“I have an idea.”
Fallon deserved all the love. It was strange to think that I’d barely paid attention to him in the past. How was I so blind? Then again, Vail had brought us together in ways we’d never dreamed.Allof us.
“Are you going to tell me, or do I need to suck your dick to get answers?” The wickedness returned to his tone, and I shook my head. I suspected he was used to turning everything into sex. This was new for him, and I understood some discomfort with change. He would get used to it quickly because I was going to make sure of it.
“No and no.” I squeezed his hand, which was still clutched in mine. “Ye are gonna sit there and be good and let me treat ye like ye deserve.”
Fallon sighed. “Fine. But what do I deserve?” He popped his tongue into his cheek and stared at me.
It was a strange question and not one I was expecting. “Everything and more. Like I said, we’re taking this slow. That means I’m gonna take ye on wee dates and buy ye things and make ye feel like ye’re the most important person in the world. Then, and only then, when we’re ready, are we gonna make love.”
“You do realize I went down on you already, right?” He laughed, and I relished the lightness in it. “We’ve been inside Vail together.”
“Aye, but we haven’t made love yet. Just me and ye.” I raised his hand to my mouth again and laid another kiss on it as I came to a Walmart. I pulled into the car park, ignoring his snort of amusement as I stopped the Spyder as close as I could get it to the front doors. Before he could come up with something funny to say, I spoke first. “Ye wait here. I’ll be right back.”
I didn’t give him a chance to argue as I hopped out of the car and walked into the store as quickly as I could. Walmart wasn’t busy at this time of night on a Monday, so it was easy to grab a picnic blanket and two battery-operated lanterns. I twisted the knob on both lights to make sure they worked before I went on my way. While I was waiting to get through the checkout line, I placed an online order at our favorite Chinese restaurant for pickup.
When I got back to the Spyder and opened my door, I threw the bag at Fallon. He opened it immediately, snooping inside.
“We’re going on a picnic? Little cold for that, isn’t it?” His amusement had my stomach tingling in embarrassment, but I didn’t back down. He’d never had someone to be romantic with and I was going to change that. I wasn’t Aspen or Cillian. While Aspen cared for Fallon, he never doted on him in the way I’d been known for, and Cillian was all about sex and domination.
“Aye, a picnic. We’re stopping at Sheng’s for food. I’ve already ordered.” I started the Spyder again and reversed, quickly getting back onto the main highway to head in the direction we’d come from. Sheng’s was on the way to the spot I wanted to take him.
“Fuck yeah. Did you get me—”
“Yer chow mein, aye. I got ye steamed buns, too.” I sent him a grin, even though I knew it was difficult to see me in the darkness of the Spyder’s cab. “And some wonton soup and dumplings to take home to Vail because he would be mad if we didn’t bring home Chinese later.”
“Oh, he would turn into a cold-blooded killer if we didn’t bring him food.” He roared with laughter. “I’ve never seen such an innocent sweetheart get so upset about someone not bringing him food if they got some themselves.”
I chuckled. “He’s definitely unique, but that’s why we love him.”
“Yep.” Fallon sighed happily, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my mouth.
It was a ten-minute drive to get to Sheng’s, and I left Fallon in the car again as I ran in to get the food. Mr. Sheng knew us well by now, and as soon as I entered, he grabbed our bags and came rushing around the counter, speaking in fast Mandarin. He wore a green uniform shirt withSheng’sstitched across the front in yellow, which billowed around him, and his wispy gray hair was combed to the side, letting his scalp shine through the strands. I’d told him I wanted to learn the language he’d grown up speaking, but I hadn’t gotten very far with it, so I didn’t understand a word he said.
He laughed. “It’s okay. You’ll learn soon. You’ll speak Mandarin like a pro in no time.”
I shook my head as I took the paper bags from him. “Ye have a lot of faith in me, Mr. Sheng. The language is very difficult for an Irishman.”
He continued to laugh and patted me on the back as I handed him cash, and when he protested the big tip, I merely said, “For future Mandarin lessons to impress Vail. I hafta keep on my toes with that one.”
He waved me out, his cheeks red, while he said “thank you” in Mandarin. I’d at least memorized that phrase.
Fallon opened the car door to wave at Mr. Sheng, and the old man returned it. We’d made quite a home for ourselves in Westhampton Beach, but that was on Vail’s shoulders. He spoke toeveryonehe came across and wanted to know their life story. It was no wonder he was able to get information about the mobs. He was so easy to talk to and people loved him.
“Did you give him a tip?” Fallon asked as I got back in the car.
I snorted. “What do ye think?”
He nudged me with his shoulder, then grabbed my hand, firmly interlocking our fingers with a wide grin. I wriggled my hand free and backed the car out of the spot. During nights like this, I feltnormal, as though I wasn’t part of the biggest mob on the East Coast. It was nice to have that type of regularity because living on the adrenaline of high-risk assignments would drive a man, even one my age, into an early grave.
I drove until we made it to Westhampton Beach. It wasn’t the easiest place to get to, mostly because it was a long walk out to the water and it was surrounded by expensive homes with direct access, but it would be worth it. While the beach was usually busy, I doubted many people would be there tonight, especially on a Monday. The darkness alone scared people off.
I parked the Spyder. “Ready?”
“And are you really gonna make me walk?” Fallon whined.
I shrugged. “Ye had a nice seafood restaurant picked out, and then ye went and started a fight, so aye. Ye’re goin’ to walk to this lovely beach, spread out this picnic blanket with me, and have dinner. And if ye’re real good, I might spend some time kissing ye.”
