I scoot across the wide expanse of bed until inches separate us. I press my toes to his leg and he exclaims, “How are your toes freezing?”
“I don’t know.”
He wraps his arms around me, rolling over so he’s on his back and I’m cradled against him with my head on his chest. Not able to control myself I rub my fingers over his light dusting of chest hair.
“I love you,” I whisper against his heated skin.
His lips press against the top of my head. “I love you, too.”
I close my eyes, a smile on my lips, as I fall into a peaceful sleep.
Chapter Eighty-Four
When we land back in Salt Lake Lachlan insists on driving me home, since he left his car there while I had taken a taxi to the airport.
I don’t know why, but I feel nervous about him seeing my space. He never saw my room at Sage’s, and it wasn’t very me anyway. But at the urging of my therapist I’ve put my mark on my apartment as much as I can with it being a rental. I know my eclectic, bohemian style isn’t for everyone and that’s fine, but Lachlan isn’t just anyone.
I give him directions to my place and where to park.
He takes my backpack from me, even though I’m very capable of carrying it myself, then clutches my hand as I lead him up the winding stairs to my home.
Holding my breath, I unlock the door, stepping aside to let him in.
It’s a studio, so my bedroom is open to the rest of the place, but I didn’t see the need to have anything bigger with it being Tally and me.
As if conjured by my thoughts the kitten who looks like she stuck her paw in an electric socket the way her fur always sticks up, comes slithering out from beneath the couch with a loud meow. The couch is her safe spot when I’m not home. I had Sasha come by yesterday to check on her and refill her bowls and it looks like Tally barely touched them.
“This is Tally,” I say to Lachlan, bending to scoop her up as he closes the door, looking around. “She’s not usually too fond of other people.” I don’t want him to be offended if she hisses or tries to scratch him.
“Hi, Tally.” He rubs the top of her head. She leans into his touch, purring. My jaw drops. “Traitor,” I mutter at my cat. “But don’t worry,” I look up at Lachlan, “he has that same effect on me.”
I swear Lachlan blushes at that.
“This place is nice.” He looks around at the mix of woods, fabrics, colors, and textures that make up everything. It’s a hodge-podge but it’s me and I’m a kaleidoscope.
“Thanks.” I try to view the space from his eyes.
He grins as he looks at the immaculate kitchen—so neat and tidy because the only thing I use is the refrigerator and microwave.
“Still can’t cook can you?” A grin stretches his lips.
I rock back and forth on my heels, toeing my orange Nikes into the floor—an upgrade from my Vans. “No. I haven’t mastered the art of not burning things yet.”
He smiles, eyes soft as he looks at me. “I can fix that.”
I arch a brow. “You’re going to teach me to cook?”
“Why not?” He shrugs, holding his hands out for Tally. I hand her over hesitantly, worried her niceness might disappear, but she goes to him easily, cuddling against his massive chest. She looks tiny in his arms. “We can do that now.”
I laugh, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, a nervous gesture because I’m still a bit in awe that Lachlan Taylor is standing in my apartment. “I keep forgetting we have all the time in the world.”
He reaches out with one arm, using the other to hold Tally in the crook of his elbow, and pulls me against him. “We have a lot to make up for.”
I look up at him with my chin against his chest. “Like what?”
“Like that proper date I owe you for starters.”
My body heats at the mention of a real date with Lachlan. My last date was years ago when I was a junior in high school, and something tells me a date with Lachlan will be vastly different than going to the movies and having a guy try to stick his hand down my shirt.
He passes Tally back to me, kissing me quickly but sweetly before we can get carried away. “I better go. But I’ll text you the details.” He heads for the door, pausing with it open. “And Dani?” He looks over his shoulder at me.
“Yeah?” My voice sounds soft and airy. I curse myself for being so affected by him.
“Nice collection.”
He tips his head at the collection of books slowly growing on the bookcase beside my TV. With those words, he heads out.
“Tally,” I whisper into her soft fur, “I love that man.”
Setting her down, I pick up my backpack to unpack and put my dirty clothes in the laundry—thankfully my apartment does have a washer and dryer in a tiny little closet. I’ve barely loaded the washer with my dirty things when there’s a knock on the door.
Grinning like a fool, I run to answer it.
“Did you forget something?”
But it’s not Lachlan on the other side. It’s Sage.
“Oh, hey.” I step back, letting my brother in.
He looks around. “The Lach-ness Monster isn’t here?”
“You missed him.”
“Hmm,” he harrumphs. “Such a shame. Would you think he’s as good-looking with a black eye?” He cocks his head to the side, waiting for my response.
“Sage,” I groan. “Play nice.”
“He’s not even here,” he grumbles.
“Is that for me?” I eye the package in his hand.
“It’s your birthday present, since you know, you ran off to meet that dickwad on your actual birthday.”
I take the small box from him, setting it on the coffee table. I know it’s going to be one hell of an uphill battle getting Sage to like Lachlan.
Sage sits down on the couch, stretching his legs out. Tally hisses from beneath it.
