“He talks about me?” Indi asks, looking over at me with a huge smile on her face.
“All the damn time.” The teasing grin he’s wearing when his gaze shifts to me tells me his trying to get me to bite. I’m not falling for his bullshit. He’s the biggest shit stirrer I know. I usually find his antics amusing, but not tonight. Not in front of my girl.
“I do not, arsehole,” I say trying to come to my own defence. Jax throws back his head and laughs. Prick.
“I’m just messing with you, mate,” he replies, slapping me on the back. I give him a look that says both, I know, and shut the fuck up. Payback’s a bitch. Indiana giggles from beside me. I guess she finds it amusing.
“Is this all for us?” Indi asks looking over the table setting in front of us. I’m grateful for the distraction. He’s making me look like a dick in front of her. He’s set up the table just as I asked. It’s just a small table covered with a white linen cloth. Two white ceramic plates, two wine glasses and silver cutlery. There’s a small vase with a red rose inside and two candles either side, in the middle of the table. He’s done a good job, for a cocksucker.
“It is,” I tell her, draping my arm over her shoulder. “Do you like it?”
“I love it,” she says as her arms encircle my waist and she smiles up at me. The smile is exactly what I was hoping for. It makes the ribbing I’ve been getting all day from Jax, worth it. “Thank you, Jax.”
“Don’t thank me. Just doing what the big fella asked,” he replies, flicking his head in my direction. The look Indi gives me when Jax says that has my heart thumping against my ribcage. I know in that moment, that everything Jax has said today is true. I’m well and truly fucked. “I’m going to duck off and pick up the food,” Jax adds looking at his watch. “Then I’m out of here.” I pull out Indi’s chair for her. Once she’s seated I lean down and place a soft kiss on her hair.
“I just need to speak with Jax for a second,” I tell her before Jax and I take a few steps away from the table. “Thanks for all your help,” I say extending my hand to him. He’s really gone above and beyond. I owe him big time. “I appreciate it. You did well for an arsehole.” He laughs at my comment.
“No problem. I aim to please,” he says pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. I haven’t smoked since I was seventeen, the day Ross found my cigarettes in the car. I don’t miss it at all, but I could do with one right now. Anything to calm my fucking nerves. “For the record, I’d probably turn pussy for her too,” he replies, soft enough so only I can hear.
“Keep your eyes off her, she’s mine,” I grit out, and he laughs. Christ, he gets me every time.
“Fuck, you really have done your nuts over this one.”
“Fuck you,” is all I say. No point denying it, because it’s true. He’s just trying to rile me up because he’s a stirring prick. Even though he’s given me a hard time about tonight, I know he’s happy that Indi and I are finally working things out. He’s had to listen to me grumbling about the one I let get away a number of times when we’ve gotten drunk over the past five years.
He’s shaking his head and chuckling as he walks away. I make my way back towards the table. He’s set it up so I’m opposite her, but I move my chair around to the side before I sit. I want to be as close to her as I can get.
Yep, I’m a pussy.
“You okay?” I ask reaching for her hand.
“I’m great. I can’t believe you went to all this trouble for me.”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” I say, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. Fuck me if I don’t mean every word too. She smiles and my stomach does a flip-flop. Jesus, I’m a goner. Leaning forward, I brush my lips with hers.
“Who knew you were such a romantic?” she replies when I pull back and lock eyes with her. Her words make me squirm in my seat as I tug at my tie, trying to loosen it. Great, she thinks I’m a pussy too. I’m far from a romantic. “Hey,” she says, reaching out and running her hand down the side of my face when she sees my reaction to her words. “I love this side of you. It’s very sweet. It beats the douchebag I usually get.” The playfulness I see on her face makes me chuckle. I guess my behaviour towards her has been pretty deplorable at times.
“Like I said the other day, you bring out the best in me.”
“I’m glad,” she says bringing her face towards mine. “You bring out the best, and sometimes the worst in me.” She giggles as her lips meet mine. That’s true.