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“Oh, fancy.”
“I feel a little bit fancy holding one of those, not gonna lie.”
He was so cute.
A thought occurred to her, and she paused for a moment.
“Maybe I should come to lunch with you guys and we can tell him together. It might actually be easier on him if he sees us both, hears each of us confirm it. Make him realize it’s not just some casual hookup.”
Uncertainty flickered in his gaze. “I don’t know.”
“I do. With my history with him—how long we’ve known each other—he’ll want to hear this from me too.”
“I thought about that.” Eric’s mouth compressed with obvious confliction. “But he could get angry and say things he’ll regret.”
“He probably will, and I don’t want you to take the brunt of that. It’s not fair to you. We should do this together.”
He stared at her, his gaze searching hers, before his wary gaze softened. He gave a small nod.
“Together it is. Meet us at Barney’s at noon?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good.” He glanced at the clock on the microwave. “I should get ready. But promise me you won’t do anything too wild before we meet for lunch. Maybe just hang out here with the door locked and bolted until it’s time to go.”
Was he kidding? A quick look showed he wasn’t.
Her heart softened a little. He was really concerned.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Eric. I’ll be careful. It’s not like I’m going to call him up and demand to meet face-to-face.”
He paled a little at her words.
“I’m just at the research stage, you know, like for a thesis.”
“Right.” The uncertainty on his face didn’t vanish. “It’s only Tuesday. I work the next four days. I really hate leaving you here. The guy knows you’re out of a job right now and probably hanging out at home. Can you go to your parents’?”
“And explain that I’m on paid leave because my stalker is pissed that you and I are in a relationship?” She couldn’t help but add a little sarcasm to the question. “And that you’re living with me, so most of the time I’m safe?” She arched a brow. “They’d probably keel over, Eric.”
“Keel over at the stalker part or the fact we’re in a relationship? Or the living-together part?”
“All of the above.” She tilted her head and lifted a finger. “Though the relationship part would thrill them.”
The smug expression that slipped across his face had her rolling her eyes. “Okay, stud, your ego is showing.”
“Hard not to when I remember that you’re my girl,” he murmured, setting down his coffee and pulling her into his arms.
Butterflies danced to life in her belly and she clutched the crisp fabric of his button-up shirt.
“I love it when you put it like that.” In fact, she was starting to suspect she was half in love with him, period. Whether that was a good thing or bad? Thankfully, she had too many other things to focus on right now.
He stroked a hand down her back and nuzzled her neck. “I wish we could spend all day together.”
“We’ll have tonight,” she promised.
He claimed her mouth in a kiss that caught her off guard. One that had her sliding her fingers to grip his biceps so her knees wouldn’t give out.
“Tonight it is,” he growled against her lips a moment later. “And it’ll be absolutely amazing making love to you without my conscience weighing in. Promise you’ll stay out of trouble today.”