Hands on my hips, I face my brother. “I love him.” He looks up at me with an aggravated look. “I know things between us shouldn’t have happened the way they did, I’m not that naïve, but they did. Regardless, he’s the man I love, and we’re together. I hope we’re together for a very long time. I’m not saying you have to love him, or even like him, but please for my benefit, be cordial whenever you do see him.”
My brother’s jaw twitches. “Can I at least punch him once? One teeny-tiny black eye won’t kill the dude.”
“No,” I say firmly. “I’m twenty, Sage. I’m living on my own. I’m seeing a therapist. I’m going to start college in the fall. I’m working on myself and you have to trust that I know what’s best for me, and Lachlan…” I can’t stop the smile that lifts my lips. “He’s the one.”
“Fuck.” My brother groans, rubbing his hands on the legs of his jeans. “I’ll … grudgingly accept the guy the best I can, but don’t for a minute think this means I approve of this. I know Sasha is younger than me, but she’s nineteen and I’m twenty-seven. That’s eight years compared to eleven and she wasn’t underage—”
“I wasn’t either,” I defend.
He narrows his eyes. “You were a student. It doesn’t matter that you were eighteen. You were still off-limits to him.”
I bow my head, because I know he has a point and I don’t want to get in a shouting argument with my brother.
“I see your point,” I say instead.
He exhales a heavy sigh, looking at me sadly, no doubt thinking of all the things I’ve been through the last two years. “Because he makes you happy, I’ll try my hardest to be on my best behavior.”
“Thank you. That’s all I ask.”
“Now open your present.” He picks the package up from the table and extends it to me.
Taking it from him, I sit down beside him, ripping off the paper.
Inside the box, I reveal a wind chime. This one with monuments from different European cities for the chimes. As I study each one, I realize there’s something from every country I visited.
“Sage?”
> “I had it custom made,” he explains. “It seemed pretty perfect for you.”
My mouth opens and closes, but no words came out. “I … thank you.”
I place it back in the box, closing it, before finally hugging my brother. He holds me tight. “I love you, Weed.”
“Love you more, Herb.”
“We have to stick together.”
I smile at him, nodding. “Always.”
Chapter Eighty-Five
Several days later, I’m busy getting ready for my first date with Lachlan.
Rubbing some product into my hair, I bend over, shaking it out. My heart won’t stop racing with a mix of nerves and excitement. He won’t tell me where we’re going, which has only piqued my curiosity even more.
Standing back up, I make sure my loose natural waves look decent and aren’t a frizzball. My makeup is simple, like I normally do—mascara, the barest hint of highlighter on my cheekbones, and a soft pink gloss that makes my lips look fuller.
With my hair done, I spray some perfume on my wrists and pad out of the bathroom to the dress I laid on the bed.
The black velvet dress with deep pink roses isn’t what I’d normally wear, but since he said to dress up, I’m going for it. The sleeves are sheer, and it’s shorter in the front than the back. Slipping on the black-heeled boots, I look at myself in the floor length mirror. I don’t look too bad.
“I’m going to be out for a bit,” I tell Tally. She cracks one eye open where she sleeps on my bed. “Hold down the fort while I’m gone.”
There’s a knock on the door and when I look at my phone, he’s right on time.
I can’t stop smiling as I walk across to my front door and swing it open.
“Hey, Superman,” I murmur, biting my lip. Lachlan looks delectable in a pair of gray slacks and a white button down shirt. The sleeves are rolled to his elbows, showing the corded veins running up his arms.
“You look beautiful.” He leans in, kissing my cheek. “These are for you.” He passes me a bouquet of flowers. It’s an assortment of types I’ve never seen and absolutely stunning.
“Oh let me put these in some water. They’re gorgeous, Lachlan.”
He follows me over to my kitchen where I have to put water in a cup since I don’t own any vases.
“Next time, I’ll bring you a vase.”
I arch a brow. “Are you going to bring flowers every time?”
He grins at me. “Only if you want me to.”
“I want you to.”
He chuckles, placing his hand on my waist. “We better go. My friend is doing me a favor.”
“You have me very curious about this date.”
“I had to make it special.”
“You could take me to McDonald’s and I’d be thrilled. I just want to be with you.” I lock the door behind us and we start down the stairs to the parking lot.
“I’m not taking you to McDonald’s for our first date. Besides, you said you wanted to get dressed up.”
“I did say that. McDonald’s for the second, then?” I joke.
“Maybe.” He winks.
He opens the passenger door of his Acura for me and I hold onto the skirt of my dress so I don’t flash anyone.
We don’t say much on the drive through the city. We end up near the art museum, but a couple of streets over. He parallel parks and lets me out before putting change in the meter.
“Where are we going?” I giggle, taking his hand and letting him lead me down the street.
“You’ll see soon enough.”
He reaches for the door to a bookshop and I tug on his hand. “It’s closed.”
He grins at me over his shoulder. “Not for us.”
Before I can ask him what he means, he swings the door open, tugging me inside with him.
“Donovan, where are you, man?”
We pass rows and rows of bookshelves until we reach a back corner.
My breath catches at the sight of the table set for two, candles and flowers in the center of it, with soft music playing in the background.
“Everything is ready.” A guy around Lachlan’s age pops around a corner.
