for however long this lasted.
Not that he was envisaging an end date just yet, but he was a realist. Never being in a relationship meant he would screw up eventually. And if she didn’t have the patience to guide him through, they’d be over. But he didn’t want to think about that yet. He intended on enjoying every scintillating second with his gorgeous girlfriend.
She always looked good, but tonight she’d outdone herself. Smoky eyes, crimson lips, hair in a sleek curtain halfway down her back. The simple black dress covered more than it revealed—high neck, long sleeves, mid-calf—but it caressed her curves like a glove, making his palms itch to do the same.
Not helping the situation behind his zipper.
As they reached the couples and greetings were exchanged, with an introduction for him and Dev, he liked that Harper didn’t release his hand. It bound her to him in a way that appealed to his inner caveman. All mine.
“What would you like to drink?” He squeezed her hand. “Or would you like me to choose you a decadent cocktail to make you tipsy?”
“A mojito is fine,” she said, tugging him closer to whisper in his ear. “For the record, you don’t need me tipsy to take advantage of me. I’m all yours.”
Unable to stop himself, he kissed her on the lips, not caring about the cheers and whistles from their friends.
When he released her, he couldn’t help the goofball grin spreading across his face. “Everyone else right for drinks?”
“We’re fine, mate, but you better get extra ice in yours to cool the fuck down,” Rory said, and everyone laughed.
“Back in a minute.” He touched the small of Harper’s back, his fingertips drifting lower to stroke the curve of her ass, before he stepped away and through a gap between people at the bar.
When he glanced over his shoulder, she was staring at him with the kind of smile that took his breath away. Half promise, half infatuation, all in.
His heart kicked hard and damned if he cared.
So what if he’d fallen for her?
About bloody time.
As he made his way back to her, mojito in one hand, light beer in the other, he wondered when the last time was he’d been this happy.
If ever.
45
“So tell me, Harper, what do you see in this bozo?” Rory raised his beer in Manny’s direction, and everyone grinned. “You know he hit on my wife too many times to count before she chose the better man.”
“Hey, watch it, man. Those fake biceps don’t fool anyone.” Manny jabbed him in the arm and winced, making everyone laugh.
“Well, I happen to think this guy’s pretty fantastic,” Harper said, slipping her hand through the crook of Manny’s elbow and looking up at him. “So quit it.”
“Oooh,” Samira said. “Someone’s very protective of her man.”
“And I love her for it.”
Everyone stared at Manny in shock, including Harper.
Surely, he didn’t mean that? It had to be a figure of speech, a throwaway comment.
Manny’s guffaw sounded forced before he said, “So, who’s getting the next round?”
“I will,” Harper said, needing to get away from the curious eyes swinging between her and Manny.
“Want some help?” he asked, ducking down to whisper in her ear. “Don’t look so frightened. When I say I love you it won’t be in front of these busybodies.”
When.
Not if.
More discombobulated by the minute, she said, “You stay here. I’ll go order drinks and get the barman to bring them over.”
“Okay.” He kissed her, not caring who saw. Another thing she liked about him: the confidence in his own skin. She wished she could be half that confident. “And by the way, how you stood up for me? Big turn-on. And I’ll show you exactly how much of a turn-on when we ditch them soon.”
A shiver of longing shot through her. “Counting on it,” she said, before heading off to order drinks.
A crowd had built up in the bar over the last half hour, and patrons lining up were three-deep, so she sidled her way to the farthest corner near the restrooms and waited for the people in front of her to move.
A light touch landed on her shoulder. “Harper?”
She froze.
No way.
Colin hated the bar scene. He’d never wanted to go out when they’d been dating, saying he preferred to chill at home after long hours at the restaurant, and he certainly wouldn’t pay the exorbitant bar prices for the Shiraz he liked.
She turned and fixed a polite smile on her face. “Colin.”
He looked the same, though his hair skimmed