“We need to decide what to have for dinner,” he spoke as he stroked my hair. “I’ve worked up quite an appetite.”

“How about Chinese? We could go to this great little restaurant over by my apartment,” I spoke.

“That sounds good, but I already told you that I’d rather stay in. There’s a take-out place right around the corner from here.”

I lay there, debating whether or not to say something to him about never taking me out. But I didn’t. I was tired, and I had a feeling if I said something, it would start an argument.

“Sure. Let’s do that.” I smiled as I lifted my head and looked at him. “By the way, how did you know my middle name was Rose?” I asked.

“What?” He cocked his head.

“When you told me that you were in love with me, you called me by my full name. I never told you what my middle name was.”

“You caught me.” He smirked. “I took a peek at your file.”

“And why would you do that?” I grinned.

“Because I wanted to know more about the woman who stole my heart at first sight.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. “Let’s go order some dinner.”

“Is it okay if I take a bath?” I asked.

“Of course it is, Angel.” He smiled.

Andrew left the room and I went into the bathroom. As I started the water, I noticed a bottle of my shampoo and conditioner sitting on the shelf in the corner. I thought that was strange since it wasn’t there before, so I opened the cabinet and saw my deodorant, hairspray, flat iron, makeup remover, toothbrush, toothpaste and the other personal things I used.

“Hey, Andrew?” I called out.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as he walked into the bathroom and came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“Why are my things in your bathroom?” I asked as I narrowed my eye at him through the mirror.

“I was going to talk to you about that later. I purchased everything you use to keep here for our sleepovers. I cleared out a side of my closet and a couple of drawers for you as well and took the liberty to have my personal shopper fill them with everything you need.”

I turned and faced him.

“You did what?" I voiced loudly.

He grabbed my hand. "Come look. See for yourself.” He grinned like a kid at Christmas.

I walked over and opened the dresser drawers, only to find bras, lace panties, socks, and four gorgeous silk nighties in a variety of colors. I was speechless and confused. I walked over to the walk-in closet and one side was filled with clothes.

"Andrew, I...I…" The words just wouldn't come out. "It's too much. Why would you do this?” I spoke as I turned and put my hand on his bare chest.

He took my hand and gently kissed each finger.

“Nothing is too much for you. I want to buy you nice things. Spend the night with me, you have everything you need here."

I took inventory of the clothes and shoes and everything was of perfect size.

"Your personal shopper has excellent taste, Mr. London. Have you used her before?" I glanced at him.

"No. Actually, it was my first time and she took a personal interest in you." He winked as the doorbell rang and he left the room.

I was overwhelmed by all of it and I didn’t know what or how to feel. I grabbed my phone from my purse and sent a text to Emma.

"Great taste, thank you."

"Don't thank me. Thank your boyfriend. Thanks to him, I made a huge commission! Enjoy your new things."

“Don’t you think it’s a little strange?” I asked.

“Who cares. You got a bunch of new clothes. Enjoy them. He’s so into you, Addison. Let him be. Don’t hurt his feelings. And make sure you thank him very well.”

I rolled my eyes. All of this was like a dream and things were moving really fast. The words Charlie used to say to me keep haunting me. "Addison, if it's too good to be true, then it probably is."

Andrew called me from the kitchen. I could smell the aroma of the Chinese food down the hallway.

"Let's eat by the fireplace," he spoke as he took our dinner and a bottle of wine to the living room. “Please tell me you’re not upset for what I did.”

“I’m not. I just didn’t expect it. No one has ever treated me like this before. I was caught a little off guard, that’s all.”

“Well, then all those other guys were blind fools.” He winked.

****

I thought the alarm was going off, until I fully awoke, and realized it was Andrew yelling from another room. I looked at the clock and it was six forty-five am. I stumbled out of bed and quietly walked down the hall, following his angry voice.

“I don't give a shit. I pay you a lot of money to do what I tell you and I told you to get the papers signed."

I'd never heard that tone in his voice before. It was chilling. I opened the door to his study and he looked up at me from behind his desk.

"I have to go. Do what I ask,” he yelled as he slammed the phone on his desk.

"Is everything okay?" I nervously asked.

He was agitated. That much I could tell.

