He nods slowly, eyeing me. “So in this momentary jealousy-induced vision, you had adrenaline-fueled super-strength.”
I shrug one shoulder, lifting my hand to look at my nails before buffing them on my tank then glancing at them once more, as if I don’t have a care in the world. “Technically, it wasn’t jealousy; it was possessiveness. And kinda like Black Widow, not quite Wonder Woman. I’m a badass in my coed slinging fantasies, not an Amazon.”
He just stares at me. Deep into my eyes, all over my face, down my body before the rest of it disappears beneath the table, back up to my eyes. I don’t know what he’s looking at or for, but I feel… seen for the first time in my entire life. And instead of making me want to squirm under his perusal, I bask in the feeling, because there’s nothing but awe in his expression.
“You truly are the perfect woman, sugar. Gorgeous, with a brilliant brain and you’re a nerd? Fuck. You were made for me,” he rumbles, leaning forward in his chair. “Which reminds me. What was all that you were saying to those college kids outside the bathroom? You cosplay and go to conventions?”
My cheeks heat a little. I forgot I said that in front of him earlier. It’s one of my guilty pleasures. I groan, sinking into my seat and shaking my head. “It’s something Emmy and I have done since I can remember. We get quite a few awesome nerd conventions here in New Orleans, and we dress up and go get autographs and photo ops with some of our favorite actors.”
He bites his lip for a moment and then grins. “Who do you dress up as?”
I roll my eyes then look away, not meeting his eyes, because dear God, for some reason, I care about what this man thinks of me. And I don’t want him thinking I’m too much of a geek, when he’s this devastatingly gorgeous, super cool celebrity chef.
Be gone, stupid self-doubt! He’s already told you you’re perfect for him. Now see if he’s perfect for you!
“My favorite to dress up as is Khaleesi,” I finally reply.
His eyebrow quirks. “Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen?”
I lean forward with a smirk. “The First of Her Name.”
“The Unburnt? Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men?”
I nod, flipping my ponytail over my shoulder. “Queen of Meereen.”
He sighs dreamily. “Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea?”
I put my elbow on the table between us and prop my chin on my knuckles. “Protector of the Realm.”
“Lady Regent of the Seven Kingdoms?” he asks, his hand going to his chest like he’s about to get the vapors, and it takes everything in me to finish the rest of the Game of Thrones character’s title with a straight, serious face.
I throw my head back and my arm in the air, closing my eyes to call out, “Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons!”
When he doesn’t burst out laughing like I expect, my eyes slowly open to focus on him, and his are full of an emotion I’ve yet to see directed at me by anyone before—not even my ex. Pure, unadulterated, undeniable, irrevocable, soul-shattering love. And it takes my breath away. Which is okay, because I gasp and gain oxygen once more when he says…
“Marry me.”
Chapter 14
Curtis
AT THE LOOK in Erin’s beautiful eyes, I snap out of the spell she put me under and joke to try to calm the panic my words put on her face. “I mean, after we date a couple weeks and then give you time to plan a wedding. So like, marry me in a month.” I grin.
“You’re like… joking, right? I can’t tell,” she squeaks, narrowing her eyes on me.
I look down into my drink for a moment, not really knowing how to answer. I’m serious as fuck right now. And if we were in Vegas, I’d throw her over my shoulder and haul her ass into the closest wedding chapel. But I know it sounds absolutely fucking crazy to want to marry someone after not even knowing each other for an entire day, so I… don’t exactly backpedal, but I cool my jets a little while still being perfectly honest. “You are the embodiment of everything I’ve ever dreamed of in a woman, and more. You have qualities about you that I didn’t even know I could ask for in a partner, and I’m pretty damn sure that after experiencing… well, you—just being around you, spending time with you, getting to know you—I’ll never in my life be able to live without… you.”
She glances at my drink then back up to my eyes. “Dafuck did they put in your Horny Gator? It’s supposed to make you an insatiable lover, not… crazy,” she murmurs.
I reach over and take her hand, pulling it to my lips so I can kiss her knuckles before enclosing my other hand around it too. “I know. I know I sound absolutely insane right now. But you can’t tell me you don’t feel it too. You already admitted it earlier, and we already promised not to play stupid games. I’m just trying to be completely honest with you.”