“Love you too.”
He tugged the door open with a disgruntled sound in his throat.And there, on the other side, was Ford in a button-down and dark jeans, looking even better than she remembered.
All broad shoulders and muscles for days, and the best smile on the planet.
He held flowers in one hand, roses and wildflowers mixed together, and her heart caught in her throat.
So freaking sweet.
“Evening,” he said, his voice a low rumble that made her stomach flip.
“Hi, Ford, come on in.”
Before she could introduce her brother, Cruz subtly stepped between them.“So you’re the guy.”
“Cruz,” she hissed his name.
“Yes,” Ford said, his gaze moving from Darcy to her brother.“I’m Ford.You’re Cruz?”
Cruz nodded sharply.“I expect you to treat my sister like a queen.”
Ford’s gaze darted to Darcy for a heartbeat and she felt seared from the inside out by the heat in his green eyes.
“I have every intention of doing just that.”
Cruz was just a hair shorter than Ford, but her brother looked like he was ready to throw down in her honor.But for what?
She gave Cruz a gentle push on his shoulder.“Have a good night at work.”
He looked at her and said, “I’ll have my phone on me if you need me.”
Nodding once at Ford, he strode down the hall and took the stairs to the ground level.
When she turned her attention to Ford, his mouth was quirked up on one side like he was fighting a smile.
“He’s a little overprotective.”
“Brothers should be,” Ford said.“He loves you and wants you to be taken care of.I respect that.”
Something uncurled in her chest, and she wasn’t sure what it was.Relief that Ford wasn’t put off by Cruz’s behavior, perhaps.
Or, maybe more likely, gratefulness that Cruz had actually left instead of inserting himself between them on their date like a chaperone.She would be thankful for small miracles.
“Sorry about that,” she said, stepping aside so Ford could come in.
Ford smiled down at her and handed her the flowers.“It’s no problem.I’d be more concerned if he wasn’t looking out for you.”
“Thank you for the flowers,” she said, closing the door.“Come on in, dinner’s almost ready.”
“You’re welcome,” he said.“Nice place.Have you lived here long?”
“A few years,” she said.He followed her to the kitchen, where she located a vase from the small collection in an upper cabinet.She put the flowers in the vase and filled it with water, and then set it on the table.It was the perfect complement to the candles in the delicate silver holders.
“It smells amazing in here,” he said.
“It’s spaghetti.”
“Sounds great.”
