Page 7

That made her laugh even harder.

After that, there was some shit about a devil and an angel. I told Lakelyn if she put me in red tights, our relationship might not have survived Halloween. She swore I was being dramatic, but I was dead serious. There were some things a man simply had to stand on.

Eventually, she landed on Gomez and Morticia Addams, and that one I could tolerate… barely.

At least Gomez wore a suit, and I could work with a suit.

I still talked shit about it, though, telling her I wasn’t dressing up like some old television character just to stand around somebody’s house all night pretending I was having fun.

Then she gave me that look, the soft one where her eyes got all pretty and she smiled like she already knew I was going to give in.

And shit, she was right, because I would do damn near anything for my lady.

I’d wear the suit, go to the party, and stand around a bunch of drunk mothafuckas all night if that was what made her happy. Hell, if she had really wanted me in those red tights, I probably would’ve complained the entire time and still put the damn things on.

That was my woman, and when something mattered to her, it mattered to me too.

“Baby, nah, I didn’t forget,” I lied smoothly. “I just didn’t know I was supposed to pick you up. But I can. You know I don’t mind. What time it start again?”

Lakelyn narrowed her eyes like she knew damn well I was full of shit.

“Eight. But I want to get there closer to nine, when more people will probably be there, so be here no later than eight-thirty.” She emphasized that last part by pointing at me.

“I’ll be here, baby.”

She stepped closer, eyeing me with that expression that could make me agree to damn near anything. “On time, Caspian… not on Caspian time, actual time.”

I closed the space between us and cradled her face in my hands.

“I’ll be on time,” I promised. “You sounding like you don’t trust me.”

“I do,” she said, although the smile tugging at her mouth told me she was still skeptical. “But you also have a habit of saying one time and showing up whenever you feel like it.”

“That’s business.”

“Well, this is me.”

I slid my hands from her face to her waist and pulled her against me. “Exactly. Which is why I’ll be here.”

“Good, because I am really looking forward to this party. I’m not showing up there by myself.”

“You won’t have to.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead and held her there for a moment. “I got you, baby. I won’t let you down.”

And I meant every word.

I would move meetings, handle everything early, and make sure nothing got in the way. If Lakelyn wanted me there at eight-thirty, then I’d be standing at her door by eight just to keep her from accusing me of running on Caspian time again.

I leaned in and kissed her slowly, letting it deepen without rushing, because with Lakelyn, even a kiss could say more than I usually knew how to put into words.

When I finally eased back, she stayed close enough that I could still feel her breath against my mouth.

I brushed my thumb across her bottom lip. “You worry too much.”

“And you don’t worry enough,” she shot back.

“I got people for that.”

Lakelyn rolled her eyes.