? That would’ve been kind of crappy anyway, Kay, for him to take you there and be like, ‘Hey, baby, I love you, pick out your own ring.’”

Kayley giggled. “Well, when you put it like that.” She stood up and walked to the huge window in the living room. Looking out at the active city, her heart clutched when she thought about what Ben’s news might be when he got back. “I just want to know that he wants me. He tells me he does, but why is he not making it official? And why am I being one of those girls that can’t just be happy that my boyfriend loves me?”

“Because,” Emily said. “You aren’t eighteen years old. You’ve both been through a lot of hurt, even with each other, and you want to feel the security that even though you believe he loves you and wants to be with you forever, you want him to give you that commitment that he’s so scared of doing.”

“You think he’s scared?” Kayley sighed. That was exactly what she was worried about.

“Well, why wouldn’t he be? He’s been down this road. He thought he had it made with Zoey. You’re nothing like her and there is obviously a lot more to your relationship, but still I’m sure it crosses his mind. Give him time, Kay. He’s not going anywhere.”

“Yeah, but what if he gets this job? The likelihood is, he will. You know this as well as I do. They wouldn’t have brought him all the way here and put us up in this amazing suite if they weren’t trying to persuade him to move. He’s been there all day, and hasn’t come back yet. Do I then move Alexis and me away from everything and everyone we know if he is just my
boyfriend?
”

“You’re the only one that can decide that, sweetie,” Emily advised. “But, I know that he loves you, there is no doubt about that. I think you need to talk to him about how you’re feeling. You’ve always been very honest and up front with him; it’s time to do that again. You’re allowing yourself to get all worked up over something that you haven’t even spoken to him about. I mean, you’re there on vacation with him in an awesome hotel. He took you to Tiffany’s and bought you an
infinity
ring, Kay. Does that sounds like a man that’s going anywhere?”

“You’re right,” Kayley agreed. “I am so scared to move. I would do anything for him, Em. But a selfish part of me wants him to come in here tonight and tell me that they picked someone else. Isn’t that awful? My boyfriend is a wonderful doctor who is sought after by one of the top children’s hospitals in the country and I want him to fail at getting it.”

“You aren’t awful. It’s perfectly normal for you to feel that way, and I’m sure even Ben would agree with that. Just because he gets the offer doesn’t mean he has to take it. He would never make a decision like that without talking to you first.”