Leaning in closer, I whispered, “Pretty girl, that’s exactly where I see us right now. It’s where I see us in the future, too. In fact, in sixty years, I see us sitting on the porch that we’ll make sure it has, watching butterflies in the wind and listening to the water in the distance. I think we need to take it slowly, but, Tamsin, I see everything with you.”
For a moment, it looked like she was going to cry, but then a huge smile replaced the trembling lower lip. “I think we need to go and look at some land, look at some kit houses, and enjoy us becoming more of the everything we both want us to be.”
I fucking loved that. She was with me.
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
I leaned in to kiss her, but she pulled back before I could reach her. “Stud, I know you have experience with red lipstick all over your face, but I’ve never looked like I’ve been shot in the mouth. Especially not on a date with my hot guy in a fancy new restaurant.”
Chuckling, I dropped her hand to cup her jaw and pulled her closer to me, lifting at the last minute to kiss her on the forehead. “We’ll save that for later,” I murmured against it, then pulled back to wink at her. “Okay, pretty baby, let’s go and check out what those two nuts have achieved.”
Getting out, I walked around and was just about to open her side of the car when Bond got there first.
“Allow me.”
I really wished she didn’t blush when she saw him and his brothers. I know they were good looking guys, but for the love of all things sacred, was it necessary for my woman to think that? I was secure enough in what we had, seeing as how we’d laid the foundations as friends before we’d changed our course, but come the fuck on.
Sighing, I lifted my chin at him. “Bond. Looking forward to tonight.”
Passing Tamsin over to me with a kiss on her hand—the dick shit fucker—he grinned cockily at me. “Everyone looks forward to what I can offer them.”
“Dickhead,” I coughed into my fist, sticking the middle finger of the hand that wasn’t covering my mouth up at him behind Tamsin’s back.
Bursting out laughing, he directed us toward the door. “You know, Zuri, whenever you want to come here, all you have to do is text me, and you’ll get the VIP treatment. Tell me, do you have my number?”
Sticking my leg out in front of his, I tripped him up as he got to the entrance. “Damn, you should quit the day drinking. You’re not driving home, are you, man?”
Glaring at me, he opened the door and winked at Tamsin. “Have a great time tonight. I’ll personally keep an eye on your food.” The way he looked at me when he said it made me suspect that perhaps he was going to spit in mine or do something dirty to it. Damn it.
As we were led to our table, though, Tamsin whispered, “I’ll order for both of us, so he doesn’t know who ordered what.”
“Thanks,” I muttered out of the corner of my mouth.
It all went perfectly after that, with both of us enjoying our food and laughing like we didn’t have a care in the world. It seemed like something had changed in Tamsin over the last week or so, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t love it. I also didn’t want to ruin it or rock the boat by pointing it out, so I just let it be and hoped she enjoyed feeling the way she was for the rest of her life.
Here’s the thing, when you care deeply for someone, you want them to be happy. You want to protect them from harm and all of the bullshit in the world. You want to protect them from assholes, bullies, bitches, fuckwads, trolls on the internet, the stains on society, but you also wanted to protect them from all of the little things that upset people normally. It isn’t possible, life isn’t that generous even if you have billions of dollars, but I was going to do my darndest to make it happen for her.
It was after we’d finished our main meals and were waiting for dessert when Katy and Jarrod turned up. I liked the guy, he was funny and quirky, but in a discreet way. She was pretty fucking cool, and I respected the fact she was a nerd, by her own admission. They suited each other, with him helping her feel calm and settled and her pulling him out of his shell a bit.
“Hey, guys,” Katy greeted. “How was dinner?”
“Yo,” Jarrod said, his deep voice making even me jealous. I swear, I had voice envy with him.