“You’re an addict.”
A couple more got chucked in. “I’m not even going to argue with you.”
The instant we heard footsteps on crunching gravel, Lil threw back the entire handful. With cheeks bulging like a chipmunk, she was forced to remain mute while I ordered the seafood and an orange juice on her behalf, then a steak and beer for myself.
When our waitress left, Lil chewed furiously, then hissed, “Oh my god, I feel like I just broke all the rules.”
I snorted. “Because you did. And you looked guilty as fuck while doing so. More?”
“Hit me,” she stated, snapping out her palm. “No regrets.”
The large bag of M&Ms was finished well before our lunch arrived, and by the time we’d eaten and finished our drinks, I was shifting nervously in my seat.
Lil’s eyes narrowed. “Do you need the toilet?”
“No.” I coughed into my fist. “Just waiting for my steak to digest.” I paused for a second, then stood. “Actually, give me five.”
She looked a little stunned at my abrupt change, but smiled and nodded nonetheless. “Okay, I’ll order us dessert if the waitress comes back while you’re gone.”
“Sounds good, babe.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her it wouldn’t be needed.
Instead of using the bathroom, I strode to the main reception and asked the guy who welcomed us to tell Claudia we were ready for her.
He clicked his fingers in understanding and assured me that she would be at our nook in a few minutes.
Nerves gathered and pooled in my stomach as I returned to Lil, and I knew the strain showed on my face.
She frowned from behind her sunglasses as I eased into my seat. “You seem tense. Are you sure you’re okay?”
I gathered her hands in mine and toyed with her engagement ring. “I’m fine, I promise. Just thinking about how much I love you.”
The sharp angle in her shoulders eased and her pretty smile reappeared. “I love you too. And thank you for lunch. Did you see the waitress while you were up there?”
“I did; she’ll be down in a moment.”
Lil vigorously rubbed her hands together. “Bring on the crème brûlée.”
I ran a hand over my smile. Butterflies like no other swept through me when a new woman appeared, picking her way carefully along the path with a covered platter balanced in her hands.
When she entered the grassy nook, she looked up and smiled. “Lil and Gage?”
“That’s us,” Lil replied politely.
“Hi, I’m Claudia, your cake maker.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I think you’ve got the wrong people. We didn’t order—”
“Sunshine,” I cut in softly, and her confused gaze snapped to me.
“But we didn’t book a cake maker…”
My smile wavered anxiously as I shifted to her side of the table. I ran my hand up and down her thigh and swallowed thickly.
“Lil, there’s something I haven’t told you. I saw how disappointed you were when you realised this place was out of our budget for the wedding, but I made some inquiries, and well… they had an unexpected cancellation, so… I made a booking.”
Lil’s mouth worked open and closed and tears sprang to her eyes. “But you didn’t want a big fancy wedding again.”
“Big, no, but I want your special day to be as fancy as you want it to be.”