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Elle tried to bring a tabletop Christmas tree. Even though it was artificial, they wouldn’t allow it in the ICU. However, they did allow a framed picture of Chloe, which Daniel had taken from the living room at Aidan’s house.
As Elle and Daniel exited the hospital, the artificial tree tucked under his arm, he took her hand. The sun was hanging low in the sky and a warm promise seemed to float on the December Savannah breeze.
“I still think we should wait until after he wakes up for Chloe to see him,” Daniel said.
“How much longer do you think that will be?” Elle asked.
“The doctor isn’t sure, but all signs are pointing to a recovery. It shouldn’t be too much longer.”
Elle nodded. “You know what would be fun? I wanted to get Chloe an early Christmas present. I want to get her her own easel. I’d love to surprise her with one. She and I have been having so much fun painting. Would you be up for us taking her to the art supply store tonight? Maybe the three of us could grab some dinner beforehand?”
“Sounds like a plan.” What he was thinking was that he would go anywhere with her. Anywhere. The realization made his gut tighten and his body react. This thing between them was still so new. It felt like it had been maturing a lifetime, but at the same time it felt fragile. He had to tread lightly.
Even though they weren’t secretive about it—holding hands in public, kissing in the park—they had played it cool in front of her family and Chloe. Not for any specific reason—except that Elle had joked that she didn’t want to give Gigi the satisfaction of thinking her ham-handed attempts at matchmaking had worked. When they were at the Forsyth, of course, he was working with his crew and she was either interacting with guests or playing with Chloe. Had it only been a week since he’d seen her standing on that balcony?
“You know what I realized?” he said as they reached his truck.
“What?”
“I haven’t taken you out on a real date yet.”
“No, you haven’t, have you?”
He used his key fob to open the passenger-side door. Before he opened it for her, he said, “No, I haven’t. We need to fix that.”
“I’ll bet Gigi would watch Chloe for us.”
“And what are you going to tell her? About us, I mean?”
As she looked up into his eyes, the setting sun reflected the various shades of blue, green and silver in her irises. He thought if he could freeze this moment in time he would be happy and fulfilled—or so his heart said. His body begged to differ. His body wanted to claim her for its own. To unwrap her like she was the Christmas present he’d been waiting for all his life and hold her so that their naked bodies were so close it was hard to tell where he ended and she began...and then he would bury himself inside her—
“Tomorrow night, my sister Kate and I are having dinner with our mom and Gigi. I guess that would be a good time to let my family know that some things have changed between us.”
Chapter Eight
“Do pirates really live here, Uncle Daniel?” Chloe’s eyes were huge as she looked around the busy restaurant after the hostess seated her, Elle and him at their table at the famous Pirates’ House restaurant.
The guy dressed like a pirate trolling guests out in front of the place had done a good job setting the tone for this world-famous destination. He’d certainly grabbed Chloe’s attention.
“Sure, they do,” Daniel said. “The pirate who was talking to you outside lives here. It’s his house.”
The place was touristy and he normally didn’t go for something like this, but it seemed like a fun, family-friendly place that he and Elle could take Chloe before their trip to the art supply store to get her easel.
“Why does he let all these people inside his house?” Chloe asked. “They will eat all his food.”
Elle and Daniel laughed. “He has lots of food and he likes to share.” Elle pointed to the menu. “See all the different choices. What would you like to eat?”
“I’ll bet I can guess what you want to eat, matey,” Daniel said in his best pirate’s accent.
Chloe nodded and giggled as she hugged her stuffed white cat.
