Sam walks off to get our drinks. I turn in my seat so that I’m facing Ella. Her gaze bounces around the room, taking in the place. I scooted closer to her, my knees on the outside of her legs.
While she looks around, I take her in. Her pecan-brown skin is flawless. The way her button nose flares at the tip is absolutely adorable. Those full lips with their perfect bow shape are fucking stunning. This woman is a gotdamn work of art.
“What?” she asks in a soft voice.
I grin. “Nothing. I just wanted to look at you.”
I can tell my words have an effect on her from the way she ducks her head and from how she squeezes her knees closer together.
“You’ve seen me a million times,” she chuckles.
“It's never enough.”
Yeah, I know I’m coming on pretty hard right now, but fuck it, why not? Why can’t I spend this night making her feel good? Even if nothing comes of it, at least she can say she had one night of being treated like the gift that she is.
Sam placed our drinks on the bar in front of us. It’s the perfect distraction I’m sure she needed. She picks up the glass and places the straw slowly between those fucking lips. I watch as she takes a sip and her face comes alive.
“Oh wow!” She grins at Sam. “This is good.”
He nods. “Thank you. Ya’ll let me know if you need anything else.” He walks away, but not before giving me a wink of approval.
When I look back at Ella, she’s doing a little dance in her seat as she sips from her brightly colored drink.
“What?” she asks when I laugh.
I shake my head. “Nothing. I just like seeing you happy.”
She takes another sip of her drink. “Yeah, well, a few more of these and I’m going to be very happy.”
Tugging at my beard, I laugh. “Well, drink up. And don’t worry, I’ll drive you home and come back for your car tomorrow.”
Her face lights up, causing her cheekbones to lift. “You say that now. But once this liquor gets into my system, you’re going to regret that offer.”
Her words are said jokingly, but I see a little insecurity bleeding through them. It reminded me of a comment Drew once made. He said he hated when Ella got tipsy because she was always laughing. Although he said it as if he were telling a joke, I didn’t like the way it made her smile fall. I noticed from that day forward she seldom let her hair down around alcohol.
Leaning forward in my seat, I pinch her chin. “You can get as drunk as you want. I got you, Ella.”
Her grin spreads over her face, and she stared at me for a moment. Finally, she placed her glass down on the bar before turning to me.
“You say that all the time.”
“What?” I ask leaning back. “That I got you?”
“Yeah.”
“Because I do. No matter what you need, I got you.”
That was the fucking truth. If Ella Marie Scott asked me to help her hide a body, my ass would dig a damn hole in the middle of the forest for her. It isn’t just because I’m in love with her; it’s because I know for a fact Ella would have my back as well. She’s always had my back. During the roughest parts of my life, she has been by my side. Whether it’s sitting with me in the dark after my divorce, holding my hand at my parent’s funeral, or baking my favorite treats when Val takes me through bullshit.
The music on the jukebox changed to an old Temptations song.
“Mmm,” Ella hums. “I love this song.” She dances in her seat.
Standing up, I tugged at the front of my shirt before holding out a hand toward her.
“What?” she looked confused.
“Come dance with me.”
