Chapter Four #2
“We are your team. We watch out for each other.” That grin was wicked. “Hank is Mama Bear. He’d defend you no questions asked, but he is subtle. Me? Yeah, I am not subtle at all. Spencer is even less so.”
“Does that make you the Papa Bear?”
“That sounds about right.” He barked out a laugh and nodded. “I am protective when I need to be. Very protective. If you need me to, I’d go to war for you.”
His gaze met hers again, and it warmed her from the inside out. He would protect her, and she felt safe. Because of that, she was willing to try.
“Well, we can’t have that if we are trying to not cause a scene,” she joked, imagining him smacking people with chairs for some strange reason, but it made her worries drain away. “But what does that make Spencer if you and Hank are Papa and Mama?”
There was absolutely no hesitation in his answer. “The weird uncle that teaches everyone bad habits.”
She laughed. Really laughed. It felt good being here. She wasn’t even inside yet, and it felt like so much weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Here, she wasn’t expected to be professional. Perfect. On guard. She could trust others.
“Okay.” She swallowed, ready to take the next step. “Let’s go in.”
That smile he gave her was soft. Sweet. “All right then.”
Leading the way to the entrance, Louis held the door open for her and let her through first. Inside was a mass of noise. Lights. People. It bombarded her senses and overwhelmed her. People jostled her as they walked past or began to dance.
Starting to panic, Rosie had no idea where to go, and people were everywhere, forcing her to take different directions to avoid them.
“We’re this way,” his voice whispered in her ear. “I am just going to touch your back to lead you as there is no room here to get past you.”
Instantly, she calmed down. He had warned her he would touch her, and that meant everything.
You are not alone. Louis will look after you.
A gentle hand touched the centre of her back, and he steered her through the crowd. That hand was warm. Protective. Using his own body, he made sure she was not knocked too many times.
Heading up the stairs, they reached a table. Hank and Spencer were talking animatedly. Multiple plates of salads, garlic bread, and halloumi sticks were spread out over the table.
Rosie tensed, expecting the conversation to stop so they could stare at her. Instead, Spencer was excited and did a dance in his seat.
“Yay! We can eat!” He went quiet when he shoved a slice of garlic bread, whole, into his mouth.
Hank wrinkled his nose at his friend. “You could have taken a bite.”
“I am hungry,” Spencer responded around the food.
“We have company!” Hank protested.
Rosie chuckled softly at their banter. Staring at the plates, her stomach grumbled. She was surprised at the choices, expecting something like burgers as she knew they liked them.
Leaning over the table so she didn’t have to shout so much, she asked, “Do you normally eat this?”
“Absolutely not,” Spencer replied, shoving more food in his mouth. At least this time he took bites. “But food is food, and I am not complaining.”
“You did a second ago,” Hank grumbled, staring at the salads.
“And then you ordered cheese, so now I am fine.”
Holding out a chair for her, Louis replied while she took a seat.
“Normally, we get chicken wings and hotdogs, but we know you’re a vegetarian.
We didn’t know if you liked eating with those that eat meat in front of you.
As they tend to get here before me, I asked them to order vegetarian dishes just to be safe.
Besides, it meant you had something to eat, too. ”
That was really kind. Eating meat in front of her never bothered her, but it was refreshing for them to consider it. It was also nice to be included.
“That is so sweet. Thank you.”
“No problem.” Hank winked at her. “So, dig in. We didn’t order drinks as we didn’t know what you would want.”
Louis took a seat beside her and grabbed a halloumi stick. Her stomach grumbled again, watching him eat. Even that was done with precision, and she was enjoying watching his arm muscles move again.
Not wanting to get food on Louis’s jacket, she regretfully took it off and put it on the back of the chair. Besides, it was warm in here and keeping the jacket on would roast her.
Gently she grabbed a slice of garlic bread and took a bite. So good!
“Is that Louis’s jacket?” Hank asked.
Rosie tensed, expecting a silly comment. “Yes?”
Hank moved his fingers to point at his eyes, then at Louis. As if to say, “I am watching you.”
“You are so not having my jacket.” With that, he hid it under the table.
Rosie laughed again. When had she ever laughed so much? “Louis said he would take it if he got cold.”
“I have no doubt he did.”
Suddenly tense, she now thought about how many times Louis must have loaned his jacket and taken Hank’s for Hank to know it would happen.
