He stuck out his hand to shake, and Daniel announced, “But we don’t all call Wren Birdie—”
“Of course we do,” Ryan shot back.
And Genie added, “These two are funny.”
“That’s what happens when you have twenty years of pent-up pining for someone…” Ryan contributed to the banter.
“Enough, enough,” Daniel spoke, pulling me into his arms.
Ryan watched us with a grin. “Danny, the paps are lurking tonight. They’ve all been invited, Wren,” he said quietly to me.
I nodded. I’d been warned, hence the dress and makeup and sleek hair. No way I wasn’t looking my best next to Daniel. “I know, I’m ready.”
Daniel pulled me in deeper to his side, and if I hadn’t been mentally prepared for the evening, I was now.
“Well, I’m looking for my moment of fame,” Genie said, lightening the mood, practically jumping on her toes.
“Then how about coming with me? Let’s get a cocktail and let these two canoodle,” Ryan said while swinging his arm around Genie.
“Really? Is that okay?” Genie looked to me.
“Of course. Go, go…” As if I would deny her this moment.
“Come on,” Daniel spoke to me. “I have a corner table, and a boat-til of red waiting.”
“You mean bottle?” I asked about the way he said the word, sounding more likeboatandtilcombined.
He pinched my cheek. “Ya think you’re funny. Well, you can take the boy out of Scotland, but you can never take the Scotland out of the boy.”
“That’s what I like,” I teased back.
He guided me toward the front of the room, stage right, where in fact sat a wine bottle and two glasses in between two seats.
“So thoughtful,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Not me. Thank Ryan’s assistant. I asked and she provided.”
I reached over and brushed my lips over his cheek. “This was sweet.” He pulled my chair out and I slid in, making sure my dress didn’t wrinkle underneath me.
“We didn’t get a date-date this time, so I figured why not a quick moment here.”
“I’m sorry, but Genie was so excited at the prospect…”
He stopped uncorking the wine and put his hand over mine, stalling my rambling. “Never apologize. Regina is your friend. And you can bring whomever you want, anytime. Okay? We may live on opposite sides of the country, but I want this and you…in whatever way we have to package it.”
Speechless, I nodded.Package it…
“You know,” I said, “I’m never one who is not able to find words, but you do that to me a lot. Take my voice away…in a good way… Make me breathless. I don’t know—thank you, I think. This is new territory. Also, don’t let Rourke hear you say Genie can come anytime. He was pretty pissed to go to the kennel.”
“Rourke is welcome too, you know? And as for you losing your words, good! That’s my job—I want to take away each and every rambling word, every thought, until you are completely relaxed and at peace.” He poured us each a glass of wine, clinking his glass to mine, not bothered by my utter silence. “To this job being over so I can spend more time relaxing with you.”
I took a sip and wondered how much this bottle of wine must cost. “Delicious,” I commented.
“A special bottle for the most important guest here.” He paid attention to saying “bottle” as it should be pronounced and raising his voice a tad onimportant.
“By the way, I see why you were adamant about not shoving Ryan under the bus over the skiing incident. Why you kept his secret—”
“Because he hosts a fundraiser for Make-a-Wish? That’s not why,” Daniel responded.
