CHAPTER 7 #3
The whole place was alive, but in a way that was completely different from the bustle of the city I was used to in Chicago.
It was captivating, and I resolved to come back and sit outside the cute little patisserie shop, which I could see across the road, one day soon, just so I could people watch and take more of it in during the daytime.
“Come on, babe. Dante will lose his shit if we get behind,” Cal told me as he pulled my hand.
“Sorry,” I told him once I was back at his side, looking up at him with the biggest and most genuine smile I ever remembered feeling. He looked so cute in his heavy coat, navy beanie, and his cheeks aglow from the cold.
“Never be sorry for anything that makes you that happy. What were you looking at?” he asked, seeming amused.
“Everything. I love this place. It’s so cute, and so alive. I can’t believe this is where I live now,” I gushed.
“It is one of the nicest parts of London, or at least I always thought so. Seeing you so happy here though, has just made me love it even more.”
“It’s just a different world to where I grew up, or at least the parts I remember anyway,” I shrugged. “I guess it’s just exciting to realise that. It truly feels like a fresh start for me.”
“It is,” Cal agreed as he released my hand and instead wrapped his arm around my back, pulling me closer to his side. “Your new life can be anything and everything you want it to be. We’ll all help you make sure of that.”
I looked up into his eyes, which looked a lighter shade of green in the light, sparking at me.
The small smile on his face made him even more handsome if that were possible, and I felt this wild need to just grab him and reach up onto my toes so I could kiss him.
It was wild because I had never felt anything so primal towards a man in my life.
I had never even considered such things before.
Several less than stellar experiences had put pay to dreams of love and romance for me, but being there in London seemed to have changed that.
I’d been attracted to Cal, Arran, Dante, and Dio.
I’d thought about kissing all of them at one time or other, if I were honest. I’d even envisioned way more than a kiss with several of them.
And right there, in that moment, kissing Callan was all that was going through my mind as I stood before him completely enraptured.
“Cara?” Cal whispered.
“I really want to…”
“What are you doing? Hurry up!” Dante barked, cutting off what I was about to admit. I startled and stepped back from Cal, whipping my head around to see Dante and Arran just a few steps ahead, looking impatient.
Was Dante watching us? Was he pissed? He thought I belonged to him. Did that mean he’d lose it of I kissed Cal? Would he hurt Cal?
“I really want to know what you were about to say, Cara, but it’ll have to wait until later,” Cal smirked as he stepped over to me again, wrapped his arm around me, and led us to catch up with the others.
I was flustered, confused, and embarrassed by the time we reached the steakhouse.
I had decided when I arrived in London that I wouldn’t allow myself to get mixed up with the guys I was crushing on, but now I had Dante telling me I was his, no matter what, and I had almost kissed Cal.
Add in my feelings for Arran and Dio too, and I was driving myself to distraction with the chaos I was creating.
“Ye alright, lass?” Arran asked as we followed our server to the table Cal had reserved for us earlier. He was behind me, and I felt his hand at the small of my back as he leaned around me slightly.
“Good,” I nodded. “This place looks and smells great,” I added with a little too much fake enthusiasm.
“Aye. The food’s good, but it’s no’ too snobby either. I cannae stand those places with an arsenal of cutlery for the tiniest fuckin’ servings ye ever saw,” he grumbled.
“Can’t say I’ve ever been anywhere like that, but small servings is not something I can get on board with,” I laughed.
Our table was in the front corner of the restaurant, alongside the front window.
Dante and Arran slid into the bench seat with their backs to the wall, so I sat beside the window with Cal, opposite them.
When I glanced outside I saw a black SUV parked out front, in which I was pretty sure sat the additional security Rafe had insisted we have close, just in case.
It seemed so extreme that such a measure was necessary.
The irony wasn’t lost on me either, that for eleven years I had lived the most dangerous and terrifying life, completely alone, with zero help or protection.
Now I found myself surrounded by people who seemed to want to look out for me, in a place where I felt much more safe and secure, and suddenly I had this insane amount of security all around, and following me.
“Don’t worry about them. They’re just a precaution. You’re safe. It’s okay to relax and have some fun,” Cal leaned over and told me gently.
“I plan to,” I assured him. And I resolved to do just that.
My worries would all still be waiting for me when I tried to go to sleep later that night, along with the reruns of my past and the panic of the future.
I’d deal with it then, I decided. In the meantime I was out in a nice looking restaurant, with a great atmosphere, surrounded by people I liked and trusted. Fun sounded good, and much needed.