Chapter 24 Orion #2
“Her Christmas gift. I’m taking her out tonight to ask her—” I burst out laughing at Easton’s shocked expression. “I’m asking her to come with me to the UK for the holiday break, you knob. And the ring isn’t the ring you think it is.”
He shook his head. “You never can tell these days.”
I gave his bag a nod. “Where are you off to?”
“Somewhere my parents aren’t,” he said, snapping his laptop shut and standing up. “Right now, actually.”
I stood up too. “Well, happy holidays and safe travels—” I made to give him a hug, but he ducked out of reach. “Oh, sorry…”
“No, it’s fine,” he said quickly, looking away. “I…don’t like to be touched.”
“Apologies, mate. I should’ve asked.”
“All good. I gotta go. Have a nice time.” He shot me a smile. “Hope she says yes to your proposal.”
Easton gave a small wave and a half-hearted smile, and then he was gone. Worry swooped in. He was so young, and there was no doubt in my mind that his avoidance of his parents and being touched were connected. I ran for the door and peered into the hallway, but it was empty.
I half wondered if he was going to come back.
***
I arrived at Harper’s house at 7:30 p.m. No sooner had I climbed out of the car than Dash came flying out of the dark at me. He threw his arms around my waist, squeezing tight.
“Orion!”
“Hey, little man. How have you been?”
“I’m so glad you’re here! I made an entire castle and a dragon with my LEGOs. Come see, come see!”
I let him pull me up the sidewalk, breathing a nervous sigh about meeting Harper’s mother for the first time. I had no idea what to expect. Harper had told me she’d been going to meetings and was sober, but I felt like an intruder who possessed more information about her private life than I should.
The woman who met me at the door looked nothing like her daughter, blond hair going gray pulled into a ponytail, and tired eyes that widened to see my Aston Martin and then again at me in my dark-gray suit and maroon tie.
“So, you’re Orion,” she said. “Harper didn’t tell me you were so handsome.”
“Hello, Mrs. Bennett.”
“Ms. Bennett,” she said, shaking my hand. “Harper is still upstairs. Come in.”
The house was warm in the chill December air and smelled like cinnamon. A small Christmas tree stood in the corner, decorated and strung with yellow lights. Harper was self-conscious, but her house felt homey and warm compared to the castle-like monstrosity that was my childhood home.
Maybe she’ll bring some of her coziness with her.
“Over here, Orion.” Dash pulled me to his LEGOs on the coffee table.
“Wow, impressive, little man. You did this all by yourself?”
“Yep! It only took me three days.”
“Amazing.”
“He’s really taken with you,” Ms. Bennett said tightly. “You must’ve made quite the impression on him last time you were here.”
“No, it was nothing,” I said lightly. “We just watched The Princess Bride. His favorite part is the Rodents of Unusual Size. Isn’t that right, Dash? Because you are a rodent of unusual size who must be vanquished by me, the Dread Pirate Roberts.”
I tackled him to the floor and tickled him while he laughed and kicked and squirmed, until I caught sight of Harper at the top of the stairs.
My breath stuck in my throat. “Holy shit.”
Dash, breathless and red-faced, giggled. “You said a bad word.”
Harper came downstairs in a dark-blue dress that brushed the floor.
The top was low cut and revealed enough of her cleavage to make the blood flow straight to my prick.
Her hair was piled up on her head, leaving a few curls loose and exposing her neck and shoulders.
I now had the insatiable urge to bite and kiss and lick…
“Oh, Harper, you look lovely,” her mother said. “Where are you two going?”
Her mother, you wanker. Get it together.
“Newport,” I managed, and stood up when it was safe.
“Orion’s taking me out for seafood,” Harper said. I noticed for the first time that she carried a shoebox-sized gift, wrapped in red paper and tied with a green bow.
“That’s her favorite,” Dash said. “My favorite is Applebee’s. Will you take me to Applebee’s?”
“Dash.” Harper said. “Don’t be rude.”
“I’ll take you to Applebee’s, I promise.”
“Yay!” Dash stuck his tongue out at Harper, who flared her eyes at him.
“Have fun, you two,” her mother said. “Don’t stay out too late.”
Harper gave a faint smile as I helped her put on her coat; the tension between them was palpable. She ruffled her little brother’s hair and then we went out. At my car, I went to open the door for her but stopped.
“You are beautiful.”
“Yes, I heard, thank you. Teaching my little brother some naughty language.” She smiled and straightened my tie. “But holy shit is what I thought when I saw you. You are…devastating.”
“Why, thank you.”
I kissed her and tasted the plum flavor of her lip gloss and the sweetness of her mouth, like black cherries.
The kiss threatened to become more than kissing, her need and mine always burning hot whenever we came together.
I pulled away with effort, our breaths pluming in the cold under the streetlamp.
“Is that a very big present in your hand, Bennett, or are you just happy to see me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Will you get in the car? I’m freezing my butt off.”
I burst out laughing. “Romance!”
***
I’d made a reservation at the Chart House, the most expensive restaurant in a town full of expensive restaurants.
Our table had sweeping views of Narragansett Bay—the water was a swath of black velvet in the wintry dark December, glittering with the lights of yachts and sailboats outside the window.
Harper picked up the menu, and her eyes widened at the prices.
“I don’t want to hear one word about it, Bennett,” I said. “Not one.”
She rolled her eyes, but a small smile betrayed her. “Fine. Just this once.”
“Absolutely not just this once. You have to let me indulge every now and again. Splurge on my woman.”
“There you go again with this ‘my woman’ business.”
“Well, aren’t you?”
Her pale cheeks blushed, and I declared victory. To myself anyway.
The waiter arrived, and we ordered sparkling water, calamari appetizers, halibut for her, swordfish for me, and then it came time to exchange our gifts.
“Let me go first,” Harper said.
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to feel inadequate and ridiculous after your gift. The diamond necklace from the Titanic or something.”