Thankfully, Hank explained, “He is very good at forgetting his coats at home or in random places when we are out. At least this one should be taken care of since you have it. Not him.”
“Hey!” Louis retorted. Then nodded thoughtfully. “True, though.”
Rosie felt herself relaxing. They were still joking and letting her be part of it. Grabbing a salad bowl, she started to dig in.
That was when Hank pushed a salad bowl at Spencer, who almost looked offended. Rosie had to look away, otherwise she would have laughed and choked on her food.
“You said you would eat one,” Hank said.
Spencer curled his lip at it, then poked it with a fork. “You promised me barbeque sauce.”
Hank’s eye twitched. “I genuinely thought you were joking. You are not having barbeque sauce on your salad.”
“I am a grown man; I can make my own choices!”
“As a grown man, you can eat your greens without fussing.”
Rosie was trying so hard not to giggle out loud. Now she could see why Hank was Mama Bear. Louis was hiding his face to snort in amusement behind his hand and carried on eating some garlic bread.
“You want barbeque sauce on your salad?” Rosie was horrified.
“Yes!” Spencer responded. “So it has flavour.”
Rolling his eyes, Hank went to get some. When he returned, he slammed the bottle on the table in disgust. Spencer cheered and gave himself a generous amount. The salad was practically swimming in it.
“That is much better,” Spencer announced and dug in.
Louis seemed to agree with him. Hank and Rosie, on the other hand, both stared in disgust.
For a while, they sat and talked and enjoyed their food. More food was ordered, including vegetarian burgers. Rosie was having fun, and she was pleased she decided to walk through that door.
“Can I get you a drink?” Louis asked, leaning in to whisper.
“Just a water, please.”
Nodding, he got up. Very quickly he returned with a round of drinks. Rosie gratefully took a sip of her water.
A new song came on. A song she loved, and her body swayed to the beat.
Still standing, Louis held his hand out to her. His gaze softened. “Would you like to dance with me?”
Feeling like a deer in headlights, Rosie stared at him in shock.
I really, really would like to dance with you.
Slowly, she put down her drink and rested her hand in his. Pulling her from the chair, he led the way down to the dancefloor. All around them, people were moving to the beat. Hips swayed. Heads rolled back and forth. Arms were in the air.
Louis only had eyes for her, and she gulped. Turning her back on him, she lifted her arms up and closed her eyes so she could let the music move her. Feeling his body heat behind her, he did not touch her, but he stayed close.
It felt good to dance. To be here. To be with him.
The song became another. And another. Eventually, a slow song was played. Many people left the dancefloor, those that were left were clearly couples or close friends. When she faced Louis, unsure of what to do, he tilted his head. She was learning that it was his way to ask a question.
Do you want to?
I really do.
Holding out his hand to her, she smiled widely and stepped closer to his body. Their hands linked. Wrapping his free arm around her waist, he pulled her closer to him. Her cheek rested on his chest, while his rested on her head.
Nearby, Hank and Spencer were swaying and singing together.
She laughed, enjoying this precious, carefree moment.
She should make sure nothing was being recorded of the players, but her focus returned to the man she was dancing with.
His burning gaze met hers, and their eyes locked.
The pace remained slow, sweet. They swayed together, and it felt good in his arms.
When the song ended, Louis reluctantly let her go and cleared his throat. “Looks like more food has arrived. Hungry?”
Surprisingly, she was. Dancing had given her an appetite. Leading the way back up, this time Louis took her hand. Well, he brushed her hand with his, seeking permission. When she did not pull away, he tilted his head in question. She gave him a single nod, and he gently claimed her hand.
Her hand was so warm in his. She wasn’t sure if he realised his thumb was rubbing the back of her hand, and she found it comforting.
Feeling relaxed, she was now ready for a drink. Something not water. She trusted these men, and one drink wouldn’t be a problem.
Grabbing her purse when they returned to the table, she leaned over to Louis. “I am getting a drink. Want anything?”
“I can get it.” Louis was rising.
She pushed down his shoulders. His big, broad shoulders.
Oh, my.
“No, I am a big girl,” she responded with a wink. A wink? Really? “Besides, I don’t know what I want so I need to browse.”
At least he didn’t argue with her and accepted her reasoning. It felt nice that he didn’t crowd her and demand to go with her, realising she wanted to do it herself. Nor did he tell her what to get.
“I am good thank you.” He pointed at his full beer glass.
Spencer and Hank arrived and she asked them, too. They both shook their heads.