I roll off her and onto my side. Lucky stirs between us, registering the shift in activity, and looks at me with one suspicious eye.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I tell her. “Your mama and I are busy. You’re the guest in this bed, ma’am.”
She flops her head down with a grunt.
Lila props herself up on her elbow and grins at me. “Hmm. I like ‘stern daddy’ Slade.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I want to date you,” I say suddenly.
She studies my face like she’s checking whether I’m serious. “I’m sorry?”
“I want to date you,” I say again. “Take you out. Go on a date. The whole thing.”
Those big brown doe eyes blink in confusion. “Slade. We’re already married.”
“I can date my wife. My mom and dad were always dating each other. Even with four kids and a ranch to run, they managed it. Even if it was just the two of them sitting on the porch swing sharing a glass of something good at the end of the day, they always made time for just the two of them.”
Her gaze softens. “And you want that too.”
“I want that with you. I know we’ve done everything backwards. Met, got married, moved in together, all of it before we ever went on a single date.” I hold her gaze. “I don’t want you to think I’m taking you for granted. I want to court you proper.”
Her lips roll together. “Court me proper,” she repeats.
“That’s what I said.”
A smile is starting at the corner of her mouth and she’s fighting it. “And right now?—”
“Right now I’m being a gentleman.”
She glances meaningfully at my groin, where my dick is visibly and undeniably hard, and tries to suppress a smile.
“You sure don’t look like a gentlemen,” she murmurs.
“Ignore that.”
“It’s a very substantial thing to ignore.” Her eyes dance with humor. “You should know, I don’t put out on the first date,” she teases. “Even if I’m married to him.”
“Oh, I’ll work for it, baby. That’s the whole point.”
She laughs and drops back against the pillow and looks at the ceiling and shakes her head slowly. “You are the most surprising man I have ever met.”
“Is that a yes?” I ask hopefully. “You’ll go out with me?”
“Considering I already said yes to your marriage proposal,” she says, “A date is a very easy yes.”
I kiss her again, victory humming through my veins.
Lucky chooses this moment to stand up, stretch elaborately,step directly on my leg, and jump off the bed. Not before giving the both of us a disapproving look.
Lila bites back a giggle as she tells the dog, “You don’t have to leave, sweetie.”
“Yes she does. Go on,” I tell Lucky. “I’ll have dinner for you soon.”
Her expression seems to brighten at that promise. We listen to her claws on the hardwood, the familiar sound of the doggy door in the laundry room swinging open and shut.
Then it’s just us.
