“How’s it going?” She studies me with worried eyes.
“Tedious.” I grab a napkin, wiping my hands, my mouth. “I need Molly. It’s the whole reason we’re here. We came all this way, and she just disappeared.”
I don’t want to take my frustrations out on Lara, but they’re right at the surface.
Lara shakes her head. “She’s off playing guardian angel… or angel of vengeance… or justice. I don’t know.”
“What does that mean?” I’m finished with my food, but Lara has only taken two bites.
“Joshua said she’s been going out with these girls… Prostitutes. I know she has Gavin in her sights, but she can’t face him on her own.”
Her voice wavers, and I go to her, lifting her into my arms, against my chest. This is all so fucking hard.
My hands slide up and down her back. “You okay? That shit this afternoon was brutal.”
Her head nods fast, and she holds my arms, pushing out of them. “Yes. Yes, I’m fine. Once again, you’ve saved me from a meltdown.”
An edge is in her voice. It makes me frown, and I catch her jaw. “What the hell does that mean?”
Angry blue eyes blink to mine. “It means for once I’d like to be able to face a problem without the threat of flying off the cliff. I don’t have to be rescued all the time.”
My chin drops, and I try to think of a nice way to say this.
Fuck it.
“Well, that’s too damn bad.” My eyes lock on hers. “I’m going to keep pulling you back from that cliff as long as you need me to do it. Every time.” Reaching down, I grab her finger, lifting it by the engagement ring. “That’s the whole point of this right here.”
Shaking her head, she gazes at the not-diamond on her finger. “We haven’t set a date.” Her voice is soft.
A tiny smile plays at the corner of her mouth, and I know she heard me. Maybe she finally internalized the message. She hasn’t shown any signs of running since that ring.
“I’m ready. We can go down to the courthouse now, be back by the time Molly drags ass in here.”
That gets me a little laugh. “Roland would kill us.”
“I know.” Pulling Lara to me again, I kiss the top of her head. “You probably want a big wedding and all the trimmings…”
“I never really imagined my wedding.”
I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but I do know we’re stuck here waiting until Molly decides to return. It gives me an idea… something to release the tension. The lights of the city spread out below us. It’s a beautiful view.
“As soon as this is over.” Catching her cheeks with my hands, I kiss her lips. “As soon as we can get it planned, it’s happening.”
Her hands move to my waist, fumbling with the edge of my shirt until they find my bare skin. “I’ll be your wife.”
The words heat my blood, and I kiss her deeper, tasting her spicy mouth. I find the edge of her shirt and lift it over her head. She’s standing in her jeans and a black lace bra, her nipples peaked and pointing right at me. I’m instantly hard.
Leaning down, I kiss the top of her shoulder, lowering her bra strap. “I thought we might try for a little brother or sister for Jillian.”
Cool fingers unfasten my jeans, pushing them down my hips. “I’m on the pill.” It’s a light quip, a touch of seduction, and it makes me smile.
“I know it’s too soon.” Moving my mouth higher, I pull the skin of her neck between my teeth. “Just know I’m ready when you are.”
She shivers and lets out a little moan that registers straight to my cock.
“When this is over.” She has my shirt open, and the touch of her mouth against my skin is electric. She sucks and pulls at my nipple, and fuck me, that’s sensitive. “We can think about so many things.”
Leading her to the silly air mattress, I remove the last of her clothes. Dropping to my knees, I pausing to kiss her flat stomach, looking at it a moment, thinking.