Page 75 of Offside Angel

“I’m talking about your bonnie lass,” he says in the world’s worst Scottish accent. He leans in close. “Did Owen really see Mira naked?”

“Close enough,” I growl. The day Owen burst into the house, Mira was practically comatose in bed. The only reason Owen didn’t see her naked is because I threw a blanket over her. He was tearing through the house, and she was terrified.

I’d like to avoid that ever happening again.

“A meeting would keep him off my back,” I admit. “It’ll also keep him out of my house. The last thing I need is him destroying the place again.”

“You should spend more time with him. If he could see you with Mira, he’d be less worried.”

“Maybe. But they didn’t get off to the best start.”

Only because I didn’t tell Owen about Mira until she was living in my house. He had every right to be on edge. If Mira was any other woman in the world, moving her in that fast would’ve been a disaster.

But she isn’t any other woman in the world.

She’s my woman.

Daniel lets off another low whistle. “God, you really do have it bad.”

I turn to him and only then realize I’m smiling like an idiot. I quickly flip it upside down and scowl at him. “You have no room to say shit. Let any loud-mouthed blondes boss you around lately?”

Daniel puffs up, straightening his navy bomber jacket. “Yes, actually. She picked out this outfit for me.”

I give him a look that lets him know I absolutely rest my case.

“But we aren’t living together,” he argues. “I like Taylor. She’s fun. But if she up and left me tomorrow, I’d drink about it—maybe watch one sad movie about it—and then I’d move on.”

“Bull-fucking-shit!” I scoff, earning me another glare from the older couple across the aisle. “You’d be a wreck.”

“The same way you were?” He smirks, trying to corner me, but it won’t work.

Because I’m not afraid of the truth.

“Yeah, the same way I was. Because you know you love her.”

He huffs. “I never would have thought that, out of the two of us, you would turn into the sappier one.”

“I’m not being sappy; I’m being realistic. Mira is the one.”

“So when are you going to make it official?” He holds up his left hand and wags his ring finger.

“Soon.”

At that, Daniel about falls out of the booth. “You’re kidding. I was kidding. You’re serious? Are you kidding?”

“Yes? Or… I don’t know how to answer that, but I’m serious. It’s going to be soon.”

“Well, son of a bitch.” He raises his coffee mug in a toast. “Nathan will be disappointed, but everyone else will be happy for you.”

“Why does Nathan care?”

“He had a little crush when he first met her and has been secretly hoping things between you two weren’t that serious.” Daniel lifts one shoulder in a casual shrug, like he isn’t telling me information that might get our good friend Nathan killed. “But Nathan has a crush on everyone.”

I grind my molars together. “Yeah. I guess he does.”

Daniel eyes my face and smirks. “You better lock her down real soon before someone else tries. Otherwise, you might lose your girl and be sent away for murder.” Suddenly, Daniel grabs his knife and fork like he’s a hungry cartoon character. “Our food is coming.”

The waitress is making her way towards us, and I check the time on the red neon clock above the counter. It’s later than I thought.

---