“How did I get to be so lucky to have a girlfriend like you?” I asked her when she reached me and slid her arms around my waist.
“You’re Irish.” She grinned up at me. “That’s all the luck you need.”
Amused, I kissed her forehead. “How was work?”
“Not so good.” Her smile faltered. “I thought Helen was gonna discuss the manager position with me, but she gave Lesley the promotion instead.”
I blinked. “But ye’ve been workin’ at her shop for two years; you’re her best worker.”
Noah shrugged. “Lesley’s older than me by ten years and has more experience.”
“That’s bollocks,” I stated. “Ye came up with fifteen new arrangements for Helen since ye started workin’ there. The pieces ye did at that funeral last month were gorgeous, and ye did them by yourself because Lesley was off sick.”
Noah smiled up at me. “You’re my champion.”
“I’m pissed off is what I am.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “Stick it out at the place for a few more years. I’ve saved up a few grand and I’ll save up some more. I’m gonna buy ye your own flower shop one day, one that you’ll run and call the shots in.”
Noah leaned up on her tiptoes and puckered her lips, so I lowered my head the rest of the way and kissed her. She relaxed against me as I deepened our kiss ever so slightly. When I pulled back, I grinned down at her. Her eyes were closed, and she looked happy. That was my Noah – even if she’d had a shitty day, she didn’t dwell on it.
“Are ye ready for your surprise?”
Her eyes popped open. “Yes, sir, I am.”
“Three years already,” I whistled as I took her hand and led her towards the crossing. The light was with us so we crossed the road, and I stood on Noah’s left so she wouldn’t have a full view of Bailey. “Where has the time gone?”
“I know,” Noah chuckled. “I swear it was yesterday when you told me you loved me for the first time.”
“Ah,” I mused. “The very day ye broke up with me before I even asked ye to be me missus, if I remember correctly.”
Noah’s cheeks heated as she playfully shoved me. “Don’t bring it up.”
Smiling, I moved behind her and turned her to face the dance studio.
“Happy anniversary, sasanach.”
There was a prolonged moment of silence that I wasn’t sure was a good or a bad thing.
“We’re going to watch a dance?”
“Nope, we’re takin’ salsa lessons.”
“Salsa lessons?” Noah looked over her shoulder and blinked. “Of all things to do on our anniversary, you picked salsa lessons?”
I felt my smile drop away and my gut churn.
“But . . . but didn’t ye tell Bailey that ye’d love it if we took lessons together but ye never asked because ye figured I’d say no?”
Noah shook her head. “No, never.”
I furrowed my brow in confusion, then widened my eyes to the point of pain.
“Bailey McKenna!”
I spun to face her and found her still sitting on the bench a few metres away, her phone pointed in my and Noah’s direction.
“Bailey’s here?”
“Ye filthy liar!” I shouted at my sister. “Ye stitched me up!”
“Oh,” Noah giggled as she moved to my side. “The little devil!”
My sister laughed so hard she fell off the bench and on to her behind, which concerned me for only a moment because she never stopped laughing. In my mind, I was imagining all of the ways I was going to redden her arse for embarrassing me like this in front of my girl, but when I realised that Noah was laughing, I relaxed for about a second.
“It’s not funny.” I looked at her and frowned. “She lied to me.”
“She took the piss outta you, more like,” Noah snickered as she moved by me and helped a still-laughing Bailey to her feet. “You got him good.”
“I really did, but what’s better is ye both actually have to take the classes . . . he already paid two hundred quid for it. No refunds.”
My sister jumped behind Noah when I made a play to strangle her then and there. It was hard to be mad at her; she had tears rolling down her face from laughing, and the smile it put on Noah’s face made it worth the money, and humiliation. Barely.
“I can’t believe this.” I rubbed my face with my hands. “Two hundred quid for two lessons a week for four weeks.”
“Oh my God.” Noah covered her mouth with her hand. “Four weeks? You’re mental.”
I was beginning to think I was.
“I thought this was what you wanted.”
Noah lowered her hand to her side. “I know. That’s why you’re getting lucky tonight.”
My mood instantly brightened.
“Vomit.” Bailey lowered her phone. “I’m gonna projectile vomit if this conversation continues.”
Noah blushed and nudged my sister. “Trickster.”
“It was a good one though, wasn’t it?” Bailey beamed, certainly pleased with herself. “I didn’t think he’d believe me. I’ve kept a straight face about it for weeks, Nono. Weeks.”
“Witch,” I growled at her.
Unbothered, Bailey bounced towards the entrance of the studio. “Let’s go, ladies! Class starts soon.”
Noah was clearly interested, because she hurried after Bailey while I dragged my feet wishing for the day to be over so I could get my hands on Noah and then go to sleep. I was tired of women and it was only three in the afternoon. The day rapidly went from bad to fucking worse. I couldn’t do the simplest of steps because they weren’t fucking simple at all; it was rocket science in the form of dance and I hated it.
Noah was thoroughly enjoying it, and every time I messed up, Bailey cracked up as she watched from the side of the room. She had recorded so many of my fuck-ups that I warned her I’d break her phone if she didn’t put it
