Page 141 of Boss of Me
“Nothing at all. That’s a mighty fine Benz you bought her.”
“So what’s the problem?” Gunner says between clenched teeth.
Dale huffs indignantly. “I might be a drunk reprobate, but I’ll be damned if I let a woman drive on our date.”
I bite my lip, smothering a laugh against Gunner’s chest.
“Trace will drive you,” he grits out.
“Thank you, son. I appreciate it.”
“Anything else?”
When Dale doesn’t respond, I peek over Gunner’s shoulder to see his father sheepishly scuffing his boot toe against the ground.
Gunner’s jaw flexes as if he’s running out of patience. “Spit it out, old man.”
“I wanna take her to Adagio.”
“Adagio is booked six months in advance. You can’t get a reservation on such short notice.”
“No, butyoucan.”
Gunner shakes his head, muttering an exasperated oath that makes me grin harder.
Dale pleads his case. “She deserves a fine dining experience, the best in town. So what do you say, Gunn? Can you wrangle us a table?”
Gunner sighs. “Tell Mrs. Calder to call my assistant. She’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you, son. Much obliged.” Dale grins slyly. “I’ll let you crazy kids get back to what you were doing. Watch out for thorns. Getting pricked could be a real mood killer.”
“Beat it, old man,” Gunner growls.
Dale cackles mischievously.
As soon as he leaves, I burst into giggles.
Gunner looks down at me, his annoyance giving way to warm affection. “Sorry about that.”
“No apology necessary. That was entertaining.”
“Glad you think so.” He pushes my hair out of my eyes, his touch as gentle as the fragrant wisteria brushing my cheek.
“Your dad reminded me of a teenager asking for the car keys. Talk about a role reversal, huh?”
Gunner grunts. “It’s been that way a long damn time.”
As sympathy stirs in my chest, I reach up and gently stroke his jaw. “You’re a good man, Gunner Ransom. My father would have liked you.”
He gazes at me with a fiercely earnest expression that betrays a surprising vulnerability. “Do you mean that?”
“I do.” I smile wryly. “He might not be too crazy about you ravishing me in your garden?—”
Gunner laughs softly. Framing my face in his hands, he kisses me so tenderly that my heart aches and tears sting my eyes.
No other man has ever made me feel as precious as this man makes me feel. I love him so much. Riotously, ferociously, with every beat of my heart and every breath in my lungs. It’s the scariest, most thrillingly wonderful feeling in the world.
He brushes my lips with his once more, then lifts his head and smiles into my eyes. “What do you say we order takeout tonight and snuggle up with a movie?”
