Hey There, Delilah... (31 page)

Two parties in one. That’s the plan.  Pulling it off without Delilah finding out is a whole other
story.   The first half is going to be a birthday party.  Then as the clock strikes midnight, my birthday girl is going to turn into my fiancée. Knock on wood, bite my tongue, God willing.

I know where Charlie works, so I take a chance and call her there one day when Delilah runs out to pick up our lunch.  She is completely on board with the surprise.  So, I put Charlie in charge of the invitations, since she has access to all of her friends
and family.  I make sure that she has the contact information for my father and Carmella, and a few other friends that I would like to be there for the second half.   I know they are all going to want to be there to witness this.  Also,  I ask her to take care of the music.  I have something specific in mind, and if anyone can get it done, I know Charlie can.

I call in a favor with Donna at Delectable Desserts, and Fronk is going to make her a spectacular birthday cake.  He tried to pull the whole “I only do for happy couples” bullshit that he got aw
ay with Delilah, but I’m not having any of it.  We paid a fuckload of money for that charity ball, and he totally blew us off at that initial meeting. Not that I minded because that afternoon opened my eyes to a brand new side of Delilah, but still, I let him know his reputation could be shot to shit if he doesn’t do this for my girl.  Needless to say, he changes his tune quickly.  I am not the top negotiator in the state for nothing.

Lastly, I talk Calvin in
to closing a little early so we can use Club Masquerade as the venue.  Not only is it the first time he has ever closed early, which will cost his bottom line tremendously, but this is also the first time anyone will be allowed inside without a mask.  He doesn’t know it yet, but I intend to compensate him handsomely for the revenue he is going to lose.

Carmella is going to help me with the caterer and
the decorations. That shouldn’t be too difficult because the Firm has thrown enough parties to have a rolodex full of people willing to work with us, even with the short notice.

Now, the tricky part. Keeping my big trap shut long enough to surprise Delilah.
And keeping this ring from burning a fucking hole in my pocket.

♫♩♫♩♫♩
♫

One year ago today was probably the worst day of my life – until my mother died,  of course.  Doesn’t that put life into a little prospective?  I can’t believe how much I have been through since then. How far I have come, and what a different place I am in my life.  I guess people really do come into your life for a reason.

I am sitting in our living room waiting for Nick. He’s like a chick, always the last one ready.  He told me to wear a party dress, but wouldn’t tell me
any more than that.  Normally, I don’t like surprises, but Nick has never disappointed me with them in the past, so I am going to try to relax and enjoy what he has in store for me tonight. 

He is finally ready and is as handsome as ever wearing all black – button down shirt and slacks. He isn’t wearin
g a tie, and his shirt is unbuttoned at the top, just enough to see the dip at the base of his neck, and I am so tempted to lick it.

“
Hey, handsome.  Don’t you look sexy tonight.” I walk up to him and give him a kiss.  I can’t resist - screw the lipstick, I can reapply. Just being around him makes me want to jump his bones.

“Hey there, Delilah.  How’s my favorite birthday girl doing?”  He grabs my hand, twirls me around then whistles.  “As gorgeous as ever. I am one lucky son of a bitch.”

We spend the next few minutes admiring one another.  Nick finally breaks our spell by telling me that we are going to be late. I have a punctuality issue, so that just won’t do. I don’t care if it’s my birthday or not.  I don’t like to be late. Anywhere. Period. Enough said. I grab my purse and follow him out to the McLaren.

“You gonna tell me where
we are going?” I finally ask, unable to be patient anymore.

“W
e just need to stop at Club M for a minute.  Calvin needs me to pick up a contract that I promised I would review for him. Then to our final destination,” Nick replies, wagging his eyebrows.  “Is that okay?” he asks, grabbing my hand and pulling it up to his mouth to kiss.

I sigh at his romantic gesture.  “Sure, of course.  I always enjoy seeing Calvin.  Besides, it’s been awhile since we
’ve stepped foot in Club M.  It will be nice to reminisce,” I say softly, watching his profile change from soft and relax to pensive. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Nothing, Doll.  Just a little nervous.  I hop
e you like your birthday present.”

“Oh, Boss. You know I will love
anything you give me because it will be from you. I love you.”

“I love you, too, baby.”

♫♩♫♩♫♩
♫

I can’t believe we pulled it off.  Delilah is so surprised when everyone jumps out from the dark room. She is laughing so hard that I’m afraid that she is going to pee in her pants!  After she finally calms a bit from the initial shock, she is able to fully take in her surroundings, noticing all of the people  who came to celebrate with her. To celebrate her.

I watch Delilah all night, flitting from one group of people to the next, making sure that everybody is having a good time.  She is just so perfect.  As midnight strikes, her birthday is officially over, and today marks one year from the day we met.  Show
time.

I cross the room with purpose - to get my girl. She is chatting and laughing with a group of her girl friends, but as I approach there is radio silence.  Oh come on ladies, you don’t have to make it that obvious that you are talking about me.

Delilah and I lock eyes and the contented look on her face is all I want to look at for the rest of my life.  Knowing I put it there is just icing on the cake.

“Hey there, Delilah,”
I greet her with a full heart.

“Hi, Boss,” she responds shyly.

“It’s just after midnight.  Your birthday is officially over.”

“Yes, it
seems that you would be correct,” she replies and my cock stirs from her sarcasm.  Damn, she’s got me hook, line, and sinker.

“You know what today is?”

“How could I forget the day I met my Italian stallion?”

I lean my head back and let out
a hearty laugh, almost a bark.

