I frequently kicked myself for that one. I liked giving Fiona rides. The best times were when we were stuck in traffic on the freeway. My girl didn’t like people watching, but she enjoyed the thrill of hiding and nearly getting caught. And I enjoyed the things she did to me while I drove.
“What are you doing down here? Are you leaving?” She frowned. Her dislike of me leaving always filled me with this weird light, happy feeling.
“No.” I brushed my hands through her beautiful brown hair. “I was waiting for you.”
“Down here? In the lobby?”
I kissed her forehead and smiled. “Yes, I don’t trust myself to leave again when the bed is close by.”
Fiona went on her toes to whisper in my ear. “Since when did we need a bed for that?”
I snagged her hand and pulled her toward the exit, making both the security guard and the doorman laugh. “On that note, we need to get moving.”
“Where are we going?” Fiona laughed happily, moving faster to wrap her arms around my back. I slowed my walk so she wouldn’t fall. I enjoyed her there, her arms holding me.
My car was parked out front, something the doorman had let me do, frequently. “I’m taking you out on a real date.”
Fiona paused, one foot in the door. “Dillan…”
I put a finger over her lips, reminding myself that she wasn’t ashamed of who I was. This was just part of who she was. “I’m taking you out of the city, someplace I doubt we will run into anybody. I’ve worked it all out. Trust me? Please.”
Fiona put a hand on my cheek and kissed the other. “I do trust you. It’s the rest of the world I don’t trust.”
I kissed her head one more time and helped her into the car. “I know, princess.”
Not for the first time over the last few weeks, I cursed Randy out in my head.
Fiona wrapped herself around my right arm, laying her head on my shoulder, as I pulled into traffic. I listened as she told me about her day. I loved hearing her laugh about anything. I loved how happy she was when she talked about her job. She told me about the hacker they caught today. The client thought for sure it was some big conspiracy. It turned out it was his son. Who was bored with the low-level job he had been given within the company. He had made it through the firewalls that blocked certain sites in the office. While the tech team was frantically searching for who broke in, he had broken out. The client was completely embarrassed about it all. Understandably.
Next, she told me about the appointment she went to with Katia. Andy couldn’t make it to the ultrasound because one of the girls was home sick today. They couldn’t find anyone else willing to be with a sick toddler. Katia always got nervous in ultrasounds. So, Fiona volunteered to go with her.
While she talked about the growth of the twin boys, who were just about four months along, I began picturing Fiona with a rounded belly. I imagined putting my ear to her stomach, trying to hear the faint heartbeat. I could see me holding her hand while we got pictures of our son or daughter. I heard our laughter in my head when the baby would kick me through her stomach. I could practically feel the weight of the small bundle in my arms, as I sat next to a sweaty but happy Fiona. I imagined the exhaustion as I pulled myself out of bed to change a dirty diaper so Fiona could catch up on some sleep.
My eyes widened when I realized what I was doing. It was one thing to know I never wanted to lose the woman next to me. It was another entirely to be planning a life, a family, with her. I had never planned on having a family. Ever.
What the hell did she do to me? And why didn’t I want it to stop?
“So, can you tell me where you are taking me now?” Fiona’s eyes glittered with her smile.
