“Yes,” Cherry replied. “You?”
“I’m married.” Donna pulled a face. “Maybe divorced in the near future.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude on something private.”
“Ignore her,” Rick said. “She’s not getting divorced.”
“You think?” Donna retorted.
“David wouldn’t let you go, and you know it.”
“If that was the case, why hasn’t he rung yet? Take a tip from me, Cherry. Men are after only one thing, and once they get it, they expect you to come at a snap of their fingers, they—”
Rick jokingly laid his hands over Cherry’s ears. “I don’t think my girlfriend needs to hear your advice, Don.”
He felt Cherry stiffen slightly and glanced down, half expecting her to pull away. Instead, she relaxed back against him and when she glanced up, he saw the warmth in her eyes. That warmth filled him, especially when it meant she was finally accepting it, their closeness, their being a couple in front of others. But he was wise enough not to push it too far.
Rick smiled and rubbed her cheeks briefly with his thumbs before transferring his hands back to her shoulders and his attention to his sister. “You’re just miffed because David hasn’t come tearing after you like he normally does.”
Donna scowled. “He’s an arse. Like all men.”
“Like all men what?” a new voice queried.
“Hey, Tim.” Donna smiled, her eyes sparkling as Tim walked in, hooked a chair out with his foot, and sprawled into it. “Just ripping holes in the male of the species, who, I might add, deserve it.”
“Cripes, Donna in man-ripping mode. I am so surprised. David must be in the shit again.” Tim’s gaze went to Cherry. “You must be Cherry.”
“Hello,” she replied.
Rick squeezed her shoulders lightly. “This is Tim. I told you about him.”
“Oh, nothing but good things, I hope,” Tim said. “Not that there’s anything but good things to say about me.”
“I came all the way here to worship at your altar.” Donna saluted him with her cereal spoon.
“But you brought no gifts.” Tim winked at Cherry. “Cheap worship, Don.”
“You are cheap.”
“That hurts.”
“Cheaply, I might add.”
“So, David get fed up with the nail raking you’re often giving him and finally kicked you out?”
“You freakin’ wish. You just want me for yourself.”
“Not when you don’t bring gifts.”
Cherry laughed.
Tim looked at the empty space on the table in front of him. “I thought a woman’s place was to get a man a drink. You’re failing, Don.”
She flipped him the middle finger.
“Eloquent as usual.” Tim got up and went to the ‘fridge, coming back up with a tin of Diet Coke in his hand. “What the hell?”
Donna smirked at Rick.
He arched one brow lazily. “I know how to keep my woman happy.”
Tim looked from the Diet Coke to Cherry and back again, then shrugged. “Okay.” He stuck the can back in the ‘fridge and did a quick search, coming up this time with a carton of iced chocolate. “Yum.”
“Also to keep my woman happy,” Rick informed him.
Tim looked at Cherry and waggled the carton questioningly.
“Help yourself.” The embarrassment was clear in her voice.
Ah yes, his little love hadn’t expected him to do anything for her. Boy, did she have a lot of surprises in store for her in the future, and he was going to enjoy springing them on her.
Sliding onto the chair beside her, Rick caught her hand under the table and rested their combined clasp on his thigh. Her fingers tugged momentarily, but then relaxed in his hold.
Another victory.
Tim poured a glass full of iced chocolate and would have left the carton on the bench except that Donna berated him rudely for it. Laughing, he stuck it back in the ‘fridge and returned to the table with his full glass and Rick’s half cold cup of coffee, which he placed before Rick.
Sprawling once more in the chair, he looked at Donna. “So, going to tell us what you did to poor David?”
“Poor David?” She bristled immediately.
Rick placed his mouth close to Cherry’s ear. “Don’t fret. These two have been fighting since primary school. Just sit back and enjoy it.”
Turning her head to answer, she found herself so close to Rick’s face that her luscious lips were only inches from his.
Rick was fully prepared to swoop in for a quick kiss, but she blushed and turned away before he could do so. Bugger. With an inward sigh, he rested his arm along the back of Cherry’s chair and leaned towards her comfortably, switching his attention to Donna and Tim. As usual, Donna was giving Tim an earful of sardonic remarks about the male of the species, while Tim was doing his very best to confirm her low opinion. In-between, Tim would throw remarks to Cherry or Rick, as did Donna, but neither really waited for an answer before lighting into each other again.