I should have known Chris was up to something when he was up before me, getting the kids ready for school. He had Bella changed and dressed by the time I was finished with my shower. Then when I said I had no real plans for the day, he handed me an envelope and told me I did now.

Inside the envelope was a certificate for an afternoon at the spa for a massage and a manicure and pedicure. There was also a little sticky note stuck to the certificate telling me to change into the dress in the garment bag in the trunk of my car before coming back home.

Hmm, I do love surprises and he knows it.

So today I decide to be the dutiful wife and follow instructions without an argument. And by the time I'm pulling back into the driveway at six, I'm feeling more relaxed than I have in weeks. I've been kneaded by a pair of the best hands in the business and both my toe nails and fingernails are a cheery shade of pink. Lily's going to be jealous when she sees them and I glance down at my purse, thinking how smart I was to pick up an extra bottle of the polish. Maybe after dinner I can treat her to a mini spa treatment before bedtime.

But somehow I think Chris has a few more plans up his sleeve, especially given the outfit I'm clad in. There was quite the evening gown in that garment bag - pale pink silk with a hint of silver thread running through the skirt. I don't even have to look at the tag to recognize a vintage Dior when I see one. Thank heavens for the couture education Nina gave me. When Chris and I first got together clothes were just a necessity of every day life to me. I never seemed to be dressed properly for any occassion until Nina took me under her wing.

As soon as I step into the house I see candles everywhere. There was a voicemail on my phone telling me to come through the front door and more than just candles I see Chris standing beside the fireplace. He turns to look at me and smiles and its hard not to drool. He's in a tuxedo, diamond cufflinks glinting in the firelight, that dark hair of his curling just over his collar, making me itch to run my fingers through every silky strand.

He doesn't say anything, he simply strides over to me and stops about a foot away and lets his eyes rake over me. From the way those blue eyes are smouldering I say he likes what he sees and then his hand is darting out, closing around my elbow as he tugs me against the length of him.

I bring my hands up, pressing them flat against his chest, tempted to curl fingers around the buttons on his snowy white shirt, wanting to slide each and every button open so I can push that shirt wide open.

Then he's bending his head, his lips covering mine, sending shivers through every inch of my body. And he whispers, "Happy New Year, baby."

As his tongue teases against my lips, all I can think is 'Happy New Year indeed'.