Then she responded to my voice. She stumbled out of the car into my arms, and I felt her relax a little. Well, up until Yak opened his big mouth. I could have smacked him, but he did make her laugh. I think it helped break her free from whatever hell she was in, so I will give him a pass this time, even if he was insinuating that we were coming over here to do something inappropriate.
I held her for several minutes. I would have held her for a lifetime if that is what she needed. When she finally gave me those bright green eyes, I swear it took my breath away. I could still see the panic there, but there was something else. Something that looked a lot like adoration.
I was at a loss for words for a moment as I wiped away the remnants of her tears. She is such a strong woman. Kind and smart, and here she is looking at me like that.
Then she said I was her anchor. I am what grounds her.
Nothing can make a man feel bigger than knowing his woman looks to him for stability and that she depends on him to keep her anchored in this world.
That’s what she is. She is my woman, whether she likes it or not.
I continue to kiss her slowly, keeping it PG since we are technically in public. When she finally pulls back, she nuzzles into my neck.
I feel whole with her in my arms. As long as she kept clinging to me like this, I could survive anything.
“Are you okay now?” I whisper.
“I am. Thank you for being my anchor.”
“Always, baby. I will always be your anchor, just like you will always be my songbird,” I promise her.
“Can you take a break for a little bit?” she asks, pulling back to look up in my eyes.
“As long as you need.”
She smiles. “I brought lunch.”
“You did? You wanted to come have lunch with me?” I tease her, kissing her cheek. “I think you might like me.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t get a big head. I might be a little fond of you, but that could change.”
I chuckle. “You can’t fool me, baby. I’m your anchor. That means you’re stuck with me for life.”
She tries to glare at me, but a smile sneaks through. “You are insufferable.”
“You like that about me too. Let’s go get some food. I want to see what you made me.”
She laughs. “It’s nothing special.”
“I disagree. You made it so it is very special.”
She blushes as she pushes me back before she twines our hands together. I let her lead the way back to the car.
“You borrowed Maggie’s car?” I ask.
“Yeah. I don’t have one of my own yet.”
I make a mental note to get her a car. Panther made me keep more money from the last run. I could take a real cut on the next one and buy her a decent car. I don’t know a lot about them, but Yak seems to, so I will have him show me how to look it over to make sure it’s safe.
The plan is formed in my head by the time she pulls the bags from the car.
I take them from her and lead her inside.
The boys catcall for a moment before getting back to work. I wave them off before taking one of the tables in the corner.
I help her unload everything onto the table before I take the seat across from her.
“This looks good,” I tell her honestly.
