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“Carbs are comfort food,” he explained after placing our order, which included a pitcher of sangria.
I poured myself a healthy glass and began to swallow it down. “I’m not an alcoholic,” I murmured.
“I never said you were.” He stared at me evenly.
“You’re not drinking,” I commented.
He shrugged. “Well, I’m driving.”
“Fine. I’ll take the edge off for both of us.” I had finished my first glass and started on my second.
“You might want to leave room for the lobster ravioli,” he suggested gently.
“I told you. This is dinner.” I twitched nervously and stared out the window as I watched all the passing vehicles, all the people walking around smiling. Life goes on. I felt strange, a combination of the alcohol already hitting my empty stomach and the fear of losing my father, my last parent. Thirty was too young to be all alone in the world. “I’m such a disappointment,” I mumbled against the rim of the wine glass.
“That’s ridiculous.” Ty shook his head. “You’re absolutely amazing. You’re just going through a tough time right now.”
My brows rose. “I’m thirty. I’m single. I have no children. Believe me, in my father’s eyes, I’m a huge disappointment.” My eyes watered. “You heard him. He doesn’t want to sell the hotel because I’m such a loser.”
Ty reached across the table. “Stop. You’re not single. You have me.” He grinned.
“I’ve known you for what…three days? And you’re leaving once the deal is complete.” I took another healthy swallow before pouring my third glass. “Trust me. I’m single. So single. Forever single.” I laughed sadly. “And it’s all his fault. I couldn’t stand the idea of letting another guy into my life who would run me like my father did…like my father does.” I shook my head.
“Not all guys are like him.” He folded his hands on the table. “Take me for instance, since I’m here and trying to convince you to not be single with me.” He winked and my lips twitched. “See, I could try to stop you from drinking. Instead, I’ve decided to love you through it, to hear you out, to take care of you tonight and be whatever you need.”
I rolled my eyes. “To win my father’s approval, I need a husband. Are you prepared to be a husband?” I laughed at the mere idea as an all too familiar heat washed over me, a combination of alcohol hitting me hard and embarrassment over the word vomit I spewed because of the alcohol.Fuck me.
“Yes.” Ty nodded seriously.
My brow furrowed. “Right. Whatever.” I glanced around, hoping to spot our waiter. “Where’s the food? Shouldn’t the food be here by now?”
“Should I get them to pack it? Do you need to leave? You seem to be all antsy,” he commented.
15
Ty
We made it through dinner, but I could feel her sorrow growing. Fucking alcohol. She would probably regret this in the morning, but I’d nurse her through her hangover. I’d be there, even when the shame hit and she tried to push me away. Me, the man of words, the big bad closer…I couldn’t find a way to get through to her. I was dropping hints like breadcrumbs, I was telling her outright how I felt and she either refused to accept it or refused to believe it. My money was on the latter. With a father like Nash, she needed me more than she understood.
I half carried her out of the restaurant. She’d downed the better part of the pitcher. I finally poured myself a glass just so she couldn’t down the whole thing. She didn’t even notice when I didn’t drink it.
After we settled into the car, Kate smiled at me. “You’re really wonderful.”
“Thank you. It’s easy. I want to do everything for you, be everything you want and need.” I blew out a breath. These emotions I felt for her were too foreign for me to express, too strong to ignore, too new to act on the way I wanted.
“We should get married.” She leaned back against the headrest. “My father would be happy.”
“To have you married to me? I doubt it.” I laughed. “I’m a billionaire playboy, remember. He’d think I had some ulterior motive.”
“Do you?” She stared at me, her eyes wide and unblinking.
I smirked. “No. I don’t.”
Kate tapped her chin and my business experience told me she was working on a new angle. “They’ll figure it out at the hospital, you know.”
“What?” I grinned. She was a really cute drunk. I’d known that since the skinny dipping.
“That we’re not married. They’ll know. And then I’ll be alone.” She turned some puppy eyes on me.
