Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
It was my first day back at work and after the mini honeymoon shacked up in my apartment it almost felt surreal to go back to my normal life. We’d organised to meet up later. Conor was bringing me for a walk in Central Park before taking me for dinner at one of his favourite restaurants nearby.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been wined and dined.
I was determined to keep my insecurities at bay. I wouldn’t allow my brain to convince me that I somehow wasn’t right for him. If Conor truly was in love with me then how could I not be right for him? And besides, I would never do anything to hurt him. He’d given me his heart and I planned to do my best to treat it with the love and care it deserved.
I stood outside the park in the spot we’d arranged to meet. I wore my thick wool coat, my red scarf twined around my neck as I blew out puffs of frosty air. Spotting Conor’s head among the crowd as he approached, a smile spread across my face. My chest fluttered at the sight of him.
“Hey,” I breathed when he finally reached me.
“Hi,” he replied, grabbing the lapel of my coat and tugging me to him for a kiss. His lips found mine, gently caressing before he drew back. “I brought you something,” he said and I noticed the small bag he carried. He handed it to me and I spotted the Dylan logo etched across the front.
“You brought me perfume?” I asked, a smile tugging at my lips.
“I thought this one would suit you. And besides, one of the perks of dating me is an endless supply of perfume, so…”
He trailed off, watching as I pulled out the box and read the label. “Synaesthesia,” I said aloud.
“It’s my favourite of all our lines. Most people’s favourite is E.V. but I prefer this one.”
“Well,” I said, my heart thrumming at the kind gesture. “I can’t wait to try it on.”
Conor offered me his arm then and I linked mine through. We walked for a few minutes in companionable silence before he said, “I remembered something from the other night. Something you said to me in the cab home.”
“Oh,” I replied, pulse hammering because I suspected I knew what he was referring to.
Conor’s handsome gaze fell over me, so much love in his eyes I suddenly felt unworthy. “You asked me to promise to never break your heart.”
His penetrating stare made me suddenly self-conscious. “I was just scared,” I explained. “How I feel for you is…I haven’t felt like this for anyone before.”
He stopped walking and cupped the back of my head, eyes flickering between mine. “You know I’m yours, right? I’m entirely yours, Yvonne.”
“Yes, but you can’t know if—”
“I know how I feel for you,” he said, cutting me off. “And of course I can’t predict the future, but whatever parts of yourself you decide to give me, whether your heart, your mind or your soul, I will treasure all of them. You have my word.”
“But that just makes me even more terrified because what if I fuck up? You told me you love me and ever since I haven’t been able to stop worrying about all the ways I might let you down.”
I thought he might show concern at what I said, but he only smiled fondly. “Well, you know what that means, right?”
“That I’m a neurotic mess?”
He shook his head. “It means that you care. People don’t worry so much unless they care a lot. And that’s how I know you’ll do your best with the love I’m giving you. That’s all I’m asking for. Not perfection, not a fantasy, just your best, and in return I’ll give you mine.”
I blew out a flustered breath. “How are you so level-headed? I’m supposed to be the mature one.”
He chuckled. “Oh, believe me, you are. You’re not the one who collects vintage Star Wars toys off eBay.”
This surprised a laugh out of me. “You do?”
“Oh yeah. I’m currently on the hunt for a Jabba the Hut figurine. Pretty hot, right?”
“Definitely,” I agreed, still chuckling.
“Come on,” Conor said. “Let’s get to the restaurant before they give our table away.”
This time he took my hand, sliding his fingers through mine as we made our way through the park and back out onto the busy street. When we reached the restaurant Conor held the door open for me, his eyes finding mine and in that moment I knew I hadn’t been getting carried away. Yes, we’d only been together for a couple days but in my heart I knew I really was falling for him.
I was falling for him, but with Conor I knew he’d be there to catch me every time.
Epilogue.
Yvonne
Three months later
I’d never been to California before. Conor had been due to take a trip to visit the perfume factory and I managed to book some days off from the club to join him. Honestly, it was the best decision I’d made all year.