Taming the Storm

“Right…” I graze my teeth over my bottom lip. “So, you won’t mind if I do some window-shopping then?” I cast a glance around. “Because I’m seeing some seriously hot British men here that I could spend hours window-shopping over.”

“Okay. Enough.” He takes hold of my chin, turning my head back to his. “Let’s not get carried away here. Rules have changed. As of now, we only window-shop each other. Deal?”

“Dealio.” I smirk, knowing I won that round.

He leans in and presses another soft kiss to my lips.

“Ugh, can’t you leave the poor girl alone, Tom Cat?” I turn to see Stuart pulling up a chair beside me.

“Jealous?” Tom smirks at him.

“You wish,” Stuart bites.

“What?” Tom cups his ear. “You’re saying, you wish you could have my meat? Sorry, dude, but I’m off the market now, and sausage never was my thing anyway.”

“Yeah, how did that happen exactly? And I don’t mean the meat, but you off the market?” Stuart looks at me. “Seriously, I need to hear this story. How did a great girl like you end up with our Tom ‘Cat’ ‘Rub the Lamp’ Carter?” He gives me a look of total bewilderment.

“Stuart’s just jealous ’cause he never got to rub the lamp,” Tom says, putting his arm back around my chair.

“You’ve seen the tattoo, right?” Stuart asks me. He winks, letting me know he’s teasing Tom.

“I’ve seen the tattoo.” I nod before sipping my wine.

“And you still want him?”

I cast a glance at Tom and then look back to Stuart. “Yeah, I do.” I smile.

“And that’s because my girl is the smartest girl in the world.” Tom’s arm comes around my neck, pulling me close, and then he presses his lips to my temple.

I love it when he calls me my girl’.

“Oh God, now, he’s doing random acts of PDA. I feel vomit rising. Seriously, Tom, if you get down on one knee, I’m outta here.”

“Um, no proposing today. I’ve got Tom down for being with Lyla for a year before he pulls out the ring. Tom proposes to Lyla within the year, and I’m down five thousand bucks.”

My head whips around to Denny.

“Jake and I made a bet,” Denny tells me at my questioning stare.

Um…what the hell?

“Yeah, I bet up to a year…but now, I’m thinking six months max, and Tom Cat will be getting down on one knee.” I hear Jake’s voice, and look up to see him and Tru standing at our table.

They look ridiculously beautiful together. Perfect.

“Why aren’t I in on this bet?” Stuart asks Jake.

“You want in?” Den asks.

“You know I do.” Stuart laughs.

“Yeah, count me in,” Smith says.

“Seriously, what the fuck? What is it with people betting on me recently?” Tom exclaims.

He gives me a look, reminding me of the bet I made with Sonny. The bet I made as an excuse because I was jealous over seeing Tom with another woman.

It takes me a minute to realize that Tom’s not freaking out over the mention of marriage with me. It’s surprising, but nice to know that marriage could be a possibility down the line for us.

Way, way off in the future.

“Tru, you remember Lyla?” Jake says, gesturing to me.

“Of course I do.” She smiles. She moves around the table and walks with an effortless grace, considering she’s in heels on grass. She leans down and kisses my cheek. “Thanks so much for coming out to our wedding.”

“Thanks for having me here.” I smile. “It was a beautiful service.”

“All on Jake. I can’t take any credit for it.” She gazes at him lovingly.

Tom’s arm comes around my shoulder while he continues to talk to the guys.

I see Tru’s eyes follow his movement. Then, she looks at Tom. Catching his eye, she gives him a playful grin.

“Not a fucking word, Bennett.” He points at her.

Still smiling, she corrects him, “Wethers now.”

“Damn fucking right you’re a Wethers,” Jake says, pulling up two chairs for them.

He lets her sit first. She sits by Simone, and Jake sits next to her.

“And I wasn’t going to say a word,” Tru continues to Tom. “I was just going to say that it’s good to see you happy.”

“Should I be worried that she’s not giving me shit?” Tom asks Jake.

“Nah.” He puts his arm around Tru, bringing her close to his side. “She’s feeling sentimental today. Right, baby?”

“Right.” She smiles up into his face.

I can see the love between them, like it’s a living, breathing thing.

It’s wonderful to see.

Tru looks over at Tom, a smile edging her lips. “Give me until tomorrow, Tom, and we’ll be back to our bickering selves.”

“Thank fuck for that.” Tom laughs, running a hand through his hair. “You were starting to scare me for a moment there. But as we’re being nice today, I want to say that you look really beautiful, Tru.”

“Thank you, Tom.”

“Okay, enough!” Stuart’s hand goes up. “Tom, you’re freaking me the fuck out. Acts of PDA, telling Tru she looks beautiful? Seriously I’m not used to all this niceness. It’s too much, too soon. Can someone just hurl some abuse at me or Tom just so I can feel normal again?”