Page 146

He sets the box on the counter, nudges it toward me. “For the record, I love your heels. So no worries about having to weigh which one of us you’ll choose”—a flash of a grin before he nods at the box—“now open it.”

“You had this the other day,” I murmur.

“Yeah,” he confirms, “before your whole scolding my dad like a school boy thing.”

I wince but lift my chin. “He deserved it.”

“He did.” Ace tugs a strand of my hair. “And maybe between the lecture and Lex’s shit, something will stick and the Ambrose house will be more peaceful.” A shrug. “Or maybe it won’t be. Because we’re us. But I think it gave him food for thought, so who knows.” He taps the tip of my nose. “Now, open the damn present, baby.”

I peel back a corner of the wrapping and the moment I see the light brown box beneath, I know.

I gasp, mouth falling open as I look up at him.

“How’d you⁠—”

“Evelyn,” he says gently. “You liked hers at the wedding.”

“So you bought me a pair?”

He shrugs again. “You liked them.”

My heart doesn’t squeeze, doesn’t quiver in fear and hide in the corner of my ribcage. It expands, growing with the knowledge that this man…

Is just Ace.

Ace who pays attention. Ace who’s sweet and kind and mine.

“I love you,” I say.

Not whisper.

But say.

Firmly. Holding his eyes. Wanting him to know exactly that.

“Yeah, baby,” he says, clearly losing patience with me and tearing off the rest of the paper. “I love you too. But, Christ, I’m learning about another Violet. One who doesn’t get on with opening presents. Please tell me that you’re not the person who carefully loosens tape and folds the paper when you’re done.”

Since I’d been reaching for the mess he made of the wrapping, preparing to do just that, I freeze.

And I know my expression must be guilty.

He curses softly, but his eyes are dancing.

“I haven’t had a lot of presents,” I whisper. “I had to make sure to savor them.”

Now there’s something else in his eyes—sadness and anger and…determination.

“You’d better prepare, princess.”

I blink at his tone. “For what?”

“Because you’re going to have so many presents, you won’t have time to even think about folding wrapping paper.”

“But what if it’s a pretty one I want to save?”

The gold flecks in his eyes warm. “Fuck, I love you.” He kisses me, slow and deep, then hard and hot. “That I’ll allow,” he murmurs. “Now take a look at your fucking heels.”

Heart so full it could burst, I focus on the light brown box.