He drew her into his arms, just wanting to hold her for a minute. She seemed a little …fragile. Maybe just a bit off today. There was something in her eyes that gave him pause.
She wrapped her slim arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. She squeezed tight and he returned her affectionate hug, brushing his lips over the top of her glossy hair.
He wanted to say it so badly. The words burned his lips, but he held them back because it didn’t feel like the right time. He wasn’t sure when the right time was, but it wasn’t now.
He’d said it in a casual way before. Had said it in the past tense. Even mentioned that he loved the real Ren. But he hadn’t told her with all the depth of the emotion behind the statement. Maybe he wasn’t even sure himself. But the longer he spent with her, even though they’d only been together a few days, the more urgent the need to tell her.
She was warm and soft in his arms. Perfect. Not a fantasy. She was here. Real. And so perfect she made his gut ache.
“Come on, darling. Let’s go eat. It’s a beautiful day out. A little chilly so let’s grab your jacket.”
She drew away and then leaned up on tiptoe to kiss him. “Thank you.”
He threw her a puzzled look. “For what?”
She smiled a little sadly, her beautiful, soulful eyes finding his. “For being just right for me.”
Maybe tonight he and Ren could have a bonfire and sit out and watch the stars. Just the thought brought him back to nights back home in Tennessee. More than once, he’d taken Ren to the lake, built a fire, spread out a blanket and she’d lay her head on his lap while they counted fireflies.
He’d never considered himself a nostalgic person, but he found himself thinking more and more about the past without the negative filter. They’d had some good times. Really good times. For too long he hadn’t been able to get beyond his own mistakes to remember the best of his time with Ren.
He drove to Cattleman’s, a restaurant that was a regular haunt of his group of friends, Ren’s hand tucked securely into his the entire way.
It was a rustic-looking steak house that was a local favorite and the food was actually really good. And today he wanted Ren to relax. Casual environment. Laid back. He didn’t care as long as he got to spend time with her.
He zipped into the parking lot, got out and went around to open Ren’s door. As soon as she was out, he slid his arm around her waist, holding her solidly against him as they walked toward the restaurant entrance.
She flipped her head back, closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Then she smiled and it lit up her whole face. “You’re right. It is absolutely beautiful today. I’m so glad I’m not spending it inside working.”
He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “No chance of that. I can’t be away from you for more than a couple of hours.”
They stepped inside and Cole waved to the bartender who jerked his thumb toward the back of the restaurant.
“Ah, good, my table is open,” Cole said as he guided her back.
Ren raised her eyebrows. “Your own table?”
“Well, sort of. I kind of share it with a few friends. Whoever happens to be in gets first dibs. It’s a little quieter. Out of the way and we get excellent service.”
“Sounds like you’re all spoiled,” she said with a grin.
He pulled out a chair for her and smacked her on the ass just before she sat. “You have no room to talk about anyone being spoiled.”
“That’s true,” she acknowledged as he took the seat across from her. “I’m not ashamed to admit I love being spoiled.”
“And I’m not ashamed to admit that I love spoiling you,” he added.
Her face flushed with delight and her eyes lit up. Yeah, it was good to get her out. He wasn’t entirely certain what had made her so melancholy earlier in the morning, but she seemed to have come around now.
“Now, what would you like to eat?”
She studied the menu and then sent him a soft smile. “You choose. You know what I like.”
He motioned for the waiter and ordered two steaks, medium, two salads and a side order of onion rings. At the mention of the onion rings, Ren’s head popped up and her eyes widened in surprise and then she grinned.
“Oh man, it’s been a long time since I’ve had onion rings. I’m surprised you remember.”
“There isn’t much I’ve forgotten about our time together, Ren,” he said softly. “There were parts I didn’t choose to remember, but being back with you has made me realize just how good we were together.”
She reached across the table to cover his hand with her own and she squeezed, surprising him with the affectionate gesture. “We were, weren’t we?”
