22. Wish & Tell

Jennie

I'd texted my boss to tell her I couldn't work, so I'd been able to sleep in. But as I woke, staring up at my ceiling, something didn't seem right.

Turning my head on my pillow, I caught sight of Jovat as he stood beside my bed. He held a tray in his hands.

"What's this?" I rubbed my eyes, suddenly recognizing the smells—bacon, eggs, coffee…

"For you," he said as I sat up.

Jovat placed the tray on my bed, and I stared at him in confusion.

"You wanted the perfect Valentine's Day." His jade-colored eyes met mine.

"I didn't wish for it, though. And I said date, not day." I found I didn't mind the miscommunication.

"Jennie, I have free will. I can do things I choose to do." He reached out and gently stroked my cheek, his fingers warm and comforting. "And I choose to make your day special."

I teared up at the sweetness of his gesture and words. Nobody had ever wanted to make me feel special without some type of strings being attached.

"I've upset you. What did I say?" Jovat captured my face in both hands. Swiping his thumbs under my eyes, he brushed away the tears that had leaked from my eyes.

"It's happiness, I promise," I whispered, a little breathless at his unexpected touch.

"Happy tears?" He was skeptical, but when I nodded, his expression warmed.

With a quick motion, he leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. When he pulled away, my whole body cried out.

There was something so natural about the intimacy, and I found myself wishing for… well, more. Except I didn't make that wish out loud.

No, it was one of my inside wishes that I had no plan of letting out. The last thing I wanted was to make my three wishes and watch Jovat vanish out of my life.

Then again, I felt a bit bad about keeping him from his naps. I'd seen the love in his eyes when he spoke of sleeping, and I shared that love; just one more reason I was drawn to him. Part of me wanted to pull him onto my bed with me and spend all day in sleepy, cuddly bliss.

Though, I couldn't help but wonder if I had three wishes left now that he'd done this. I didn't want to ask because he was being so sweet. At least I knew I still had two wishes. That meant I could keep him with me for a while longer.

How could I let him go when the time came, though? I was drawn to him, and not just out of curiosity. It was more than that.

After breakfast, Jovat poofed a cushioned table into existence. "Time for a facial and full body massage." He rubbed his hands together. "Don't worry, I'm a licensed professional in both."

I couldn't hold back a laugh. "I haven't even gotten dressed yet!"

"Who needs to get dressed?" he asked. "This is your day, and you should be comfortable."

He had a point. I loved the idea of a pajama day.

With Jovat's guidance, I got on the table and laid down in my lady boxers and thin shirt. Part of me felt self-conscious about being nearly naked with him, but I was too intrigued by the idea of his hands on my body, so I quickly shoved those thoughts away.

I lay there while he wiped my face with a cloth. "What is your favorite comfort food?"

"This is kind of embarrassing, but ice cream and tacos." As I spoke, Jovat ran his hands over my face without actually making contact with my skin.

Delicious heat and steam emanated from his palms as he worked over every inch from hairline to collarbone. Jovat chuckled, moving in close as he worked, studying my face carefully.

"This part might tingle," he said, applying a mask to my skin.

As I lay there, I wondered how he knew what my perfect date entailed.

"Is there anything else that could make your day perfect?" he asked, fanning my face with his hands.

The mask began to tingle. "I think you've nailed it."

He cleaned my face, gently applying a cooling cream that felt like heaven. "Roll over, Jennie."

I did as I was told, and he began to rub my body, starting at my shoulders and working his way down my back. Tension melted away from my body, and I moaned in delight.

He had magic hands. Literally.

Once I was reduced to little more than jelly, he had me roll over again and scooped me up. Cradled to his chest, I sighed in contentment as he carried me into the living room. The mouthwatering scent met my nose before I saw what was creating it.

Every surface, nook, and cranny held flowers of all types. There were so many I couldn't take them all in fast enough. My gaze landed on pastel purple lilacs, brilliant yellow sunflowers, richly hued lavender, royal plum-colored irises, pale pink lilies, and roses of every color imaginable.

Then I noticed the coffee table had been covered in different types of bouquets: fruit, chocolate, and cheeses, along with a bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket.

"I can't believe you did this," I whispered as he set me carefully on the couch.

"Tacos and ice cream are on the menu, too." Jovat gave me a wink.

I wanted to ask if he was on the menu, but I was afraid it would scare him away.

"And," he added, revealing a stack of games. "We're going to have fun."

With that, he pulled Battleship out of the stack, and I sat forward.

"No way. This is war!" I said, opening the box and taking out my plastic grid.

As I settled into place, snacking on fruit and cheeses, I felt like the luckiest woman in the world. Jovat had perfectly nailed exactly what I had dreamed of in a perfect Valentine's date.

As we began calling out squares, I couldn't help but love that he'd planned the whole day around spending time together. It didn't matter what we did. The fact that we were focused on one another was exactly what I wanted.

Somehow, without even knowing what I wanted, Jovat had managed to create the day of my dreams.

No one else would ever top this. How could a regular man live up to what he had done for me?

I was in trouble.

There was no doubt in my mind that I was falling for Jovat.

I'd found my perfect man… but he wasn't a man at all.