“I also like calamari.”
“Perfect.” Flip’s gaze stays firmly fixed on me. “We’ll take an order of that as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Anything else you’d like, Tallulah?”
I’m pretty sure my panties are trying to grow legs so they can walk off my body and into his pocket. “No, thank you.”
“That will be all for now, thank you.”
“Of course, sir.” The server bows and rushes off.
I turn my attention back to Flip. “You know you don’t have to treat every guy like they’re a threat.”
His eyebrows rise. “What if they are?”
“Like Quinn?” I needle.
He has the decency to look momentarily apologetic, but his expression smooths out. “You’ve met Lovey Butterson.”
“They’re like childhood friends,” I argue.
“Tristan and my sister have known each other their wholelives, so have Dallas and Hemi,” he points out. “And you and Lovey share some physical attributes.”
“Like our hair color,” I scoff.
“You’re both lean and athletic. You’re beautiful, and fun, and easy to be around. Quinn was very friendly with you, and while most of the time I believe he would stay on the right side of the line with you, under the right circumstances, or the wrong ones, he might crack under the pressure.”
“Is that what you’re doing? Cracking under the pressure?” I ask softly.
He kisses the back of my hand. I feel that point of contact everywhere and all I want is for him to lean in and kiss my lips.
“You opened a door when you asked me for a favor.”
“I’m—”
“No apologies. You’re done with those,” he orders. “You opened my eyes, and I couldn’t close them again. Lord knows I fucking tried, kitten. But every time I saw you after that, I couldn’t stop seeingyou.” He gently strokes my cheek. “I hated when things were strained between us. I wanted things to go back to the way they were. I wanted text messages and book recommendations. And I sure as fuck didn’t want to push you into one of my teammates’ arms, or anyone else’s, for that matter. I’d never forgive myself if that happened.” His jaw works and he swallows thickly, eyes softening. “And then tonight you were right in front of me and you felt a million miles away, and you were hurting and I couldn’t just…wrap my arms around you and be the person to tell you it would be okay, and I hated it. I realized there was only one way to fix it. So here we are.”
“Here we are,” I echo. I’m elated, stunned and just...
“Kitten?” He sweeps his thumb along the hollow under my eye.
“Please don’t let this be a dream,” I whisper.
He pulls me closer and wraps me in his strongembrace, surrounding me with his sandalwood and mint scent. “I’m not a knight in shining armor.”
“Knights are kind of overrated.”
He squeezes me and sits back. “Am I overwhelming you?”
“Not in a bad way.” I gather my thoughts. “So much of my life is suddenly in upheaval. What’s happening with my family, the way my dad shuffled me to the bottom of his pile is…painful, and then you show up, and I expected it to be more rejection, but it’s the opposite, and it’s amazing, and I’m scared, and I just don’t want to lose what we have, not when I’ve already lost so much.”
“That makes perfect sense.” He tucks my hair behind my ear. “We’re just going to have a nice dinner, and we’re going to hang out and enjoy each other’s company, and I’m not going to fight this chemistry because it was making me a miserable, territorial ass.”
“I don’t mind the territorial part,” I admit.
“Good to know, it’s tough to get a handle on sometimes.” He winks and settles back in his chair as our server brings our appetizers to the table.
