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Chapter 16
“You look fabulous in that dress,” Oliver said.
It was New Year’s Eve and we were heading to a party thrown by Wilmer Hermann, one of Oliver’s best friends, at his brownstone in Greenwich Village. I chose one of Rachel Vicaria’s originals. She and her husband were branching out into evening wear for both men and women.
My dress was a long slinky dark blue sequined gown with an open back, sweetheart neckline and short sleeves. I paired it with matching five inch heels and clutch. Earlier in the day, I went to have my hair styled in an elegant chignon and my nails polished. Oliver looked stunningly handsome in a black Vicaria tuxedo, white shirt and bowtie. His recently cut hair perfectly coiffed and combed back. I wasn’t averse to messing it up on the way to the party.
“Look who’s talking. You’re breathtaking. I’m glad you didn’t shave.”
“I take your requests seriously.”
He smiled and I loved how his eyes crinkled in the corners.
“You think Trouble will be all right with Finley and Sadie?”
We dropped the puppy off at their apartment a few hours before. I didn’t want to leave Trouble by himself for too long and we would be away for several hours. Since Sadie was pregnant, they decided to celebrate the holiday at home.
“He’ll be fine.”
Oliver ran his hand over my ass, gently squeezing it in his big hand. His pinkie finger was now in a splint. He went to the doctor the day after Christmas to get it checked. I hated the silver splint but I loved that it freed up his ring finger so he could wear his sapphire ring.
“Don’t get me started. Hands off,” I said pushing his hand from me.
He nuzzled my ear. “Let’s stay home.”
“No. I want to go out. This will be my first event with you.”
He nibbled my neck. “This isn’t an event. It’s a party.”
“Then my first party with you. Stop being a spoiled sport,” I demanded.
“I just want you to myself.”
“You have me to yourself most of the time. It’s me who has to share you with the world.”
He shook his head with a wry smile. “Not true. No one cares about me now that I’m off the most eligible bachelor list. Just ask Jordan Grayson. Ever since he got married, no one cares.”
I snorted, rolling my eyes. “That’s bullshit. I just read an article about him in The Wall Street Journal.”
“Okay, so he’s not totally off the radar,” he conceded, shrugging.
“And neither will you be. I bet if we attend an event, we’ll land in the paper,” I challenged, crossing my arms.
“Maybe. When we open the new complex on the waterfront, I want you with me,” he said, his tone softening as he looked at me.
“It’s almost finished, right?”
“Yes, another few weeks. We have over seventy percent occupancy already. I’m hoping to have at least ninety by the time we open.”
“I didn’t realize you were already taking on tenants,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s how the real estate business works. You can’t wait until you’re open when you still have expenses attached to the property,” he explained, adjusting his cufflinks.
“Are we ready to go?” I asked, stepping closer to fix his slightly crooked bowtie.
He caught my hands and kissed each one tenderly, his fingers lingering over my engagement ring. “I’m going to have to keep you close tonight.”
I frowned, puzzled. “Why?”