“Italian stallion, huh?  I thought I heard you call me that the night of the ball.  I was in such a haze I didn’t ask,” I say still chuckling.

“It may or may not be my nickname for you.”  She shrugs.

“You can call me whatever you’d like, Doll.
  Just as long as it’s me you’re calling.”

I lean down and give her a passionate, but quick kiss.  I haven’t had my hands on her all night and it is driving me nuts.

“Dance with me,” I command rather than ask.

“But there’s no music?”

♫
♩♫♩♫♩
♫

Nick grabs my hand and drags me to the dance floor.  As he leads me through the crowd of people – all of my people – I take the time to admire him.  Holy hell, he only gets better with age! I can’t believe he took the time to plan all of this for me. What’s more, I can’t get over the fact that he was able to pull it off and surprise me.  I am so in love with him.

As we step onto the dance floor, Nick grabs me by the waist and pulls me tight against his body.  My favorite place to be.  Okay, one of my favorite places.  I hear everyone start clapping, and I am confused. I
look into his eyes, and I am sure the expression on my face was asking him, “Huh?”  In response, he spins me around, and out of nowhere, a band takes the stage. I must have been in a Nick induced lust fog to have missed that!

The lead singer takes the mic and says, “Never thought I’d be saying this to anyone else, but this one goes out to Delilah.”  And then it hits me like a to
n of bricks.  Holy fucking shit! The Plain White T’s.  Here.  At my party. The Plain White T’s.   As they begin playing the intro to my song – our song - I am stunned and frozen in place. I can’t move.

Nick takes the lead
, grabbing me once again, this time to start dancing.  As I come back from my zone out, I hear the beginning notes to our song, and I am in heaven. There is no other place I would rather be. I look into Nick’s eyes, and they are lit in delight. I don’t think I can be happier than I am right at this exact moment, until he tops himself.  He pulls me in closer, my body flush against his. He leans down slightly, his mouth by my ears, and he sings along to the song, “Hey there Delilah…”

Nick continues singing the rest of the song, tears of joy rolling down my face. When the song finally ends, he leans back a few inches, grabbing my chin so I look up at him.

“Are you ready for your birthday present?”

“
What? There’s more?  I don’t think I can handle anything else!”  I laugh, but am completely serious. He has outdone himself.

“I still owe you a birthday present.”

“Baby, this party was enough. You, are enough.  I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Without another word, Nick drops down to one knee.  The music stops, and I think everyone is
staring, but I honestly couldn’t tell you.  Because all I can see, all I can focus on, is my beautiful man, my perfect man - my Italian stallion – down on bended knee.  He looks up at me and grabs onto my hands.  He is shaking and my earlier tears of joy are rolling down my face.

“
Before I met you, I had everything I ever needed. At least I thought I did. I was good at my job, had a great condo, enjoyed easy friendships, and a healthy social life. Then one day, exactly one year ago today, you walked into my life and changed me forever.”

Nick pauses to take a breath. He smiles at me, shaking his head slightly
like he is remembering something.  “We got to know each other without all of the normal social pressures. Unconventional maybe, but perfect for us.”

I hear a few people chuckle in the background. It must be Charlie and Calvin because nobody else knows our true story.

He continues.  “Now, with you in my life, Doll, I no longer live to work, I work to live. I’ve come to realize that the man makes money, money doesn’t make the man. And you’ve taught me that the love of a good woman, the right woman...you...is more important than any material possession or any professional achievement that I could have ever dreamed of.  You, my love, are my weakness - my downfall, my Delilah. 

I see a tear escape
s from Nick’s eye, and I am barely able to contain myself. I desperately need to hold him, but I also know that I need to let him finish.

Nick reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out a
Harry Winston Box.
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!
  He opens it towards me, and I gasp in surprise. My right hand flies up to cover my mouth, as he is holding tightly onto my left.  It’s
the
ring.  The exact one I was looking at the day we went to drop off the loaned jewelry from the ball. I can’t believe he bought it.

He doesn’t give me a minute to over think anything
- boy, does he know me – and carries on.   “Delilah Rose Sampson.  I promise to love, honor, and cherish you, every minute of every day for the rest of my life.  Would you do me the honor of sharing the rest of your life with me and becoming by wife?”

I drop down to my knees, sobbing like an idiot. I jump into
his arms, practically knocking him over.  “YES! Yes! Of course I will marry you!” I scream into his ear, and I hear people applauding in the background. Oops, I forgot there were people even here. 

Nick peels me away from him by the shoulders, searching my eyes.  “Really?” he asks, his voice cracking with emotion.

“Absolutely,” I assure him.  I lean in to kiss him, but it is way too brief for my liking.  

He grabs me again and slams my body against his, holding me so tightly that I can hardly breathe.  I feel his body begin shaking, and I realize he is sobbing into by neck.  I hold onto him, reassuring him that I am not going anywhere.  I rub his back a few times, and feel his body begin to relax.  I kiss his temple, and he puts a few inches between us.

“Hey there, Delilah,” he says with the most beautiful smile and his gorgeous emeralds shining.

“Yeah, Boss?”

“New rule,” he states, “I never want to spend another day away from you. We go to sleep together every night, and we wake side by side every morning.”

“And we always say ‘I love you,’” I add, making sure to never go another day without him knowing how madly in love with him I am, and him doing the same. 

♫
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  The End
 ♫♩♫♩♫♩
♫

Stay tuned for book #2 in
a Taboo Love series

by M.D Saperstein & Andria Large

Charlie’s story