Page 132 of On Merit Alone
His grumble from earlier turned into a hesitant smile. “So, you’re really okay with it?”
“I’m more than okay with it,” I said. “I’ll do it again sober if that’s what I need to prove it to you.”
This got him laughing. And groaning. “Six.”
“Ira,” I said and smiled slightly as I looked into his eyes. “You’re perfect, you know that?”
He smirked, and I knew I was getting my cocky bastard back as he said, “Of course I know that.”
I pushed his shoulder and moved to get off of him but he held onto me. “Merit, let me take you out.”
“Out?”
“Yeah, like on a date or something. Dinner. Movie. That whole thing.”
I looked at him. Blinked. “You can’t seriously be this decent.”
“What?”
“You’ve been taking me out since you started sitting in my car, Ira. You don’t suddenly have to wine and dine me.” I laughed. “And I don’t like fancy dinners anyway. I’d much rather spend the day with you.”
“For real?”
“For real.”
He smiled that cute boyish smile. “Alright, Six. Sounds good.”
“Alright?” I asked seriously, hoping to God he was okay with this. Because I was more than okay with it. I was doing flips on the inside. Feeling on top of the world because for a while now I’d felt like I was his. He’d had me since he made me potatoes in my kitchen—since he told me he was my fan. But for the first time, I was really feeling like he was mine. And I wanted to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
“Yeah, Six,” he said. Taking my hand, he brought it up to his mouth and pressed his lips there, bookending this conversation. I sighed in relief and he looked at me with mirth in his gaze.
“What?”
“You’re fun when you drink,” he smiled. “Wanna go out again?”
I laughed. “Oh, you’re a piece of work. Two seconds after I have to talk you off the ledge of marrying me for my honor and now you want to defile me?”
He leaned over and kissed my lips. The first time he’d done it since last night. “I’ve got to even the playing field somehow.”
Kissing him back slowly, I hummed in happy content. “You don’t have to get me drunk to be with me. I want you all the time.”
“All the time?” he asked.
I giggled. “That’s what I said.”
“Like right now?” he asked.
I tipped my head as if I had to think about it and then I smiled into a kiss. “Like every time you’re near, and even when you’re away.”
He growled, “What are you trying to do to me?”
My mouth lifted. “I’m trying to hold onto you. Because I really, really like the feeling of you next to me.”
He sighed into me, melting almost. “So is this an invitation or…”
“Maybe later, big guy,” I laughed. “I wanted to play today if you're up for it. I’m off but I need Coach Ira’s opinion on a few things I noticed during the game.”
“Alright,” he said looking at me. “Whatever you need.”
