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“Hey, take care of my girl, you understand?”
“Always.” The one who’d said Spider’s name was looking at his boat like it was a Ferrari. On the other hand, maybe the boat was worth more than a car.
I expected Spider to lead me inside, but he stood on the dock, seemingly lost in thought.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“What?” He looked like he’d just come out of a fog.
“I asked if everything was okay.”
“Yeah, it’s great. I just thought of something I need to do.”
“Do you want to leave?
“No way. I’m starving, and I know you are too, even though you won’t admit it.”
Once inside the restaurant and I detected the heavenly aroma of steak cooked on a grill, my mouth watered.
“Told you,” said Spider, nudging me. “Best steaks this side of Texas.”
I punched his arm. “You haven’t spent enough time in Texas to know.” As soon as I spoke the words, I regretted them. He’d left after being there less than twenty-four hours, because of me. Because I’d hurt him. I turned away but felt his arm snake around my waist.
“Don’t go there, Calla. It’s Christmas Eve, and we’re together. That’s all that matters.”
“But—”
He shut me up with a kiss, then led me to our table.
“Good to see you, Spider,” said the older gentleman with a heavy Welsh accent who handed us our menus.
“Calla, I’d like you to meet one of my grandfather’s closest friends, Alfred Miller. Alfred, meet Calla, the love of my life.”
I stared at Spider wide-eyed, then remembered he’d just introduced me to someone. “Um, hi, Mr. Miller. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine, my dear, and please call me Alfred.” The man winked and left the table. Spider pulled the chair by the window out for me, then took the seat beside me rather than across.
“You are, you know.”
“Spider, I…”
“You don’t have to say it back to me. You’ve already said the three words I didn’t think I’d ever hear. Those are the ones that matter.”
“I do love you.”
“I know, and nothing means more to me.” He leaned in closer and put his arm around me. “I know you’re never going to forget Beau, and I know I’ll never take his place. I haven’t had a great love in my life until you. If it makes you uncomfortable for me to do what I did, say what I said, to Alfred. I won’t do it again.”
I shook my head and brought my hand to his face. “You are such a gift to me, to my life.”
“Does that mean I don’t have to get you anything for Christmas?”
I kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear, “You don’t, but wait until you see what I have for you.”
14
SPIDER
Ididn’t want to leave Calla alone at the table, but I needed to talk to Alfred. He was the only one I’d trust to take care of what I wanted to have done. Finally, when she excused herself to the ladies’ room, I waved him over. I grabbed a pen and wrote something on the back of the napkin. “For the cruiser,” I said, pressing it into his hand.
