Page 96 of Bleeding Blackheart

Before our menus are brought out, he grabs my left hand, playing with my engagement ring. It’s vintage and belonged to his grandmother on his mother’s side. I was so nervous to accept it, worried I’d destroy the heirloom, but he insisted, and I’m really glad he did.

When he turns my hand back and forth, the diamonds sparkle through the windows as if they’re brand new. We haven’t started planning the big day, but I think we might just end up eloping.

Our server finally arrives with menus, but Gunner declines them, ordering what we already know we want. “Two waters, two burgers, a plate of fries, and one large cookies and cream milkshake.”

After our order is put in, he grabs my hands again, rubbing his fingers over my knuckles. “You wanna go to a movie after?”

“I’d love to.” Going to the movies is one of our favorite dates. Sometimes we watch the film, sometimes we do other things. Regardless, the experience is always fun. “I thought you wanted to get back home right away to eat your favorite meal though.”

He smirks. “I can just do that during the film.”

We’ve done a lot in movie theaters, but never anything like that. “We will get kicked out if you go down on me in the theater, Gunner.” With the cinema being one of my favorite places, I’d rather not get banned.

He wraps his legs around mine under the table. “We won’t get kicked out if we go to a drive-in.”

I try to hold back my laughter but can’t. “We took the Camero out. There won’t be enough room.”

He squeezes my hands. “We’ll make it work. You’re flexible, little fox.”

When our food comes out, Gunner comes to my side of the table to sit next to me so he can feed me fries easier. He’s still been doting all over me since he saved me, and I hope he never quits.

We eat quickly, both starved from our chores this morning and organizing our new home. Our milkshake is brought out right after our plates are cleared, and after putting the straws in, Gunner lets me take the first sip.

“God, that’s so good,” I say with my mouth half-full.

“My turn,” he replies quickly. I expect him to grab his straw, but he grabs my chin instead, pressing his lips to mine and sucking what shake I have left in my mouth off my tongue.

I don’t know whether to laugh, swoon, or chastise him, so I just give him another kiss and grab my straw at the same time he grabs his.

We drink it down so quickly that we end up ordering another, but we drink our second one slowly, taking turns patiently with the same straw.

After we’re all paid up, we go back to the car, and Gunner drives us to a nearby park to spend time at before the movie starts. We pull up to a private spot under some shade, and Gunner parks, rolling down our windows. “I hope you like living here.”

I rub his shoulder. “I love it here.”

“I do too. Do you want to go for a walk?”

“That’d be nice.”

He helps me out of the car like he always does, and we walk hand in hand down a trail not too far from our car.

It’s cold out, so we won’t walk too far, but our sweaters give us enough warmth with the help of the sun. We stop at a little bench, and in the distance I see a woman playing with her toddler. She pulls something out of her bag, and when she hands it to her daughter, I realize it’s a snack. “She’s so cute,” I say effortlessly while I watch the little girl.

Gunner drapes his arm over the bench behind my back, following my gaze. “She is. Do you want one?”

I nearly choke on my spit. “Do I want what?”

He rubs my arm with his palm. “Do you want a kid, Montana Elizabeth?”

Something stirs inside me, but I don’t know what. Probably all the dairy I had at the diner. I’m starting to second guess if going to the movies is a good idea.

Do I want a kid? I don’t know. I didn’t think that was a possibility for us. And I’m nearly thirty. I thought if I ever had kids I’d do so before now. Plus, everything in my life is great. I don’t feel like I need to be a mother to be happy. I know that I don’t. But I’m not completely turned off by the idea.

“You can’t have kids, Gunner.” I learned very early on that my man got snipped long before I came into the picture.

“Yes I can.”

I raise a brow at him and he shrugs his shoulders. “After a doctor’s visit, I can.”

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