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"I just wanted to knohere you planned for us to have dinner tonight," she said in a low voice "I don’t … I don’t want to go back to where ere supposed to have dinner last night I don’t think I could handle it There was a lot of huht for o soain"

The look of love, understanding and self-recri into his eyes made her e in her throat

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead and left the moment When he pulled away, he framed her face in his hands and stared her directly in the eyes

"I’d never do that to you, o to a place we’ve never been before I’ve heard good things about it I’ve already ot you up thisall the way around"

Relief and love coursed through her veins To her dismay, a tear rolled down her cheek and collided with one of his hands Damn it but she’d been deterht before As it was, it was going to take her best uise the shadows under her eyes before they went out to dinner And she wanted to look her best for Tate tonight Just as they wouldn’t be eating in the same restaurant, neither would she wear the saht before

But Tate seerew even more tender and he leaned in and kissed away the path of the single tear that had trickled onto his hand

"I love you, Chess Please don’t ever forget that"

"I love you too," she whispered "Now shoo so I can finish getting ready How much time do I have?"

He checked his watch and then helped her to her feet, patting her lightly on the behind "Forty-five et aroom"

She sent hi of her cheeks, and she was rewarded by an answering smile from him that took her breath away There was so e of giddiness She all but skipped to her closet to pick out what she would wear Her hair still needed to be blown dry, but she’d save that for after her wardrobe had been selected and then she’d do hair and ht smile as they sat in a corner table of the new steakhouse in the same suburb of Houston they lived in It was a mere five-minute drive from their house, and while they were certainly acquainted withWoodlands, this was a place that had just opened a fewby the number of people in the spacious interior

Soht that had pressed on his heart had eased and he was feeling optimistic about his and Chessy’s future How could he not rededicate himself to this beautiful woman and vow to put her first before all else? It was no less than she deserved and he’d iven hiifts absolutely

That he’d failed was a burden he’d carry with hiths he wouldn’t go to in order to secure her love and faith onceeyes and his e of her bound in a position of utter sub her under Tate’s watchful eye Anotherher for Tate’s possession

It was a kink they both enjoyed, had ular basis before Tate got so involved with his business Then The House and the activities had fallen by the wayside, so Tate intended to correct soon

But first he had to cement his recommitment to her Ensure that she knew in her heart she was first in his heart And then he’d plan a night of utter decadence All focused on Chessy and her pleasure It would be a gift to her His gift

"Oh no," Chessy whispered, her eyes suddenly stricken

Her words and expression yanked Tate from his erotic reverie and he frowned as he took in her obvious distress

"What’s wrong?" he de around to see what could have caused her to be upset

"Kylie and Joss must be so worried," Chessy said anxiously "They knew all about our anniversary plans and I was supposed to call theot about it"

Tate shtness in his features Yes, Joss and Kylie were Chessy’s best friends, and as such, he supposed they shared everything TooIt was obvious that not only his wife’s closest friends had been scrutinizing his e but also Dash and Jensen A fact that didn’t sit ith Tate He was a very private person and the idea of his personal life being the topic of conversation, not tounder his skin

But in this case the truth hurt and if he wasn’t so guilty of neglecting his wife then the scrutiny of others wouldn’t hit so close to home with him It was a cross he had to bear But he’d be da his head when in the company of Chessy’s friends His friends They weren’t just his wife’s friends Hell, he’d inserted himself into Dash’s relationship with Joss when Dash had nearly blown everything all to hell Tate had been furious with Dash, rightfully so, but the hypocrisy that was so evident was appalling