“Coffee,” I say.
“Times two.” A four-pack of crayons fall out of the now open placemat. “Look what I found.”
He holds the box up for Millie to see. She reaches over, and Nick hands over her loot.
I smile at the sight.
“And what would she like?” Melissa asks, nodding at the kidlet.
“You want hot chocolate, Millie?” I ask.
“Yeah!” Millie holds her hands out. “With whippy cream.”
“We can do that,” Melissa says with a grin before walking away.
Millie furiously scribbles at the paper placemat with a red crayon.
“Millie, can I see your placemat for a second?” I ask.
She looks up at me and narrows her eyes.
How did my sister manage this kid all day, every day for four years?
“I’m taking your drawing. I just need to look at the kids’ menu so I can help you order,” I say.
She drops the red crayon and picks up the pink.
“Waffle,” she says again, like that answers everything.
“I need to make sure I find you the right one.” I reach over to take the placemat.
“Stop!” She drops her crayon and slams her pudgy hands over mine. “You can’t, Auntie Reese. I’m working.”
“Kiddo. You’re four. You don’t have deadlines,” I say.
“Can I see what you’re drawing?” Nick asks ever so gently.
She beams at him.
“She’s wrapped around your finger.” No girl—even a four-year-old—is immune to Brandt charm.
Nick puts his hands on the paper and she deigns to let him slide it over.
“Very impressive, Millie,” he says with an exaggerated edge in his voice.
I lean over to see what she’s drawn.
An oddly proportioned woman with long hair sticking out of a driver’s cap and pink earrings holds hands with a much taller and equally odd-sized guy. I think his tie goes down to his feet. They’re both standing inside a big red heart.
Heat pulses under my cheeks.
Oh, God. I didn’t need that feeling.
Nick gives me a longing look and slips his arm around me. “You okay, sweetheart? You’re red.”
“Sorry.” I’m perfectly aware I’m getting redder by the second.
He chuckles, pressing his lips to my forehead.
“Can I have my picture? Not done,” Millie interrupts.
Nick is about to hand it back to her when I put up a hand to stop him.
“Wait, I need to see it first.” I lean and quickly scan the menu. “Fruit or bacon?”
“Waffle!” Millie says.
“With fruit or bacon?”
“Pineapple. Give it back!”
Nick passes her menu back to her with a knowing smile.
“What if they don’t have pineapple?”
“Grapes.”
“So, fruit? No bacon?”
“Yeah.” She’s back to coloring.
“That drawing reminds me...I wanted to talk to you about something,” Nick says, taking a pull off his coffee.
“Sure.”
“I’d like to come clean about us sooner. It doesn’t have to be a huge announcement, but I need to be honest with Ward and Susan the HR Cerberus. We have to do this the right way, just like Ward and Paige did when the time came. Also, I’d like to be able to take you out without worrying if someone with a big mouth sees us. I don’t need more secrets, Reese. For all the things I’ve done wrong, this has to be the one thing that’s right. Are you ready to be official?”
He swallows another long sip of coffee, staring at me.
My heart leaps.
“Nick...” I’m barely able to speak.
His arm tightens around my waist. His gaze looks way too intimate for a public diner, even if it’s perfectly warm and innocent.
“Yeah, beautiful?”
I move so I can press my hand to his face, pull his mouth closer to mine, and press my lips over his. He flicks his tongue against my lips and they part.
A shiver bolts through me. It’s beautiful and sudden and sensuous.
A throat clears awkwardly as Nick pulls away with a snort.
“Umm—I can come back,” the waitress says.
“No,” Nick says. “Corned beef hash and eggs for me, over easy. A waffle with fruit for the little miss,” Nick says.
“Are you ready to order?” Melissa asks me.
“Umm—” Not really when the only thing I want off any menu is another kiss from my impossible boyfriend. “Western omelet, please.”
“Toast, bagel, or biscuits?”
“Bagel.” My usual choice. They were a luxury growing up in the foster system.
“Butter, jam, or cream cheese?”
Ugh, too many choices. Especially when all I want is Nick.
“Cream cheese.”
“Perfect, I’ll have your food right out.” She walks away.
Take your time, I think to myself.
Nick turns his head so those fierce green eyes are leveled on me again. “So, was that a yes?”
I nod, unable to form words.
He inches his head closer.
I think—hope—he’s going to kiss me again.
Instead, he presses his lips against my ear. “You’re becoming the most important person in my life, Reese. I won’t let you down.”
Holy hell.
My eyes flutter shut at the impact of those words.
Is it too soon to hear him say the soul-shredding L-word? I’ve been dangerously close to saying it since the first time we made love, being the overly emotional ex-virgin I am. But this, here, today...