Page 49 of The Deadbeat DILF
I laughed. “That’s cute.”
“Actually,” he said, “I got you a present. A little something, since our celebration last night was cut short.”
“Robert, you didn’t have to.”
“I know,” he said, “but I wanted to. I saw it on the way back from work and I thought of you. I’ll give it to you later.”
I smothered a smile, touched he was so thoughtful.
Five minutes later, we were both on our laptops at the dining table. We had a routine. It was somewhat comforting after such a big shake-up. As I waited for my computer to turn on, I saw Robert looking at me.
He took a breath. “I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”
My stomach flipped. Did he know Mike had visited me today?
“I’ve been looking into finding a better job,” he said.
My brows jumped up, and my worry disappeared. “You have?”
He nodded. “After my divorce, I took the first job I could get. It’s not the worst gig, but it’s definitely not the best either. They only pay me enough for me to get by.”
“What made you want to start looking for something different now?” I asked, tilting my head. It had been years since his divorce.
“You.”
My cheeks warmed. “Me?”
“You’re the most determined person I’ve ever met. Spending time with you has made my own ambition come back, and I realized I want something better for myself.” He took a breath. “I want to be the kind of man who’s worthy of you.”
My blush deepened as a small smile tugged at my lips. I could hear the sheer resolution in his voice, and I liked it.
“I hope you find something good,” I told him. “But you’re already perfect,” I added.
He shrugged, and for the first time, I realized just how much he beat himself up. It wouldn’t have helped that his own sondragged his name through the mud. He hid it behind smiles and laughter, but I could tell his self-esteem wasn’t the strongest.
I saw it because I’d been like that too. Despite all my achievements, I always felt like I wasn’t good enough, just because of what my family said. I worried that I was selfish and greedy, but now I knew I wasn’t. I wasn’t a terrible person. Robert had helped me see that.
That evening, we went to my bedroom. Robert changed into his pajamas, then found me in the bathroom, where I was applying my skincare products. He approached me from behind, his strong arms circling my waist. “I’ll be waiting for you in bed,” he murmured, kissing the top of my head.
I met his eyes in the mirror’s reflection and smiled at him. Just his touch had left my skin warm and tingly, and the sensation had lightened my mood. I was looking forward to burrowing my head into his chest before falling asleep. After everything that had happened today, I wanted to feel safe and secure.
He left, and I finished my skincare routine. I still had my earrings in, so I took them off too, placing them in their appropriate places in my jewelry box.
Maybe I should switch up my jewelry. I hadn’t worn a watch in a while.
I opened another one of my jewelry boxes, this one dedicated to watches and bracelets. As soon as I opened the lid, though, I froze.
One of my gold watches—the most expensive one I owned—was missing.
I quickly checked the rest of my jewelry collection, thinking I might’ve put it in the wrong spot, but it wasn’t there. I hurried to my wardrobe, looking for it among my handbags and accessories, but it wasn’t there either.
It was gone.
“Everything okay?” Robert called from where he sat in bed.
He must’ve seen me digging through my stuff in a panic.
I turned, looking at him through the open door of my wardrobe. “Did you take anything from my jewelry box?” I asked. That’s when I noticed he had something in his lap. A rectangular present, wrapped in light pink wrapping paper, and topped with gold ribbon.
