6. Adam #3
Then, a bellowing male voice joined in on our conversation, "I'd listen to her if I were you, boy!
She knows what she's talking about!" Steven, Claire's husband, and the head chef of the place peeped his head out from the busser's window.
"She might be a nag, but she knows things!
" His teasing words were more for his wife, who spun around and waved a fist at him.
Placing a hand over my heart, I leaned back and feigned hurt as if I'd been shot through the heart.
"And here I thought you were my fairy godmother to turn my rags to riches to impress the beautiful and illustrious queen Eliza," I joked with a cheeky grin, making Claire scoff and roll her eyes, while Eliza blushed harder.
I wondered if she had blood rushing elsewhere in her body.
"Oh, stop it, you little cheeky bastard," Claire scolded me playfully with another smack to my arm, courtesy of the menus. "You're going to make the poor girl faint from all the attention."
Honestly, looking at how cherry-red her face was, that was a slight worry. Well, at least I'd be there to catch her if she did keel over. Also, I wouldn't mind having her in my arms one bit.
Chuckling with a shake of my head, I urged Eliza to follow Claire as she led us to our table, a nice little corner booth with a view of the streets on one side and the beach on the other.
"You look so beautiful right now, just like a morning rose shining under the first sunlight.
" Was that overly sweet and cheesy? Maybe, but I didn't care.
Turning her face away with embarrassment, Eliza scoffed playfully and reached over to lightly shove my shoulder from across the table.
"Oh, stop it, you. You're going to make my teeth fall out if you get any sweeter.
" Yet, the lovely smile remained on her appreciative face as she sat there trying to hide her gorgeous face from me.
After setting the menus down in front of us, Claire left for a moment to grab a highchair for Asher. "Is it alright for him to have some pasta with meatballs and some cut-up fruits?" Claire asked while looking up at Eliza.
Smiling and nodding, Eliza replied, "That honestly sounds so lovely for him, and I'm sure he'll love it."
"Steven makes the perfect pasta sauce with carrots, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes that our grandchildren love.
" With a caring and tender smile at Asher, Claire let him play with her finger as she looked at Eliza with a cheeky smile.
"We like to sneak some veggies into the meatballs, too, but don't let them know that.
" She snickered, playfully putting a finger to her mouth and shushing softly.
"Well, Asher's just a blackhole when it comes to food, veggies and all," Eliza mused with soft and warm eyes that held so much love for her son.
Straightening herself, Claire rubbed the top of Asher's giggling head before flashing a smile at us. "What do you want to drink? I'll grab those while you two look at the menu."
Eliza didn't even take a second to debate before answering, "Water is fine with me. Thank you, Claire."
Yeah, no. Not on my watch.
Smiling warmly at Claire, I leaned back in my seat a little.
"We'll have a pitcher of your oh-so-famous sangria lemonade to share, but maybe go a little light on the good stuff for today because I don't know how Eliza's tolerance is.
" I felt like a jerk for stepping on her toes, but like hell would I let her cheap out.
"Got it!" Claire beamed. "I'll be back with drinks and silverware and all that stuff in a minute," she informed us, turning around and leaving after giving Asher's cheek another loving pinch.
"A-Adam, I'm really fine with water, promise," Eliza squeaked up with a soft frown.
Feeling bad, I leaned onto the table with my elbows, reaching over and taking her hands in mine.
"Hey, I'm sorry for dancing on your toes, but I want you to enjoy lunch today.
You have water at home and everywhere else, so can you indulge a little today with some delicious lemonade?
" I did my best to put on a soft and charming smile to sweeten my apologetic eyes.
Rubbing the back of her hands with my thumbs, I slowly brought them up to my lips to kiss her fingers.
"Don't worry about the price or the financial burden this is going to be on your bank account for today.
" It really wasn't any bother for me, and I didn't know how to get through to her.
"I want to spoil you, Eliza, because you deserve every bit of joy and happiness this world has to offer to you.
I'm not doing this to get you indebted to me.
" I tried my best to assure her with a serious smile, but from how unsure she looked, I wasn't sure if I was moving toward success or failure.
"I've more than enough money to last me many lifetimes, so please, if you're worried about my financial situation or anything like that, then don't. And I'm not trying to sound like some rich asshole, either.
It's the truth." I really wasn't trying to brag about my seemingly endless wealth, but I wanted to assure her that I could more than provide financially without taking a blow.
Dragging out a deep breath, I peppered kisses along her knuckles pleadingly. "Please, just let me take care of you, Eliza. Let me spoil you and be your ray of sunshine, at least for today. Let me be your angel."
Pretty fucking ironic.
I wanted to laugh a little at my desperate words because the only ray I was, was one of death and despair. Usually, nothing good came of my presence. If I showed up in anyone's life, then it typically meant they fucked up badly. A visit from The Angel of Death was never good.
If I had to be dragged out of my homey abode, then I would usually be in a foul mood to begin with.
Then, to be forced to deal with problems my lieutenants should be handling pissed me off more, because I didn't become the head honcho to waste my time with dirt.
Not when I had to run the whole operation behind the scenes.
An angel was the last thing I'd be in life, but for her, I'd put on my broken halo and bloodied, tattered wings.