“Sometimes,” I say.
“Yes. Sometimes,” Lark says with so much gentleness toward my child that my heart melts into the goo of a well-roasted marshmallow.
Maisy’s smile is satisfied. She nods. Then she appraises Lark. “I can still call youBark?”
“No.”
He tries to look stern. He really does.
Maisy shrugs, turns on her heels, and heads for the door. “Okay, Bark.” And then she bounces out of the room.
Our eyes meet, and I see something that makes my molten heart swell. Lark looks as happy as I feel.
I don’t have time to take it in or say a word because then next thing I know, I’m on my back, Lark caging me with his limbs.
The look in his eyes that was nothing but joy a moment ago is now blazing. Joy flame-licked with desire.
Breathtaking.
His dark brows lower like he’s studying something he doesn’t quite understand.
My mouth goes dry. I try to swallow. “Wh-What?” I stammer.
“Will you go out with me Saturday night?” He asks the question like he’s not certain I’ll say yes, but in that hint of uncertainty, I hear how much he wants me to say yes. I like it more than I should.
“I’d like that.” My voice is scratchy.
I expect that touch of uncertainty to disappear, but, instead, it grows. Lark studies me for what feels like a long time. So long, I reach up a hand and stroke his cheek.
“What is it?” I ask on a whisper.
His Adam’s apple bobs in his muscled throat. “And on Sunday… would you and Maisy come to my parents’ house for dinner? I’d like you to meet the rest of my family.”
My eyes fly open. “A-Are you sure?”
“God, yes.”
My smile is reckless. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
“It’ll be fun. I mean, it’ll be insane,” he says, his brow quirking. “My family is New Iberia Crazy—”
“New Iberia Crazy?”
He nods earnestly. “Cajun. Catholic. Crowded. Crazy.”
I lick my lips, trying not to laugh. “Ah. Okay. I’ve been warned.”
He nods harder. “Yeah, but if it gets to be too much, we’ll take a boat onto the Teche.”
“That sounds nice.”
“Maisy will love it.” Then his eyes narrow. “Of course, we’ll probably have to take Grayson—”
“She’ll love that too.”
Lark’s eyes glint. Again, his look of happiness swells my heart. “It’s a date.”
Holy shit. I have a date.
