She had lost her breath at the “marry” part. Surely he was just joking. But he didn’t seem to be. He smiled down at her, kissing her again on her lips. When they parted, she gasped out, “Happy New Year, Tate!”
“Happy New Year, love. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Chapter 24
Tate leaned against the wall that led to Audrey’s kitchen.
“Are you sure you’re not settling, Audrey?”
Tate watched as Audrey pinched the bridge of her nose. Her laptop was open in front of her, and paperwork lay everywhere across the counter. In her hand was her phone with Fallon on speakerphone. “Fallon, I promise. Everything is fine. I’m not settling for anything but perfection.”
“He was questioning and reconsidering something that you can’t change,” Fallon persisted. “The guy tells you he loves you, and you’re back being putty in his hands. How is that fair, Audrey Jane?”
Tate leaned his head against the wall, shaking his head as his heartbeat picked up. Things had been fine between him and Audrey, but he knew Fallon wasn’t happy with him. Neither was Lucas. Luckily the Assassins were on a minibreak and Tate didn’t have to worry about dealing with Lucas, but it didn’t keep Fallon from calling Audrey and harassing her.
“Thank you for the reminder, sister dear, and also, if it was such an issue then why does he still want to be with me and love me?” Audrey asked.
“Audrey, I have no doubt that he loves you, but he isn’t thinking. He is letting his love for you cloud his judgment, and ten years from now, he’s gonna break your heart.”
“So you’re a fucking psychic now,” Audrey yelled. Tate could tell she was getting irritated. “He is a grown man who was thinking about his future and had a momentary pause. I remember you not thinking clearly about your future, either, not too long ago. Why is it that when I find a guy, you find every one of his flaws? Why don’t you go examine Lucas and leave me and Tate alone?” Audrey said, before she slammed the phone down and shook her head. She looked back at the screen as her eyes pooled with tears, she still hadn’t noticed him. He hated that he had caused this between her and her sister. They were so close, and he wouldn’t be the wedge between them. That’s not how family works.
Coming off the wall, Tate walked around the counter and wrapped her up in his arms from behind.
“Hey,” she said, startled. “I didn’t know you were back.”
“I sneaked up on you, didn’t I?” he asked as she smiled.
“Yeah, I’m glad you did, too,” she said, moving her hands over his, “but I lost track of time. I wanted to be ready when you got back.”
“It’s okay, baby, what I got planned for us doesn’t start until three, you have time,” he informed her, kissing along her neck. “I have to run out for a few, okay?”
“Where to? I’ll only be a moment.”
Tate scoffed, “Yeah right, you’ll be at least an hour.”
She smiled sheepishly as she nodded. “Yeah, so? I gotta look good for my man.”
Tate shook his head, kissing her lips. “You always look good. I’ll be back, okay?”
“Okay.” Audrey kissed him once more before closing up her computer. He knew he had a good hour until she would be ready for the surprise date he had planned, and he knew just how to use that hour.
And it involved Fallon Brooks.