Page 56 of Long Live the King

I’m sure I blushed, I said, under my breath, “Wow.”

Then he asked, “May I hold yer hand?”

I put my hand across the table and he slowly touched it, and then wrapped his hand around it, sending an electric vibration up my spine. His hand was warm and big and encompassing, comforting. I put my other hand on his and he put his other hand on mine.

And we held hands, with his fingers trailing over the back of mine and my thumb grazing his until the waitress came up. “More wine?” We nodded, drawing our hands away. She poured more wine into our glasses.

And then she left.

Lochie looked at me and said, “I like ye a great deal.”

“Do you? I like you too, and... though we barely know each other, somehow we can stare into each other’s eyes and be quiet together.”

He said, “And that is what I want tae continue doin’.” He put his hand out again, palm up, I put mine on it, feeling his callouses as his palm enveloped mine — warm, sure, protective.

I sighed.

We each sipped some wine. Then I said, “But you have to go, how long will you be gone?”

“I will be gone for two weeks. Will I be able tae see ye when I return?”

“Yes.”

“Now I hae eaten yer um... the dessert ye baked ...and now I hae taken ye tae dinner, we will hae tae come up with something new tae do with each other. I would like tae go tae the beach with ye. Tis yer favorite thing, ye said.”

“Oh, that would be lovely. Do you have a favorite book?”

He said, “I am verra fond of How tae Train Yer Dragon. I read it tae m’nephews.”

I grinned. “You like stories about dragons too! How about we can sit on the beach and I’ll read to you from the book I’m reading, we can hold hands like this.”

He nodded. “I would like that.”

“And I bet we can come up with more fun things, and you’ve only eaten my peach pie, how about I make you cherry pie? You said it was your favorite. And I make a delicious cherry cheesecake pie with a cookie crust.”

His eyes lit up. “What if ye made me all the pies ye ken how tae make and I will get tae taste them all? I will put them all around m’chair on the beach and eat pie while ye read tae me about dragons.”

I grinned. “Yes.”

“This will make the critical errand I must run almost bearable.”

“Is it dangerous?”

He looked at me long and then shook his head, “Nae.” Then he sipped his wine and asked, “What are yer plans for the coming week?”

“Looks like I’ll be baking pies.”

He laughed. “Ye arna goin’ tae hae trouble with Buck?”

“No, I think he’s got the message, you and your brothers, he’s not going to embarrass himself. We have been broken up for along time. I’m not sure why he acted like that, but he’s not in my life. Not anymore.”

“I am not certain I understand it, ye had married him?”

“Oh no, no I hadn’t, no... he wasn’t... I mean there was a moment where I thought it would be a good idea, but I’m relieved that very soon in I realized he was cheating on me with someone else.”

“He married her?”

“No... I think that girl wised up too.”

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