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“And quality time,” I added. “I just like being with you. Doesn’t have to be anything special.”
“I can do that,” she said with a smile. Then she drew a card off the top of the deck. “Where do you see us spending holidays?”
“We usually do holidays at my dad’s place,” I said. “But if you wanted to do something together, I’m all for that.”
She bit her bottom lip. “Actually, I’m planning to do Thanksgiving in Paris with my sister. And she offered for you to come along.”
My jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”
Larkin shook her head. “You can say no if you want.”
“Why would I say no to Paris with my girlfriend?”
Her lips parted.
“What?” I asked.
“You said girlfriend.” Her cheeks heated like she was almost embarrassed to bring it up.
“Shit. Was I supposed to ask?”
Her laugh made me buoyant. “I don’t know. It’s been a long time since I dated.”
“Well, I don’t care what I call you as long as I can call you mine.”
She reached under the table, squeezing my knee. “I’ll be your girlfriend, Knox Madigan.”
Now I was grinning like a fool as I reached for the next card. “Tell me something I don’t know about you yet.”
Penny came back with a platter of vegetables and sliced bread and a few ramekins of different goat cheese dips. We both tried some, and they were just as good as Penny had promised.
“Something I don’t know about you?” I prompted Larkin again. I wanted to know everything about her.
She twisted her lips to the side as she thought. The votive candle on the table cast a flickering glow on her skin. “I passed out in the ER when I was doing my nursing school clinicals.”
“What?” I asked, surprised by her answer.
“I don’t do well with trauma wounds,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons I’ve always worked in residential settings.”
“Fletcher is the same way,” I told her. “He worked in the children’s ER for a while, and it really took a toll on him.”
Her face was full of empathy. “Oh, I bet that would be really hard... So what about you?”
I thought of all the things I’d told her, and one I hadn’t. “I’m a jealous man.”
Her smile turned playful. “Is that so?”
I nodded, leaning forward and holding her hand under the table. “I want to buy you new lingerie so I know I’m the only man you’ve ever worn them for.”
A flame sparked in her eyes. “I’m up for any chance to turn you on.”
Damn, I needed to cool it, or I’d be hiding a semi under the table. “Okay, next question before I get carried away.”
She drew a card from the deck and frowned slightly before clearing her expression. “How many children do you want to have?”
“I already know two perfect children,” I said, nudging her leg.
Her expression eased.