“We’re going.” He slid his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
The awards ceremony was long, and Tucker was itching to get going even though it was only partway through.
He was proud of Ellie when she won the Best Voice Actor award for her voicework on Myth Hunter, which also won the Best Game award in its category. After the ceremony, she tucked her plaque into the tote, and they walked hand in hand to their rental.
As Ellie slid into the car, he got a great look at her cleavage. She looked sexy as hell in her silky red jumpsuit, and he looked forward to returning to their suite and removing it.
“I worked up an appetite.” She held her hand to her belly once they were driving out of the parking garage. “I’m starving.”
“According to GPS, we should be at the seafood restaurant just in time for our reservation.” He put on the blinker and turned onto a street that would take them downtown.
“It has stellar reviews.” She pushed her hair away from her cheek. “I love to eat seafood whenever I’m in a city by the ocean. It’s fresher and tastes better.”
Tucker nodded. “Same here.”
The restaurant’s parking lot was packed, and they got lucky when a car pulled out of a spot directly in front of them.
Once they were walking away from the vehicle, Tucker rested his hand on Ellie’s waist as he escorted her to the entrance. He liked touching her whenever he had the chance. He loved this woman and couldn’t seem to get enough of her.
These days, he wasn’t getting as much time with her as he had before her career skyrocketed. He was having a hard time with it all and wasn’t handling it well. Ellie wouldn’t know that, and he wasn’t sure he should bring it up. He didn’t want to dampen her excitement.
Tucker had never loved a woman as deeply as he loved Ellie, and he was finding it difficult to share her with the world.
* * *
Ellie was riding high on excitement. It had been an exceptionally fun and crazy day. There’d been a few creepy guys, but overall, the entire experience had been terrific.
A young woman’s voice pulled her attention away from Tucker as soon as they were seated. “Oh, my gosh. You’re Nyx from Myth Hunter.”
Ellie smiled. “Well, not Nyx, but I am her voice in the game.”
“Can we get your autograph?” The girl dug in her purse and pulled out a program from the convention. “We didn’t get a chance to see you at the convention.”
“Sure.” Ellie signed the program and handed it to the girl. She wasn’t sure how to send them along. “Have a nice evening.”
“Good night,” the girl said.
Ellie turned her attention back to Tucker, and the couple walked away.
She found herself talking about all that had been happening and the hours she had spent at the con. She talked a mile a minute from when they ordered their drinks to the end of dinner.
During dinner, a few more people from the convention stopped by and asked for her autograph. Ellie paused long enough to sign a napkin for one fan, the back of an envelope for another, and an autograph book for a third.
It felt odd that so many people recognized her. A couple of months ago, one woman recognized Ellie from her YouTube channel, and now many more people were approaching her.
She turned back to Tucker each time, and their conversation continued. Well, Ellie was doing most of the talking.
When dessert arrived, she finally slowed down and realized Tucker hadn’t said much at all.
“I’m sorry.” She put her hand on his. “I’m talking like a maniac, and I haven’t given you a chance to say much.”
He turned his palm up and linked his fingers with hers. “You can talk as much as you want, and I’m happy to listen.”
“You seem quieter than normal.” She paused, unsure whether she should say anything, but since they loved each other, she should be able to bring up subjects to discuss. “Did I ask too much of you to join me today? Like I said earlier, I know it’s not your thing.”
Tucker didn’t say anything for a long moment, and she caught herself holding her breath. She breathed out slowly as she waited.
“I love spending time with you.” He paused as if searching for the words to say. “I came because I want to be with you. We seem to have less and less time to spend together.”
