Page 76 of Charmed By Destiny

“Rather odd way of running a business.”

“I’ll be sure and take your complaints to our owner.”

“Thank you, I’m looking forward to my wine,” Richard said. His father raised a brow but didn’t comment as he turned on his heel and stalked out.

“Be nice to him, they really went all out on this date idea.”

“I know, and I’ll thank everyone repeatedly, but I have to mess with him. He’d be disappointed otherwise.”

“Whatever you say, Dragonfly.”

“You didn’t have to get me flowers, that was very sweet.”

“I’d love to tell you it was my idea, but it’s apparently part of the plan. Gabe told me to get in the car, and next thing I knew, we were at the florist. He had to buy some for Eric too. He was told he skipped courtship. To be honest, he looked pissed about it.”

“My parents will never pass up an opportunity to complain that they weren’t told immediately that Gabriel and Eric were soulmates,” Richard said. “It was sweet how Gabriel announced it though. It was on Christmas, which I have to warn you is a big-ass deal in this family. We force my mother to refrain from buying us a million gifts throughout the year. She still does, we just don’t get them until Christmas.”

“How am I ever going to know what to get your family?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll help. We can have everything come from us.”

“Are you going to buy me a mountain of presents?”

Richard nodded. “Yes.”

“Okay, I’m not going to stress about that tonight. We’re here on a date, and we should be focused on enjoying ourselves.”

“I’d toast to that, but I lack a glass of wine because the service here is deplorable,” Richard teased.

Lucas laughed. “I didn’t expect any of this. I thought we’d get takeout and eat it in your bedroom while we shared embarrassing stories about our lives.”

“There’s no reason we can’t make a plan to do that one night too.”

A throat cleared, then Clark appeared and set a glass of wine on the table for Richard. “I apologize for the delay, but I mentioned to the owner that you would’ve preferred choices. She provided me with menus for you both.”

Richard was handed a hand-written note that hadoption onewritten in big, bold letters. There were no other choices, nor explanations to tell him what was included in the meal. He dearly wanted to laugh but held it together as Clark handed another paper to Lucas.

“Lucas, I think I need a few minutes to decide, what about you?”

“Certainly, there are so many selections, and they all sound so delicious.”

Clark rolled his eyes. “Very well, gentlemen. I’ll be back at some point.”

“Should we have that toast now?” Richard asked, plucking his goblet from the tablecloth once his father disappeared through the doorway.

“To us,” Lucas said, lifting his glass.

“To us and our future,” Richard added softly and clinked the goblet against Lucas’s. He drank deeply and nearly sighed at how beautiful Lucas was in the candlelight.

The wine was red, full-bodied, and delicious. He’d expected nothing less from his mother and David.

“I have a question for you, since we probably have a few minutes until your dad returns.”

“Of course, ask me anything.”

“Do you have a thong on under those pretty pants?”

Richard’s smile was feral as he lifted a brow at Lucas. “As sparkly as my shoes.”

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