Still shopping?

I smile as I text back. Nope, finally eating.

So you have a dress then?

I do, and it is going to knock your socks off.

I can’t wait.

Me neither.

Wanna get out tonight?

I bite into my lip. I can’t. Since we had the day off, we have to work late.

I haven’t seen you in two days. I miss you.

I smile, my face heating with color as I write back. I miss you too.

Grand, so meet me by the lake when you get off.

I know I am going to be tired but seeing him is worth it. Okay, but if I yawn, you can’t blame me.

He sends me a smiley face and I go to send him one but, before I can, I hear a voice that makes my skin crawl. “Howya, Amberlyn.”

Looking up at Casey, my heart kicks up in speed. Not because he looks good with his hair falling in his face in such a cute way, but because I am still very much afraid of him. “Casey.”

“How are you?”

“Good,” I say, tucking my phone in my lap.

“You look beautiful today,” he says, dropping in the stool beside me.

Inwardly, I groan as I say, “Thank you.”

I turn to go back to my burger, hoping he’d get the hint, but no such luck. “Surprised to see ya out at this hour. Not working, I see.”

“Nope,” I say before taking a bite.

“Who ya with?”

I cover my mouth as I chew. “Fiona.”

“So you and O’Callaghan broke it off, then?”

I make a face as I shake my head. “No, he’s working.”

His face falls. “Guess that was hopeful thinking, huh?”

“Bug off, Casey. We are trying to enjoy our lunch,” Fiona calls at him as she falls into the seat beside me.

I send her a grateful look, but Casey waves her off. “Shut it, Fiona. I just wanted to say hi.”

“Well, we don’t want to say hi to you. We have to eat before getting back. My da is waiting on us.”

He rolls his eyes. “Why are ye off anyways? Shouldn’t you be running the lunch rush?”

Fiona glares. “None of your business. Bye.”

“You’re a bitch, Fiona.”

“And you’re a wanker, fuck off,” she says and he angrily stands, making me nervous.

Looking down at me, he says, “Call me sometime.”

“Don’t think so,” Fiona says, her eyes in slits as she watches him. “She’s happy with Declan, doesn’t have time for arseholes. Which reminds me, bug off before I call one of them to come after ya.”

Shaking his head, he walks off without another word. When he looks back, his eyes in dark slits, I can’t help the chilling feeling that overcomes me. While I am relieved he is gone, something about that guy really makes me nervous.

It’s a cool night as I walk towards where Declan asked me to meet him. Wrapping my sweater tighter around me, I walk in the darkness until I see the silhouette of him standing by the large oak tree. He must have heard me coming because he turns, reaching for me as I come close to him. Holding me tight in his arms, he kisses the top of my head, and I love how safe I feel in his arms. I had been on edge after running into Casey today but now, nothing matters. I am safe. Declan will protect me.

Looking up, I smile as I say, “Hi.”

“Howya, love,” he whispers before dropping his mouth to mine. Slowly, our mouths move together as I drink from his beautiful lips. It had been so long since I felt him like this, and I savor every second. Pulling away, I smile before kissing the side of his mouth. Lacing his fingers with mine, he pulls me down on the blanket I didn’t see. Lying back, he brings me down with him until I’m cuddled in the nook of his arm.

“I see you brought a blanket this time. Didn’t want me to dent up the car, huh?” I say, grinning as I move my nose against his chest, taking in his spicy smell. His chest rumbles with his laughter as his arm tightens around me.

“No,” he laughs before cupping my ass in his hand and squeezing. “I thought this would be more comfortable.”

“Oh, well yeah, you’re right.”

He smiles, kissing my temple before we both fall silent. The sounds of crickets and the wind on the lake fill the air around me, and I’ve never felt so relaxed in my life. Snuggling closer, I ask, “How was your day?”

He shrugs, his lips dusting my temple. “Long.”

“Ugh, that sucks.”

“Yeah, but if this is the way it ends, I’ll endure it every day just for this moment.”

“You’re making me blush,” I groan as I smile, my face warming. I’m answered with his laughter so I softly bite his chest, causing him to jump, his laughter continuing before his arms close around me tighter.

“Yours?” he asks.

I wonder if I should tell him about Casey. While I want to tell him, I know it’ll just irritate him, so I shrug before saying, “Long, too. I hate shopping.”

“That’s weird. Don’t girls love to shop?”

I give him a sneaky look. “You didn’t know I wasn’t like most girls?”

He smiles. “Yeah, I did know that.”

I smile back as he says, “Well, this is nice to do after a long day, the two of us and the stars.”

“I agree,” I say, snuggling into him and closing my eyes.

Neither of us is saying anything, just enjoying being in each other’s arms. I am so warm, so comfortable in his arms, that soon I am almost asleep. But before I can fall into a sweet slumber, he says, “I wanted to talk about tomorrow, love.”

Opening my eyes, I look up at him. He is watching me, his face glowing from the lantern he had brought for us to see.

“Yeah?” I ask.

“I know I’ve said this before but my parents are intense, and I worry that they might offend you tomorrow.”

I can see that he is worried and while I am scared shitless about meeting his parents, I know that it will work out. I love this man, and I’m sure I’ll love his parents.

With a shrug, I say, “It’s no big deal, I’m sure it will be fine.”

“My sister, you’ll like her, but my ma is very suffocating and will question you relentlessly and my da, he’s a snooty arse that might say something rude. So I just want to apologize now.”

I smile, reaching up to place my palm on his sweet face. “Do you want me to come tomorrow?”