The New Husband(26)

Yes, she told herself. We can forge a more perfect union.

The clothes Nina tried on (and there were a half-dozen mix-and-match outfits in her wardrobe) were recent purchases, all gifts from Simon. The outfits were professional, but not too buttoned-up—earthy colors mostly, cotton fabrics, no patterns. She was going for comfort and the pulled-together, approachable look of someone a person could confide in, as her clients would be expected to do.

She was showing Simon the pleated cream-colored boat-neck top and ankle-length slim-leg black pants she was thinking of wearing to her first day on the job.

Simon appraised Nina with hungry eyes.

“You look amazing,” he said, as she finished her spin.

He lunged at her from across the bed, grabbed her waist, and pulled her to the mattress, where he kissed the spots that got her blood pressure rising. Nina slid out from under him, worried about wrinkling the outfit, still not sold on it as the right choice for her grand appearance.

“I’m so nervous,” she said.

“You’ll be marvelous,” Simon assured her. “Trust me.”

Nina flopped back on the bed and kissed him hard on the mouth. “You weren’t always so happy about it,” she said.

“It’s hard for me to share you,” Simon said, his hand rubbing the small of her back, teasing out jolts of pleasure that raced down Nina’s legs and up her arms. She nestled into his embrace.

“I’m sorry this hasn’t gone smoother with Maggie,” she said, switching to that subject because it was never far from her thoughts.

“Don’t you worry,” said Simon. “It’s a process. It’s all going to be worth it in the end.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Nina breathed out her worry while burying her mouth in Simon’s neck, taking in his scent, an orangey, woodsy aroma that reminded her so much of Glen. She’d been meaning to buy Simon new cologne, but tomorrow she’d make good on that pledge. He did not use Glen’s brand of aftershave, but their smells were too similar, the reminders too intense.

“Remember when we were dating—”

“You make it sound like it was so many years ago,” Nina said playfully.

“It feels like a lifetime and also yesterday, if that makes any sense,” said Simon.

“It makes perfect sense,” Nina answered, because a whirlwind romance mixed with profound hurt and a great upheaval bent time like it did lives.

“Anyway, remember when we were out shopping and you had your eye on a Coach bag? You wouldn’t let me buy it for you because you said you needed a power job for a power bag like that.”

“You didn’t,” Nina said.

Simon flashed an impish grin before he slid off the bed and vanished into the closet. Nina heard some rummaging, and moments later he emerged, holding a bag she remembered as vividly as the first time she’d seen it. There was so much to love about it—the size, the expert stitching, the softness of the gorgeous pearled white leather. Simon gifted Nina the bag down on one knee, arms extended, as though he were reenacting the day in July when he had presented her with his mother’s diamond ring, in the gazebo at the park overlooking the lake.

His proposal had come as a surprise, but given that they’d been about to move in together, Nina’s first impulse had been to say yes. While her heart wanted to put the ring on her finger, her brain was telling her not yet. Simon had been disappointed, naturally, but not crushed, since they were still going to be living together. Selfishly, Nina wanted what Simon could offer—a chance to stay in Seabury, where her life was, where she’d put down roots. Moving in with her parents would have felt like giving up too much of her life, and it would have been especially hard on Connor, who was nearing graduation. But even so, she didn’t feel obligated to rush into a decision.

She had explained her reluctance as too much change too fast, but in the back of her mind another thought lurked, one she didn’t share.

Glen.

She still had unresolved feelings, and questions for which she didn’t have answers. Whatever caused her hesitation, it wasn’t Simon holding her back; it was herself. To his credit, Simon wasn’t pressuring her, not one bit, which was one reason why every day Nina was closer to saying yes.

She took the bag, held it, felt it before opening it. A flash of something white caught her eye, and she reached inside to find a note from Simon, penned in his neat teacher’s handwriting. She read it aloud:

Dearest Nina,

You’ve got this. I know you’re nervous and scared about the new job, but I’ve never had more faith in anybody in all my life. You are magnificent in every way. You’re kind, compassionate, brilliant, and bold, and I love you more than words can say. I can’t wait for the day when I can call you my wife.

With all my love and admiration,

Simon



Nina leaned forward to kiss Simon.

“You shouldn’t have done this. That bag is very expensive.”

“You bought me a leather work bag for my birthday,” Simon reminded her. “Now we’re even. And thanks to that bag, I never have to look for my wallet and keys.”

“You are the best,” she said, kissing him again. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“I keep asking myself the same thing,” Simon said wryly.