"It's nothing for you to worry about," he spoke as he got up from his chair and left the room.

I walked over and ran my fingers along the mahogany desk. One wall was lined with ceiling-to-floor windows that housed blinds. The opposite wall was lined with paneled arch bookcases that displayed a variety of books from Shakespeare to fiction and poetry. Two wing-backed chairs sat on each side of a fireplace. As I glanced at his desk, my attention was drawn to a small seashell that sat in between a pencil holder and a paperweight. I picked it up and examined it.

"What are you doing?" his voice snapped.

I jumped and dropped the seashell on the floor.

"Christ, Andrew, you scared me." I bent down and picked it up.

"Maybe you shouldn't be in here snooping around,” he spoke with anger in his tone.

I put the seashell back in its proper place and turned on my heels to face him.

"I wasn't snooping. I noticed the seashell and it brought back some memories from my childhood.” I stomped out of the study and headed toward the bedroom.

"Addison, wait. I didn't mean it like that," he spoke as he followed closely behind me.

"Save it, London. You're obviously upset about something and instead of talking to me about it, you're shutting me out and I hate it," I yelled as I thumbed through my new clothes, looking for something to wear to work.

"I'm not shutting you out. It has nothing to do with you and I don't want you involved or worried. It's a work thing."

I turned to him with a pointed finger.

“Just because you’re having problems with a work thing, doesn’t give you the right to snap at me the way you did! I'm not discussing this right now. I have to get ready for work."

I went into the bathroom and locked the door as I heard him curse under his breath. I put on a pair of black dress pants, a burgundy camisole, and a matching jacket. I didn't have time to do my hair, so I twisted it and secured it with a clip. I threw on some makeup, brushed my teeth, and was ready to go within twenty minutes. I opened the bathroom door and Andrew wasn't in the bedroom.

I walked to the kitchen and there he stood, looking as sexy as fuck in his dark gray designer suit holding a travel mug filled with hot coffee.

"Thanks." I lightly smiled as he handed it to me.

"Am I forgiven yet?" He pouted.

The look on his face made my heart melt and I couldn't help but lightly kiss his bottom lip.

“Yes. You are forgiven. Just be a little more mindful next time.”

He cupped my chin with his hand.

“Thank you. I’m sorry and I will be. Tell me about this childhood memory you had," he spoke as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Remember when I told you we went to the Hamptons every summer? I was friends with this boy and we used to go to the beach every day and collect seashells.”

Andrew looked at me with an arched brow. "Should I be jealous of this boy?" He smirked.

I laughed. “Jealous of an eight-year-old?”

"Sounds like you two hung around a lot.”

"We did. He was my best friend. After we collected our seashells, we’d spend hours building sandcastles. In fact, we both loved to build so we would have contests.”

“Who won?” he asked.

I smiled. “It was usually a tie. So, when I saw the seashell sitting on your desk, it reminded me of him.”

"Do you remember his name?" Andrew asked.

"His name was AJ,” I said as I grabbed my purse and we headed out the door.

“I think you had a crush on him,” he spoke as we climbed into the backseat of the Escalade.

“I think you’re right.” I smiled. “We had a lot of fun together. Those summers were the happiest times of my life. I never saw him again after the summer Charlie died.” I looked out the window. “Madeline couldn't bring herself to ever visit the Hamptons again. I always thought about him and wondered how he grew up, what he does, what he looks like now as a man. I wondered if I would recognize him if I ever passed him on the street. We had this connection from the moment we met when we were five years old.”

“Five? Isn’t that a little young to have a connection with someone of the opposite sex?”

I laughed. “Looking back now, yes. But at that time, he was the only person I wanted to spend time with. If that makes sense.”

“What about his parents?”

“I don’t know much. We didn’t really talk about our families. We were just focused on us playing on the beach, collecting seashells and building sandcastles. I know his mom didn’t work and his dad was some type of businessman. They were rich. I knew that much. A few times, our families would get together for barbeques and me and AJ would just sit on the beach and play in the sand.”

Andrew took hold of my arm and pulled me into him.

"Listen, I'm sorry about earlier. I love you."

"I'm over it. Please don't give it a second thought. I love you too.”