Then as quickly as he’d come, he gave uswinks and a wave. As he rose and headed toward the front of the restaurant, Itried to figure out who he’d been with. Julian never came here alone. Thingsfell into place when the bouncy twink from before came out of the bathroom andhurried across the room to meet him.
Ridley looked curious, so I explained.“He’s been seeing a new sub, but every time I ask about it, he finds a reasonto hang up or head someplace else. And now it looks like they’re not justmeeting at the club, they’re actually dating.”
Ridley grinned at me as I tried to watchJulian and his new friend head out into the parking lot. “You look like you’rejust about ready to follow them out to the car to see what they’re doing.”
“If you weren’t here, absolutely.” Focusingback on Ridley, I grinned. “He was nosy first, and he’s been very cagy aboutwho he’s seeing. So really, I’ve behaved rather well.”
Laughing quietly, he shook his head. “Thisis a new side to you that I haven’t seen yet. I have to say it’s veryinteresting and almost as entertaining as the glares you were sending towardyour friend when he was flirting with me.”
Scoffing, I did my best to look boring andprofessional, which only made him more delighted. “I have no idea what you’retalking about. I have no need to be jealous because I know exactly who youbelong to.”
Ridley was having so much fun he was nearlygiggling. “But you’d have liked the situation a lot better if we’d beensomewhere less public?”
I rolled my eyes, playing along. “I’mconcerned for a friend, that’s all. He’s been acting strangely and hanging outwith someone new. Those are classic signs of nefarious activity. I rememberthat from school, so I have to keep a close eye on him.”
Grinning ear to ear, he was finding theentire situation nearly hysterical. “I think I’ll let you be the person toteach Becca about stranger danger and thenefarious thingsfriends canget up to when she gets older. I’d do anything to watch that.”
Beaming, I sat up and straightened myshirt. “I’ll have you know, I can give very memorable lectures.”
I should’ve left it at just teasing becausehe probably hadn’t realized how it’d come out, but I just couldn’t help myself.
Reaching out across the table, I took hishand in mine and stroked over his fingers. “But just so you know, baby, I wouldbe honored to be around long enough to help out with anything in her teenageyears.”
Ridley blushed, but instead of pullingaway, he moved his other hand to rest on mine. “Until I met you, I couldn’tpicture anyone being with me long enough to make that a reality, but you weredifferent from the first time you opened the door for me.”
Squeezing his hand, I smiled, touched byhis words. “If there was anyone special standing in that doorway, it was you. Ijust wish I’d taken the chance and really talked to you sooner.”
That got me a teasing grin. “Then Imight’ve missed out on all those good tips.”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “Oh no, alittle bit of a smile or one of your cute blushes would’ve had me tipping evenbetter, guaranteed.”
We were definitely going to have to reenactthat first meeting in a scene with just a bit of a different spin on theending.
He gave a quiet laugh. “You nearly doubledthe price of the pizza. If you’d tipped any better, I’d have felt dirty aboutit.”
Leaning against the table, I smiled.“That’s going to be an idea that we come back to at a later date, but for nowI’m going to stay on topic and not fantasize about all the wicked things Iwould’ve loved to have done to my sexy delivery boy.”
Ridley couldn’t seem to decide if he wantedto blush in embarrassment or curl up at my feet and beg to hear every detailabout what I was imagining. But after a moment, the desire receded enough forhim to think again. “On topic?”
Before I could answer, the blush flooded back,and he looked adorably flustered. “Oh, the teenage thing. I didn’t mean to—”
Interrupting him before he could talkhimself out of the tender moment he’d given us, I tightened my grip on hishand. “But I think you did, and it was the sweetest thing anyone has ever saidto me.”
Giving me a slightly embarrassed smile, helooked down at my hand and stroked his fingers over the back of it. “It’sjust…I can see you. It’s just so easy to envision you there with us, andeverything in the house feels better when you’re there. I never knew arelationship could be like this.”
“I knew, but I’d never found what I wassearching for until you, and now Becca, walked into my life. I know you’re apackage deal, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Taking a leap offaith, I squeezed his hand again. “I’ve fallen for you and I want to be thereevery day for you as long as you’ll have me in your life.”
“Baggage and all?” Ridley’s smile was a mixof sweet and sassy, and I wanted to reach across the table and pull him into myarms.
Damned restaurant.
“Baggage and all, baby.” I wouldn’t have itany other way. “And to prove that, I plan on spending the next few hours makingsure you understand exactly who you belong to.”
Ridley brought my hand up and kissed theback of it. “You. I know I will always belong to you.”
Chapter 21
Ridley
