Page 138 of Naughty November
“Then why did you?”
“Yesterday I was supposed to collect something for you, but I had to pick you up instead. I had to catch the person this morning before they left town.”
“What are you talking about?”
He took a small box out of his pocket. “It’s not a lot, but I know you’ve been hunting one down. When I saw it, I had to get it for you.”
He looked so serious. I pried the top open and slapped my hand over my mouth. On a black velvet inlay lay a button, but not just any button. The button was a beautiful blend of yellow gold and enamel, with an intricate design of a delicate flower. The detailed left-facing ram’s head indicated that it was handcrafted from 18k French solid gold between 1819 and 1838. The price tag was several thousands of dollars, so I never thought it would make my collection.
“Kieran, this is… I can’t believe you found one,” I whispered, my fingers trembling slightly.
His smile was as brilliant as the sun. “I know how much this particular button means to you, Iggy. I’ve been searching for the better part of the year, and when I saw it put up for auction, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass.”
My eyes filled with tears. “You really get me, don’t you?”
Kieran’s expression softened, and he wrapped his arms around me again, pulling me close. “Of course I do. I love seeing you happy, and buttons and trivia make you happy.”
I looked up at him, my heart swelling with gratitude and love. “Well, guess what? I have a trivia question for you.”
He groaned. “I’m no good with trivia. I don’t even know if you give me the right answer for half of the questions I ask you.”
I burst out laughing, my heart giddy with happiness. “It’s a question you can answer, I promise.”
“All right, I’ll give it a shot.”
I took his face in my hands. “Who loves you most in this world?”
Kieran sucked in a breath, and a smile broke across his face. For a moment, he stared at me as if studying every detail of my features.
“You,” he said, his voice filled with certainty and warmth that wrapped around me like a blanket. “Iggy, it’s you.”
“Correct.”
I’ve always loved you most.
The End