She nodded. “But then…”
“But then I was wearing the wrong shirt.” His face went soft, as it did any time he was thinking about his daughter. “And Becca caught on to the fact I was a bit flustered.”
Kerry laughed, then covered her mouth. “Sorry,” she mumbled from behind her fingers. “That’s cute.” She threw him a bone. “I changed twice.”
“Yeah, but you have more dating experience than me.”
“When was the last time you went on a date?”
He didn’t answer her.
“Owen?”
He was a big beast of a man, and the way his nose flared only made the image that much more complete. And right now the beast was at a loss for words.
The way he was overprotective of Becca, it made her wonder… “Have you ever dated?”
He laughed. “That’s a complicated answer.”
“It usually isn’t.” But Kerry could see how it would be for Owen, Mr. Conflicted, who shook when he wanted to kiss her.
There was nothing conflicted about the way he glanced sideways at her, though. He gave her a warm, confident smile. “Now we have something to talk about over dinner.”
He’d picked a steakhouse with a view of the Tobermory harbour, at the northern tip of the peninsula. They weren’t the only customers in the restaurant, but it wasn’t busy, and they were seated well away from anyone else, in a booth in the corner.
“What do you like here?” Kerry asked as she perused the menu.
“I don’t know. I’ve never been here before.” He gave her another of those bashful but confident smiles that felt warm and deep and very addictive. “I guess that’s me bringing up the lack of dating thing again.”
Tell me more. Tell me everything.“So…” She wanted to ask what was different about her, or now. But there was something fragile about Owen that she wanted to protect. So she tip-toed softly. “You said it was complicated.”
“Yeah.” He played with his water glass, frowning in a thinking way. “There was a period in my life when I was young and stupid, and I couldn’t connect what felt like a good time in the moment and what still felt like a good time the next day. That was while I was away at school, and only home every other weekend with Becca. It was a dark period in my life for a lot of reasons. My…” He swallowed hard. “My dad died while I was gone. My mom died soon after I got back. I had time to make up for with Becca, and four younger brothers to take care of, too. It was a lot, and even after my brothers left the house…”
Kerry tried to do the math. “Adam’s ten years younger than you?”
“Yeah. So he left home just as Becca hit pre-puberty, and…” He laughed. “I love her so much, but that was a roller coaster. And then Rachel had more kids, and Becca didn’t want to spend more than a few nights a month there—she goes there a lot for dinner,” he hastened to add.
“It’s okay. I understand complicated family dynamics. My parents are divorced and re-married, both of them, and they both had more kids. I went back and forth.”
“Siblings on both sides, eh?”
“They’re all much younger than me.”
“Are you close?” Owen was watching her attentively, and Kerry hesitated. “Sorry, I don’t mean to pry.”
“It’s not prying,” she said softly. “It’s complicated, as you say. I don’t have much in common with them. Or my parents, for that matter. I think my situation is different than Becca’s.”
The waiter arrived and Owen ordered a steak with a side of grilled vegetables. Kerry followed suit. When he asked about drinks, Owen deferred to Kerry. “Would you like wine?”
She shook her head. She wanted to be clear-headed and sober when she invited him in at the end of the night. “I’m good with water tonight.”
"Sounds good,” the waiter said, picking up their menus. “Can I tempt you with some flatbread and dip to start?”
“Oh…” Kerry said at the same time as Owen nodded. They both chuckled.
“Yes, please,” she said. And once they were alone again, she shifted a little closer to Owen. “I’m having fun.”
“Me, too.” He paused, then leaned in all the way and brushed a soft kiss across her lips. “What else do you want to know about me?”
