Chapter 16

She laughs and pushes the box over to me. “I love that you know that. Go on, open it.”

I take the box. The lid closes like a flower, and I unfurl the petals. It contains a single chocolate truffle. I smile and take it out.

“Happy birthday,” she says.

“Thank you.” I bite it, dividing it in two, and offer her the other half.

She looks at it for a moment. “I bought it for you.”

“And I’m choosing to share it.” I gesture for her to take it, and she does, popping it in her mouth.

“Off down the rabbit hole,” she says.

I don’t quite get the reference, but I smile anyway, because she’s quirky, and I like that. She also has an amazing voice. When we first met, I was sure I recognized it, but I can’t think where from.

We eat the truffle, which is rich and dark, then have a sip of wine.

“Thank you,” I say, genuinely touched that she bothered.

She wrinkles her nose. “Least I could do after you paid for dinner.”

“Like I said, I’m old fashioned.”

She smiles. “So come on then, tell me.Ali