A Most Excellent Midlife Crisis - Robyn Peterman Page 0,39
man I loved. I had every intention of loving every facet of him. Besides, I had my own magic. I could glue a squatter back together in no time flat. Not quite as sexy as Gideon’s magic, but it was something.
“You have a house in town and one in Hell,” I pointed out. “Why do you need another piece of property?”
Gideon walked me over to a bench I hadn’t noticed.
“Well, you see,” he said, sitting down and pulling me onto his lap. “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful woman—a funny, kind, thoughtful and very smart woman—who gave an undeserving man a gift. The gift of starting over. She wanted to build a real and lasting foundation. The man figured it might be handy to have a place to build the house.”
My body began to tingle and my heart pounded in my chest.
“So, you were thinking to build the foundation right here?” I whispered.
He nodded and grinned. “Every room can be built carefully and with love. Each stone can be chosen by the beautiful woman and the man who can’t live without her.”
I trembled in his arms. It wasn’t from the cold. The chilly air didn’t exist in the enchanted bubble Gideon had created.
“That’s a huge step,” I said softly, brushing his hair off of his forehead.
“One of many hopefully.”
“That was seriously hot,” I said with a giggle.
“I aim to please.”
“You’re doing very well,” I told him.
“Do you think I’ll get into your pants this fine balmy evening, Death Counselor?” he inquired with a lopsided grin.
“Odds are very good, Grim Reaper.”
Standing up and placing me on my feet, he led me to an archway covered in a cascade of sparkling gold flowers.
“What’s beyond the archway?” I asked as my stomach tightened with anticipation.
His carnal grin sent a thrill through me. I grinned right back.
“I was thinking the bedroom could be over there,” he said, pointing beyond the archway.
“Oh really? And what else do you have planned?”
“It’s a surprise. You’ll have to wait and see,” he informed me as he walked through the archway and disappeared from sight.
While surprises weren’t really my thing, this one sounded promising. Good things were supposed to come to those who waited, and I’d waited a very long time to feel like this about someone.
“Where did you go?” I called out as I followed the path he’d walked.
“I’m in my favorite room in our house,” he yelled back. “You might want to check it out.”
“Maybe I will.” I laughed as I pushed my way past a fragrant weeping cherry tree in full bloom. Exotic flowers and shrubs that I’d never seen before lined the golden-pebbled path that led to the man I searched for. Bending down, I picked a bouquet of purple and blue glitter-encrusted daisies and tucked them into my hair.
“Are you lost?” Gideon called.
“Nope, just got waylaid by the scenery.”
“Scenery is pretty damned good in here.”
“On my way, Mr. Impatient,” I said with a laugh as I picked up my pace then stopped dead in my tracks. I’d entered yet another garden.
The garden where carnal dreams were made.
There were daisies everywhere—every color and size imaginable. They shimmered and swayed in the breeze. Gideon had chosen the flower that matched my name and had lost his mind with the décor. I’d never been anyplace so decadent and lovely. Daisy-shaped jeweled candles hung in the air connected to absolutely nothing but magic. The best part was the massive bed in the middle of the bedroom—and the man who was standing next to it.
“Oh my God,” I whispered, trying to take it all in. “You did this for me?”
“I’d do anything for you, Daisy.”
How was it possible to love someone so much, so quickly? Would we last? Would the foundation be strong enough to rock? Because I was positive we would rock it…
Gideon’s lust-filled gaze followed me as I walked around the area and touched the different daisies.
“They’re breathtaking,” I said.
“They don’t hold a candle to you,” Gideon replied.
I’d never felt so beautiful, so wanted—so powerful. Who knew a fallen Angel… a Demon, would be the man I would love with my entire soul?
The emotion was too much. I didn’t know if I was about to cry or laugh or run for my life. It was perfect—too perfect. I wasn’t sure I could live up to my surroundings.
“Are you crying?” Gideon asked, walking toward me.
“Happy tears,” I promised, wiping my eyes with my sleeve.
He kissed away a tear I’d missed. “We should probably be naked for