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“Getting better about it. You have to understand, for somebody like me, the rug could get ripped out from under me at any time. It has, many a time.”
“You know, I never asked you what happened before you came to us. You were in a bad situation, and I’ve never seen hide nor hair of Holden’s other parent. I didn’t want to pry.”
Riley blushed. “I’ve never talked about it because I’m embarrassed, to be honest.” Our waiter poured for him, and he took a drink from his Champagne flute, making a loudgulpsound as he swallowed. “There’s not much to tell. Holden’s A-dad was a deadbeat, but I did at least get a few hundred dollars in child support from him every month.”
I didn’t bother to hide my astonishment. “That’s crumbs. How did you live on that?”
“We didn’t, to be honest. Then that idiot went and overdosed and-”
Riley took a deep breath. “He wasn’t a good person, but when we were together, I loved him still. Am I stupid for that?”
“You’re human for that. The heart isn’t logical. It loves who it loves, even if our love isn’t the best person.”
“I’ll drink to that.” We toasted with the Dom Perignon. “I’m done with that kind of life, though. I’m looking forward to new starts and new beginnings. For me, this was my big break, being right here with you.” His smile was innocent and radiant, and I didn’t think he realized how much his words meant to me. A new beginning, indeed. Time for a big conversation.
I took a deep breath and put on my business meeting voice. “I need to talk to you about something.”
His expression went stony. “What is it, Brennan?”
“I hired a new nanny.”
“You what?” From the look in his eyes, I knew his stomach had dropped. “Was this trip to, to let me down easy?”
“What? Oh no, oh shit-” I waved my hands. “This is coming out all wrong. I hired a new nanny to replace you, that’s true. But,” I leaned forward and laid a hand on his, “I don’t want you to go anywhere.”
Slowly, understanding dawned on his face. “Brennan.”
“Hmm?”
“This is a date, right? This dinner, this, this trip. It’s a date?”
Suddenly, I was bundle of nerves. Riley looked at me as if I’d grown two heads. He’d never seen me like this before.
I stammered out the next words, mentally crossing my fingers and toes that I read everything right. “Do you want it to be?”
“Yes?” He said, like it was a question.
I let out a huge, relieved sigh. “Then it’s a date.”
“That means we’re dating.”
“Yes. You want that, right? I want that. I want to be with you.”
He playfully slapped my arm.“Are you crazy? Of course I want to be with you. Just look at you. Not just your looks but...your everything. Yes.”
Then it was settled. Riley was mine.
I kissed his knuckles. “Stay with me tonight. We don’t have to do anything but sleep. I just want to hold you close.”
Riley answered breathlessly. “I will.”
I didn’t know what would happen tonight, but whether it was cuddling or something more, I was looking forward to it.
