“You’re okay,” she says, kissing my jaw and pushing herself into a standing position. “I still have two chapters to go through.”
“Take a break,” I suggest. “We can walk around town before I start cooking dinner.”
“Is everyone coming to eat?”
I nod. “Yep. It’s my turn to cook. By the way, tomorrow is Friday, do you want to go on a date with me? Everyone volunteered to take care of Keagh. They’ll even come to the house. We can go to Seattle.”
She looks at the baby and then at me. “We’re going to leave him? Isn’t it too soon?”
The one thing I adore about her is how much she cares for my son. She’s making scrapbooks, saving the clothes that are already too small to fit him, and trying to make memories with him. I don’t think my mother did any of that with me. At least, I don’t recall any good times with my parents.
“We’ll just be gone for a couple of hours,” I assure her. “We can even plan this date around his sleeping time. He won’t even notice we’re gone.”
“How about Saturday?” she counters.
“Why then and not tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow, I have to be in Seattle until five. I’ll be away from him for ten hours.” The worry in her voice is adorable.
“Why don’t we go out when you’re ready?” I suggest.
Her shoulders relax. “That sounds a lot better. It’s just…”
“I understand. We want to make sure he’s okay.”
She nods, squatting and picking him up. “We’re too young to stay behind, aren’t we? Yes, you are too little and precious.”
I stand up and kiss the top of Keaghan’s head.
Well, if I want her to fall in love with me, I need to bring my best game. If not in Seattle, I might create some magic around here. It’s just a matter of calling the right people, isn’t it?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Fisher
Since almost everyone is in town, Lang requests a meeting—on a Friday. The nerve. He’s only a few steps behind us, so I pretend that he’s not there and give my son his first lesson about one of my best friends and biggest pains in the ass.
“Listen, Keaghan, Uncle Lang is special. He might look like a scary, bitter man sometimes, but that’s his way of saying he cares,” I explain as we enter the brewery.
“Are you talking shit about me already?”
“Language. If my woman hears you, she’s not going to be happy.”
“You don’t date, Fisher. What’s happening?”
“I never planned on having children either, yet, here we are.” That’s a better explanation than telling him how Nat is different.
Before her, I didn’t think I deserved love. There’s the fact that my parents always told me I wasn’t good enough. All the women I’ve met during my adulthood wanted me because I could give them anything their hearts desired. No one ever treated me like a normal person. Nathalie does. She makes me believe that I wasn’t cursed at the age of three—I was just waiting for her.
“It’s the baby fever,” he says.
“What’s the baby fever?”
“Your relationship.”
“I don’t know if you’re insulting her or me.”
“You two think you’re attracted to each other because there’s this little creature that makes you want to have a family. It’s instinctive.”
“If someone else was telling me this theory, I’d be considering it. You’re just trying to push my buttons to see if it’s real.”
He sighs and halts right outside the conference room. “I can already hear the broken heart. Who’s heart? I’m not sure yet. Do yourself a favor and break up now before she packs her shit and goes back to New York.”
“Or…and hear me out because this might be more fun. Why don’t you help me put together the best date of her life?”
He holds his head, shaking it in frustration. “Do you think I’m your personal Cupid?”
“No, but that’s what I pay you for, make all my wishes come true. It’s in the contract.”
“Why did I agree to add that stupid clause to it?”
I wink at him. “Because I’m your best friend, and you love me.”
“Keep telling yourself that. I’ll call Teddy to see how she can help us. She’s pretty expensive.”
“Sure,” I answer.
Beacon frowns. “What, no comebacks about Teddy being hot? This is it, the end of the world. They said it would start with Fisher coming to his senses. I just never believed it would happen this soon.”
“Don’t be mean to Fish,” Grace chides him.
“This is our chance to mock him, G. Let’s take advantage while it lasts.”
I give Beacon the finger. “Stop abusing me and start helping me with my big date. Do you think it’s easy to convince her that I’m worth keeping? She’s a doctor. The valedictorian of her class—all of them. One of these days, she’s going to realize she’s way out of my league.”
Grace rolls her eyes. “You’re a catch, Fish. I think she’s pretty hooked—no pun intended. I’ll call Teddy and help you with the date. No need to charge you a gazillion dollars because we’re not in the mood.” She glares at Lang.
“Thank you, G. That’s why you’re my favorite best friend.”
Grace, Lang, and his cousin Teddy came through with their help. I told them what I needed on Saturday night. As Nathalie and I make our way toward the place, I spot the gazebo by the lake with twinkly lights and a fire pit. Next to it, Grace, Beacon, and San are playing classical music. Keaghan is at home with Myka.
“This better be worth it, Fisher Hannigan. Walking with high heels, blindfolded, and with a dress that has—”
“You look hot in that dress. I don’t see a panty line,” I mumble close to her ear. I tighten the hold on her waist. “We could go back home if you want. You’ll be dinner and dessert.”
She shivers. Goose bumps break out on her gorgeous skin. I should just take her back home and fuck her. I won’t. I’m waiting for the right moment to make love to her. She deserves a lot better than horny Fisher just taking pleasure from a willing body. I want to worship every inch of her body as I touch her soul with mine.
“Fisher. Where. Are. We. Going?”
“Wait just another moment. We’re almost there.”
“Is that music?”
As soon as we’re right across from the gazebo, we stop, and I take off the blindfold.
She presses the tips of her fingers on her lips. “That’s gorgeous.” Then, she turns to look at me. “Well, don’t you look handsome in a tux, Mr. Hannigan.”
“Now you understand my request?”
She looks at the gown and nods. “This dress is beautiful. Thank you for…this is wonderful. You’re wonderful.”
“I’m just trying to make sure that you’re happy with me.”
She cups my face. “I only need two things for that to happen, Keaghan and you.”