Page 50 of Clashing

“She’s the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me.

” I met Danny’s gaze so he’d know how serious I was.

“I want to be with her, and she wants to be with me, so you’re going to have to be okay with that.

She’s a grown woman who doesn’t need your permission.

I don’t need your approval. But I respect you, and more importantly, Scarlett respects you.

We don’t need your permission, but I want your blessing.

I don’t want anything to change between you and me, and I especially don’t want anything to change between you and Scarlett.

I’m crazy about her, but I won’t drive a wedge between the two of you.

I also can’t stand to be away from her, so we have to work something out because I’m not going anywhere. ”

I’d known Danny for years and his stoic expressions had never bothered me. Right then, I could see why Scarlett hated that about both of us. It made a person want to squirm, but I held my ground.

Sweat collected on the back of my neck, and I spoke once more. “I’d also like to say I’ll never take her out on a Tuesday.” Tuesdays were their night.

The silence could’ve killed me, but he took mercy on me. Shook his head and chuckled. “What’d you think was gonna happen here, Ryker?”

Kinda thought you’d bring out the shotgun, honestly. “Uh . . .”

“Did you think I was going to tell her to stay away from you? Or you to stay away from her?”

“Well . . .” I scratched the back of my head. “Yeah.”

“Even if I wanted to, it’d do no good. I know from experience with this one,” he sent Scarlett a reprimanding glare she answered with an angel-sweet smile, “and I wouldn’t anyway. I’m not upset you two are together. I could’ve done without the sneaking around, but I’m happy you’re together.”

My mouth fell open. “You are?”

“Of course. I was never wary of her boyfriends because I wanted her to be alone her whole life. I was wary because she always brought home shitheads. I wanted her to be with someone who was good to her, and she says you are.”

My gaze snapped to Scarlett, whose cheeks turned pink, and something in me healed. I wanted her to feel that way forever.

“I’m not good enough for her either,” I pointed out.

“No,” Danny agreed. “But nobody will be, and you’re as close as we’ll get. Just don’t hurt her, or we will have a problem.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I pivoted toward Scarlett. “Will you come out with me tonight?”

Her lips parted. “Out, like on a date?”

“Yeah, a date. Will you?”

“Yeah.” She caught her lip between her teeth and stood. “When?”

I offered my hand. “Right now.”

I’d never seen her smile bigger and took it as a personal goal to make it grow more every day.

She pecked Danny on the cheek before taking my hand. We strolled out together, and the second we were outside, she stopped and faced me. Standing on her toes, she stretched, her lips meeting mine.

“That was so sweet.” She spoke between kisses. “You coming here like that. It was so sweet.”

“Unnecessary, apparently.” I slid my hands into her back pockets. “You couldn’t have texted?”

“I’m sorry. We had a lot of talking to do. Lots of explaining and apologies.” Easing back, that pink on her cheeks turned red. “Where are we going?”

“I—” I wanted to be with her, but I didn’t know the first thing about taking a girl out.

“I’m going to be straight with you, I’m new to this.

I didn’t make a plan. Partially because I didn’t know what to expect when I showed up here.

But I swear, I’ll get better at this.” I nudged her nose with mine.

“I promise, okay? I’ll read a boyfriend book, or whatever.

I want to be with you, Scarlett. I don’t give a fuck what we’re doing. ”

She grinned then whispered into my ear, “Dinner’s always good. Food can win anyone over.”

My lips twitched up. “All right, dinner it is. Where do you wanna go? What’s your favorite place to eat?” I was certain it was the bar, but I couldn’t take her on a date there.

“My favorite?” She glanced at Danny’s bar and lifted a shoulder. “I mean . . . What’s your favorite place to eat?”

My gaze also drifted to the bar. The food and drinks were the best in town. “That’s—I mean, that’s a bad idea, isn’t it? You always eat there. It’s not romantic.”

“It’s not romantic to have our first date at the place we met?”

Well, when she put it that way. God, I fucking love this woman. “All right.” I gripped her hand. “Let’s go.”

“But I don’t want to sit at the bar. I want a table in the corner, where less people will stare at us.”

“Deal.”

Her fingers weaved through mine, and we entered the bar from the alley. Since it was a weekday, it wasn’t too busy. I led her to a corner table away from everyone else, but it didn’t help. My guys gawked at us. I pulled a chair out for her.

“Take a fucking picture,” I snapped. They whipped their heads away.

Scarlett dropped her face into her hands. “ Ryker. ”

“What?” I pushed her seat in as she sat. Before I sat, I inched the chair beside her closer. “Do you want them gawking while we eat?”

“Of course I don’t, but there’s this thing called manners . You might’ve heard about them at some point in your life.”

“Can’t say I have.” I twisted toward her and took both her hands.

Her attempt to hide her amusement failed miserably when our fingers laced together. A perfect fit. I’d never been so content to hold someone’s hand. The damn woman made me soft.

“Are you guys . . .” Tammy approached the table, eyeing our joint hands curiously. “On a date?”

Scarlett sank back in her seat and covered her cheeks with her hands. “Yes.”

“Fuck yes, we are.” I yanked Scarlett’s seat closer until our chairs bumped against each other. “We’ll be going on a lot more of them.”

Tammy’s shoulders lowered, and she turned away with a heavy sigh. “ Finally. ”

“Hey, we wan—”

“I know both of your drink orders.” Tammy waved her hand and didn’t bother looking back. “Give me a break.”

Scarlett and I grinned at each other, and I dropped my arm over her shoulders. Now that we were together, there was no reason to not have her close to me at all times.

“What do you want to eat, sugar?”

“I don’t know. I was thinking about one of those ridiculously unhealthy burgers.” She tapped her chin. “You?”

“I’ll get the same.” I leaned forward and brushed a kiss against her soft lips. “Because you know you make it look damn good.”