Slow Play (The Rules #3)(99)

“Why don’t you ask her if she can get off early?” Kelli retorts.

“Hell no. That’ll look too obvious if it comes from me.”

She rolls her eyes but otherwise says nothing. Just cuddles close on the couch with Steven while Conrad and Shep—yes freaking Shep—play Mario Kart.

“Why are you even here?” I ask Shep when the races ends and Conrad kicks his ass. Again. “Shouldn’t you be off romancing Jade?”

Shep throws down his control in frustration. “I need to go in a few minutes. Jade wanted me out of the house for the afternoon. I think she’s baking stuff.”

“Nice.” Jade shows her love for Shep by making him cupcakes and cookies. He’s lucky he doesn’t have a gut because Jade clearly loves him a lot.

“I think she’s making a chocolate cake. Her specialty.” He pats his flat stomach. “And my favorite.”

“What are you getting her?”

“I already gave her flowers.”

“That’s it?” I’m incredulous. Their first V-day together and he only gets her flowers?

“And some jewelry.” He shrugs. “I got her a white gold necklace with a diamond pendant.”

I nod my approval. Jade will love it. She loves anything Shep does for her. Their relationship is solid. They’ve been together almost a year and I can see it lasting a lot longer.

I see Alexandria and I lasting a long time too.

The gambling business, on the other hand, is winding down. We’re all too busy with school, too distracted by our women to even want to keep the thing open. As of March first, the doors are closing for good.

And not a one of us is filled with regret over that decision.

“Oh, she’s leaving!” Kelli screeches, making me whirl around to find her watching me. She’s bouncing up and down on the couch, Steven shifting away from her. “She’ll be home in ten. I let her borrow my bug to drive to work.”

Ah, shit. Time for me to spring into action. “Thanks Kel. I appreciate the updates.”

“Anytime, Romeo. Good luck,” she smirks. They’re all smirking at me and I feel like a dumbass but then again, I don’t care.

I’m about to make the grandest gesture of my life and I can only hope like hell it’s going to work.

I walk into the house, immediately noticing the anticipation that’s practically humming in the air. I enter the living room to find Conrad, Steven and…Shep? Involved in an intense Mario Kart race. Kelli is lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone. The scene looks very normal. I’ve walked in on this very scenario multiple times. The only thing that’s throwing me off is Shep.

“What are you doing here?”

“Your man just asked me the same thing.” Shep’s gaze never leaves the TV screen.

“Tristan’s here?” I ask, glancing around. But he’s nowhere to be found.

“Oh. My. God!” Kelli practically screams. Why does she sound so pissed off?

“He texted me. A few minutes ago,” Shep says hastily, his gaze still locked on the TV. Though this time he looks contrite. And his cheeks are kind of red.

Hmmm.

Tristan is coming to pick me up for dinner in about an hour. Just enough time for me to take a shower, pick out some sexy underwear and get ready. “I’m taking a shower,” I call as I walk down the hall toward my room. “Tristan will be here around six.”

“Okay,” Kelli calls back to me. “Have fun!”

I frown. Why is she telling me to have fun? I’m taking a shower. She’s so weird.

Opening my bedroom door, I step inside to find…

My bed covered in pink rose petals, formed in the shape of a heart. Candles scattered everywhere, on every available surface, their golden glow lighting up my room. Oh, and there’s Tristan, standing by the window, his expression nervous, his eyes sparkling with uncontained emotion as he watches me.

“Wh-what is this?” I close the door behind me, then lean against it.

“Surprise.” He holds his arms out wide. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

I’m dumbstruck. Surprise is right. This was so unexpected. “You told me Valentine’s Day is a bogus holiday.”

“It is.” He starts making his way toward me. “But I offered to take you to dinner anyway.”

“Right.” My gaze locks on the bed, my heart racing. It had to have taken him so much time to make the heart. I want to take a picture with my phone to capture this moment forever but would that be cheesy? Intrusive? This is a private moment, one I don’t want to forget. “But all this?”

He stops just in front of me. He looks extra good, but when does he not look extra good? Wearing one of those Henley shirts he’s so fond of, this one black—like his heart, he told me one time, which only made me laugh.

Tristan Prescott has the sweetest heart I know.

“You’re worth all this. Every bit of it.” He leans in and presses his mouth on mine, the kiss slow, soft. Hot. Wet. “I love you, angel.”

My body grows warm at his words, his kiss. “I love you too,” I whisper.

“You’ve changed my life.” Breathing deep, he shifts away from me, taking my hand in his and falling to his knee. “I’m a better man because of you.”