“Gentleman, huh?” I poked at him a little.
“Saving your life last night didn’t clue you in?”
I grinned, shaking my head. “Right, that naturally heroic thing you do
so well.”
“Heroic—I like the sound of that.”
When we got to my car, he opened the door and let me get in. Once I
was settled, he leaned in close. And he smelled amazing. As if my body
couldn’t help itself, I leaned discreetly in and inhaled, hoping he didn’t
notice. The sly grin plastered on his face told me that he probably had. “It’s just soap, Daphne. I’ll have to make a mental note to buy more.”
He winked, and a glance in the mirror showed me that my face had blushed
to the shade of a ripened red tomato.“See you at Reggio’s—let’s say
twenty-five minutes?” he asked.
I just nodded, too mortified to say anything.
“This place is as good as it was when I was a kid. Reggio is a maestro.” Arkin patted his flat stomach.
“You came here as a child? Me too.” I couldn’t help wondering if the two of us could have crossed paths back then.
“Sure did. My siblings and I would eat until our stomachs ached,” he said with a smile, but this time there was no twinkle in his eyes, only sadness lurking there.
“Not fond memories?” I asked, sipping my coffee and thenregretting my words as they sank in. It wasn’t my place to pry into his past. Who knew what kind of childhood he’d had. I knew better than anyone that not all parents were loving. Not all childhood memories were worth saving.
“I just miss my sister.” His eyes trained out the window, he seemed to be lost in memories. I knew that look too well. I’d been spending my entire adult life trying to escape my past.
“I can’t believe you ate three servings. Where do you put it all?” I tried to change the mood, offering him an escape from the dark or lonely place his mind had wandered off to.
“I’m a growing boy. What can I say?” He moved his gaze from the window to me.
“I’m impressed and disgusted.”
He smiled at me, and once again I saw the light come back.
“So, can we now call this a date?” He leaned in, whispering to me across the table, “Cause I really want to do it again, but next time I’d like to pick you up and pay like my momma taught me.”
I found myself giggling at that way he had of lightening a mood instantly.
“Yes, I think I would like that.”
C H A P T E R F I V E
Arkin
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d wonder if I had a stalker.” An easy grin tipped her lips when she spotted me headed for her across the coffee shop.
Barely 7:55 on Thursday, and there I was, freshly showered with an armful of fresh-picked peach roses, all for her.
“If I were stalking you, you’d know it.” I passed her the blooms over the counter.
