Hawk & the Lady - Elizabeth Stevens Page 0,28

Findlay, who has a daughter Sara from his previous marriage.”

“Cool. Parents are…” he paused like he was thinking. “Priscilla and…?”

“Aubrey,” I said with a smile. “It’s not all that common.”

“Aubrey. I can remember that.”

“Your parents?”

“Mags and Phil. Pretty simple.”

“I’m sure they’re lovely.”

“I wouldn’t have agreed with you about fifteen years ago, but I’ve come to appreciate them as I got older.”

I gave him an approving nod. “Good for you, growing up.”

He laughed. “God, say it isn’t so.”

“So, is Amber seeing anyone? Or is she too busy studying?”

“She should be busy studying. Instead she’s boning Kit.”

I looked up at him quickly and he gave me a resigned shrug.

“You’re not happy about that?” I guessed.

“It is what it is. I was pretty pissed off when I found out. She needed a place to stay after her best friend betrayed her, so Kit put her up. I’ve been informed one thing led to another and they just couldn’t help themselves.”

I had a feeling there was a whole lot more to the story, but I didn’t press. “Overprotective big brother?”

“Something like that. I’m nearly at the whole acceptance stage.”

He was looking down at rings so I took a moment to study him closely. I could feel the protectiveness in him for his little sister, and I did honestly believe that he was putting any qualms he obviously felt aside for the sake of her happiness. Even if the idea displeased him.

“So, what are we looking for?” he asked, looking up at me.

I took my eyes off him quickly and went to look at the cabinet with him. I could feel his body warmth emanating from him as he moved so he was practically encasing me as we looked at the rings. It was a simple movement and may not have even been intentional, but I liked it nonetheless.

“It needs to fulfill some very specific criteria,” I informed him. “Obviously expensive, but not gaudy. Modern but not something that will go out of fashion.”

“Oh, that simple, huh?” he chuckled.

“That simple.”

We had a look over the rings, discussing what we’d pick if we were doing this for real. There was something pleasing about the fact that Patrick seemed to have a very similar taste to me. We both liked white gold, were drawn to similar settings, and agreed that a pop of colour never hurt anyone.

All in all, it took about half an hour to try on and select a ring when I’d expected it to take much longer. Although, given it wasn’t actually real, there was no real reason why it should have taken us that long.

Patrick had suggested we go halvsies on the price, with the intention that we then go halvsies on whatever we made upon selling it later. I saw no reason why not to and, even if I had, he wouldn’t be dissuaded.

As we walked out of Goldman Burkes with our purchase, I wasn’t quite ready for our time together to end. Not that it mattered that I wasn’t sure how to prolong it, because Patrick spoke before I had a chance.

“It occurs to me that it’s probably in our best interests to get to know each other better,” he said slowly.

“I assume you’re not referring to the biblical sense?”

He shot me a grin. “Oh, that too.”

“Did you have something in mind?”

“I thought we could grab some takeout for dinner and give Twenty Questions a go.”

He said it like Twenty Questions was inherently a dirty game. Maybe there was a dirty version I just wasn’t aware of. If there was, I was very interested in Patrick introducing me to it.

“How’s tonight sound?” I asked him.

“Good to me.”

“Okay. My place?”

“Can do. What time do you want me?”

Now? “How about seven?”

“I’ll be there.”

“You need the address?”

He nodded. “I can’t say I saved it.”

I grinned. “I’ll text it to you.”

“That’d be good. I’ll see you tonight, then.”

“See you then.”

His hand went to my waist and he pressed a kiss to my cheek before he gave me a swift nod, “Tonight,” and headed off.

I waited until I was sitting in my car to text him my address, and was only mildly disappointed I didn’t get a reply from him until after I was home.

Patrick:

Sweet. See you at 7 ;)

I then looked around my house and realised that it wasn’t exactly ready to receive visitors. Not that it ever was, but I didn’t usually plan for them to see more than the hallway and my bedroom on their way in and out. There were things I