Chapter 11
After a quick shower and change of clothes, Ronan jumped in Havoc’s truck and made the short drive from what used to be Remi’s house to Havoc’s. He pulled up in the driveway, parking the truck where it was usually parked. He got out and anxiously made his way up the steps to the front door. He knocked, his face wearing the goofy grin he’d been sporting since Giada agreed to go out to dinner with him.
Havoc answered the door, yanking it open and pulling him inside. “Hey. They upstairs doing all the girl things.”
Ronan smiled even bigger and followed Havoc to the kitchen.
“What’s that smile for?” Havoc asked.
Ronan shrugged a little. “She’s upstairs getting dressed for me.”
“Amazing feeling, isn’t it?” Havoc asked.
“I can’t even explain it.”
“Don’t have to. I live it every time Analise comes downstairs and asks me if what she’s wearing looks okay. Doesn’t matter what she’s wearing — sweat pants, or an evening gown — she’s wanting to make sure she looks okay in my eyes, and that to me is priceless. It’s ridiculous, because she could go naked covered in mud with matted hair and she’d be the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. But that she still wants me to look at her that way, that’s what’s priceless.”
“Oh, I get it. Believe me, I get it.” He dug Havoc’s truck keys out of his pocket and handed them to him.
“You not driving it tonight?” Havoc asked.
“No, we’ll take mine. Only used yours today to have a reason for you to be looking for me if the point was pressed,” Ronan said, his voice dropping to almost a whisper.
“Yeah, but I figured you’d take it for your big date.”
“I’m taking mine. It’s old, and it’s faded, but it runs good, and it has a heater in it, and it’s mine.”
“I get you. So, where y’all going?” Havoc asked.
“I want to be somewhere we can sit and talk and be together, somewhere a little more upscale without a constant flow of people in and out, and drinking and partying distracting us. So, I thought the steakhouse, if she likes steak. If not, then the sushi place — they have cooked stuff, too.”
“Perfect,” Havoc said.
“How are the kids getting along?”
“Like they were raised together! Like litter mates. Been running and screeching, and laughing, then running some more. They’re good kids.”
“I love hearing that.”
“Me, too. Makes it just that much easier to move them right into the family.”
“Here we come! Sorry you had to wait,” Analise called out as she, Giada and Harley started down the large floating wooden staircase.
Havoc looked up at the stairs, conveniently encased with clear plexi-glass panels on the sides that allowed you to see the entire staircase — front, back, and sides, while still adding an air of safety — and smiled at the sight coming down toward them.
Ronan turned to see for himself what Havoc was seeing, and his heart damn near stuttered to a halt in his chest. His Giada had brushed her long, black hair to a shimmering gloss and left it draped over one shoulder and hanging down her back. She was wearing a long fitted, rust-colored suede skirt with a slit along the left leg that rose to only a couple of inches above the knee.The snug chocolate brown ribbed sweater she wore was belted at the hip with a dark leather belt with gold metallic accents on it. The boots she wore were made from the same dark brown leather and the same gold accents were on the boots, too, in the way of the tips guarding the toes of the boots, and a heal guard at the back of the boot. She wore long, dangly gold earrings and a matching necklace with a simple crescent moon decoration dangling from it. Over her arm was a long tan coat with a kick pleat in the back. She was stunning. But what made his heart skip a beat was the look in her eyes as she stared at him, waiting for his reaction.
Ronan walked slowly, yet deliberately toward the staircase, then stood there until she got close enough to reach him. He held his hand out for her to take, steadying her as she finally reached the bottom floor. “You are breathtaking,” Ronan said.
She blushed. Giada actually blushed. “Thank you,” she said, smiling shyly. “I was going to make something of my own work, but Analise insisted that I come shop in her closet.”
“I’m not surprised,” Ronan said. “She and all of our cousins have always shared clothes.”
“It’s what family does,” Analise said. “And tonight’s special, so it calls for a new outfit — even if it’s only new to you.”
Giada looked over her shoulder at Analise who still stood behind her on the second step from the bottom. “Thank you.”
“None needed. But you’re welcome.”