“Thanks, man.” Lachlan gives him one of those weird handshake guy hugs.
“I’m going to head out.” Donovan smiles at me with a little wave before vanishing down one of the rows.
“Who is that guy?”
“Friend from college,” he explains, pulling out a chair at the table for me to sit down. “He owns the place.” Once I’m seated he says, “Hold on.”
He disappears through a door, returning a moment later with two plates of food.
“What is this?” I ask, looking from him to the food and then around the store.
Setting the food down, he waits until he sits to explain. “I wanted to do something special for our first date. Something you wouldn’t forget.”
“I wouldn’t have forgotten McDonald’s either, but this is way better.”
“Books were one of the things that brought us together. It seemed fitting to begin again here.”
“Did you make the food?” I look down at my plate of some kind of fancy looking fish, asparagus, potatoes, and even a little salad drizzled with balsamic.
He nods, pouring us each a glass of wine. “I probably shouldn’t be serving a minor wine, but we’ve already broken a lot of rules, what’s one more?”
I laugh, taking my half full glass from him to take a sip. “I drank wine with almost every meal in Europe, so I’m used to it and actually enjoy it. Now, if we get raided by cops, then you’re screwed.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “God, this is strange. Is it weird for you too?”
“A little,” I admit. “I got used to spending all our time in your apartment that it’s kind of odd to … exist like normal people.”
His smile falls a little. “You don’t think that was part of it, do you? The secrecy?”
“What? That the secrecy made me want to be with you?” He nods. “Definitely not. It was you I wanted, not the thrill.”
His body eases at that. “Hopefully you enjoy the meal. I wasn’t sure what to make.”
“It’s not burnt so you already have bonus points.” I take a bite of fish, moaning at the flavor. “Oh my God, this is fantastic. You definitely have to teach me to cook.”
His eyes crinkle at the corners. “I told you I would.”
“This is all so unbelievable.” I keep looking around the store, the lights are dimmed, making it even cozier. “Do I get to pick a book to take with me? I need a memento from our first official date.”
He wipes his mouth with a napkin, his lips upturned in amusement. “Sure. I can settle it with Donovan later.”
“I know my brother is going to want to meet you soon,” I hedge, nervous to broach this topic.
Lachlan cocks his head to the side. “Understandable. Do you have any ideas?”
“Well, I think it should take place on neutral ground, so that eliminates meeting at any of our homes.” Biting my lip, I think. “What about the art museum? It’s one of my favorite places, and since it’s a museum he’ll have to keep his volume at a lower level.”
Lachlan’s smile falls. “He’s never going to like me, is he?”
“I don’t know. He’s a softy, but I’m his little sister. The one he was tasked with raising for a year, and I think he feels like he failed.”
“Because of me.” It’s a statement not a question.
“For multiple reasons. He’s too hard on himself.”
Lachlan takes my hand, our joined fingers resting on top of the table. “I want to meet him and get to know him, but if he never likes me are you okay with that?”
I blink at Lachlan. “He’s my brother, not my keeper. He’s important to me, and of course I’d like for things to be cordial, but I’m not naïve either. It’ll take time.”
His lips twitch into a smile once more, his blue eyes twinkling. “And we have a lot of that now, don’t we?”
&nb
sp; Time is fleeting, there’s not an infinite amount. I know that better than most. Any moment can be your last. It’s taught me to treasure every minute, every moment, because you never know when it’ll end.
“We have what we have. Life’s too short to worry about other’s people’s opinions. Even my brother’s.”
Lachlan holds up his pinky. “Pinky promise you’re okay with it?”
I loop my finger around his, grinning, because this is the first time he’s asked me to make a pinky promise. I know he doesn’t want to come between my brother and me. It’s sweet, but Sage will come around eventually.
“Pinky promise.”
Finishing our meal, we clean up together—Lachlan doesn’t want me to help, but I refuse to sit still doing nothing.
Once everything is clean, he turns me loose to pick out a book.
He follows behind me as I scan the shelves, looking for the book I want. He doesn’t say anything as I search, just lets me do my thing.
I finally find it and pull it out with a flourish, turning the cover so he can see.
George Orwell’s 1984 was the start of it all in a way. Why not continue the tradition?
“That’s the one you want?”
“Absolutely. Do you have a pen?”
He digs in his pockets but comes up empty. “Donovan probably has one at the register.”
Sure enough he finds a black Sharpie. I take it from him and scribble on the front page our names and today’s date.
“Are you happy?” Lachlan asks me, his eyes darkening.
“Very.” It’s not a lie. I haven’t been this happy in a long time. There’s a weight gone from my chest, a burden I carried ever since the shooting. I know I’ll never be the same Dandelion Meadows again, but she’s still a version of me, like the broken girl Lachlan first met was another version, and the woman standing in front of him now is another incarnation. It’s all me, just different pieces.
He takes my face in his hands, cradling it like he loves to do, and slants his mouth over mine. The kiss is slow and deep. I feel it everywhere, buzzing in my veins.
Even though I can’t predict time, and how much of it we have, I hope there are many more moments ahead where I feel this happy and loved.
Sweet Dandelion Page 46
