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“Fuck, she’s gonna say yes, right?” I asked my bodyguard when another bout of nerves suddenly took hold of me.
“Boss, Daisy’s an independent woman, but she isn’t stupid. She knows you love her, and she dotes on you. If she refuses it won’t be for any of those reasons. It would be down to logistics of you being together,” he said as he clapped my back in reassurance.
He was right. I had done my best to figure all of this out, or at least I prayed I had.
CHAPTER 14
My heart pounded louder in my ears with every step I took toward the dining room again. Pushing the door open, I glanced toward Daisy who had already arrived back from the restroom. As she sat at the table, my heart leapt again. She looked incredible as she smiled adoringly toward me with her short edgy blonde haircut, and her flawless makeup-free features. Candle flames danced as they reflected in her eyes, and I swear I’d never felt more in love with her than in that moment.
Carefully perching myself on my chair across the table from her to avoid the box in my pocket, I reached over and took her hand in mine.
“This room is amazing, right?” I probed to ensure she thought so. Everything had to be perfect. There was low romantic music playing in the background and although I didn’t know what it was, it added to the ambience of the place.
“Absolutely, it’s stunning,” she replied, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
We both glanced toward the patio at two couples braving the cold outside. They appeared wrapped up against the elements and were warmed by huge outdoor patio heaters. They appeared to know one another and were animated in their conversation, and it made me smile.
“God, they must be freezing out there,” Daisy muttered as the bar server arrived with a selection of cocktails for us to try.
“Dreaming of Spring, the Long Goodbye, Under Darkening Skies, Bittersmoke, Rye of the Tiger, Salt of the Earth,” the cocktail server informed us of the names as he placed each one on the table.
“You can take the Long Goodbye away, we know all about them,” Daisy said, dryly referring to each time we’d had to leave one another.
The cocktail server frowned in concern and looked at me as if to say what the hell is she talking about? I nodded. “Inside joke,” I remarked, but lifted the cocktail from the table and placed it back on his tray.
He nodded and stepped back from us. “I have your champagne on ice and the server will be here to take your order in a few minutes.”
Daisy smiled and lifted the Salt of the Earth, which was the perfect choice given how straightforward and no nonsense she was as a person.
“Blech! I hate vodka and olive combinations, but I thought I’d at least try.” She shuddered as she set it down to one side. I grinned at her facial reaction. “This one looks intriguing,” she mused as she held up the one named Darkened Skies and inspected it by holding it nearer to the candle at the center of the table. She brought it to her nose, sniffed and tentatively sipped it. A smile curved her lips, and she took another sip. “This is more like it. I can taste Campari and Grenadine in this. Much more my kind of tipple.”
I reached for the Bittersmoke and took a large swig. The burn at the back of my throat was distinctive and I instantly recognized the harsh taste of chartreuse. The drink felt as if it had taken a layer of skin from my throat by the time it reached my stomach.
“Fuck,” I wheezed out and struggled to catch my breath. My eyes watered and Daisy laughed heartily when she saw my reaction.
The waiter arrived and we ordered our food, both of us choosing a starter of the kobha squash puree, toasted nori sorba and an entré of Flannery beef and winter vegetables which were both delicious and filling. When Daisy refused dessert, I stole a quick glance at the time.
“What would you say if I asked Felix to bring us our coats and we took a moonlight stroll on the garden patio?”
“That’s a great idea. After eating all that food, I feel a wee bit sleepy. I pulled out my cell phone and texted Felix my message. He knew what he had to do the moment he received it.
Felix entered the dining room and handed me both of our coats. I placed mine on my chair and helped Daisy into hers.
“Wow, and I thought the age of chivalry was dead,” she teased as she shrugged her ski coat over her shoulders. Stepping in front of her I took both sides and zipped her into it, held the part still open near her neck and pulled her in for a kiss.
The taste of champagne on her lips along with her tongue delicately teasing mine made my cock twitch in my pants and I pulled her closer. Daisy placed her hands on my hips, and I remembered the ring in my pocket. Abruptly I pulled back and took a step away from her.
“Now, now, let’s not get carried away in public,” I remarked, nodding toward the couples sitting outside, through the window.
“Can we forget the patio and just go home to bed?” she asked in a seductive tone as I pulled on my own ski coat and zipped it up to my neck.
“All in good time.” I reached out and took her hand. The moment I closed my fingers around hers my heart rate spiked again. The emotions that ran through me eclipsed any feeling of nerves I’d ever experienced before I stepped out onto a stage.
Cold air blasted us both as we stepped through the doors to the garden. Daisy immediately turned into my chest and my arm curled protectively around her.
“Feck me, it’s biting cold,” she remarked, shivering.
“Biting cold?” I chuckled. “I’ve never heard that term before.”
