The way she says it, the soft tone combined with the look of complete and total awe has me shifting my stance uncomfortably. “Bronywyn.” I smile and offer my hand as I shoot Tarnley an amused glance.
He’s working to look everywhere but at me, so I redirect my attention to Deissy.
“You have no idea how good it is to finally meet you. Tarnley has spoken about you often.” She grins his way. “Or at least, he did before he stopped showing up.”
“I may have mentioned you a time or two,” he admits, ignoring her jab. “But I talk about all my friends.”
“The only other person I’ve ever heard you mention is a man named Elijah.”
“He doesn’t have many friends,” I tell her, and she giggles.
“I can’t imagine why with his sparkling personality.”
“This is fun,” Tarnley retorts.
“I agree,” I say with a laugh, and Deissy claps her hands together.
“Well, I assume you two are not just here to debate Tarnley’s expanding social calendar.”
“As much fun as that would be, no.” Tarnley reaches back and pulls out his wallet. “Two, please.”
“Put that away.” Deissy shakes her head at him when he still tries to hand her money. “After everything you’ve done for me, it’s seriously the least I can do. Especially since you haven’t been around lately, so I haven’t been able to thank you in person.”
“Deissy—”
“No.” She moves back into the booth again then pulls out two clubs and a ball. “You guys have fun. Tonight is on the house.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I know it’s not. But I owe you everything, Tarnley. If it weren’t for you, I would never have been able to meet Felix. My happiness is because of you.”
I want to ask, to pry, but the misty gaze trained on Tarnley has me shoving the dozens of questions down. I can ask him later, but right now, I feel like saying anything would tarnish this moment, and it’s so damn cute I can’t bring myself to interrupt.
“Thank you, Deissy. But it truly is not necessary. Anyone would have done the same.”
“No. They wouldn’t have.” She turns to me. “Tarnley saved me from an abusive relationship,” she explains. “Alex probably would have killed me, eventually.” She turns to Tarnley. “But my hero made the bastard skip town.”
I glance up at him, wondering if he actually made him leave or had him for dinner. And when Deissy raises her wrist and shows me a huge scar, I decide that I hope it was the latter.
“This happened here one night, and Tarnley showed up out of nowhere. It was the craziest thing. He wasn’t there, and then the next second, he was.” She runs her finger over the brutal-looking reminder. “Like he was some sort of crazy superhero.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, that’s what I was talking about. I didn’t want you to feel out of the loop.” Her cheeks flush. “Tarnley is a good one. I’m happy he’s here with you.”
Literally the sweetest woman on the planet. That’s who this girl is. “I’m so happy he was there to keep you safe.”
She beams at me. “Me, too. You guys have fun. Snack bar is open. Please let me know if you need anything else. I’m so glad you came by tonight.”
“Me, too. See you later, Deissy.”
“Be sure to say goodbye before you leave!” she calls out.
“We will!” I promise before linking an arm through Tarnley’s and following him toward the snack bar. “Quite the hero you are.”
“She was so terrified, and the moment I smelled her blood—” He shakes his head. “I saw him hovering over her with a golf club, and I acted.”
“Where is he now?”
“Gone. My cleaners took care of it.”
“You killed him.”