"You're an idiot. I—"
The cacophony of sound blurred together to become a soundtrack to the moment I knew she'd leave. This woman who delighted and amused me and brought out every single protective instinct I possessed.
"I like your family," she said, leaning across to snag a piece of pepperoni pizza. "They're a fun bunch."
Fun?
I looked around at the chaos, Jay flirting with the waitress, Liam tussling with Ryan, while Sam and Ash traded barbs.
"Fun?"
She laughed, throwing a hand out. "This is my definition of family."
"You're from a big one?"
She shook her head. "No. Just me. It was quiet but loving. My parents are retired now and live down south. I try to get down there every month or so to visit. They've taken up poker. I worry they're gonna fall in with a crime family."
I laughed, some of the tension leaving my shoulders. "You're game. The last woman I dated took one look at this lot and walked back out."
Karen lifted the pizza to her lips, her eyes sparkling. "I zip-line across cavernous black holes—your family doesn't frighten me."
I grinned, raising my cup and tipping it her way. "I'll cheers to that."
"Are you guys gonna kiss?"
Our heads twisted to see Sam watching us.
"Uh, no," I answered. "Don't worry, bud, we won't sully your young eyes at the dinner table."
He shrugged, fiddling with his straw. "It'd be okay, you know, if you wanted to. I wouldn't care."
Around us, the table quietened, all eyes falling on us.
"I don't know that this is the place for a kiss."
Jay leaned forward, his expression delighted. "Oh, come on, old man. You might not have many opportunities left. Time's a ticking—show your boys how it's done." He looked at Karen. "With the lady's permission first, of course."
"Of course," Karen laughed, rolling her eyes and turning to me. "Go on then."
Not how I expected tonight to go.
I leaned forward, cupping her cheek, searching her gaze for any sign she wasn't into this—instead, I found desire.
Fuck.
I leaned in, capturing her lips, expecting it to be a light kiss. I expected to keep it simple and chaste. After all, we were in a pizza parlour, and my kids were watching.
It was anything but.
She tasted like the finest scotch. Like base jumping and zip-lining. Like heaven and happiness and all the best fucking things. She tasted like home.
Fuck.
Her lips parted under mine, and I advanced, deepening our kiss, my tongue sliding against hers in a sensual move.
Her hands came up to fist my shirt, her head tilting back a fraction, inviting me to dig my fingers through her hair.
A cough sounded nearby.
