I’ve been saying for the last year that I’m considering staying put here in Saxville for a while, but then the next big opportunity always comes rolling in. I’m torn every time I see my sister and niece. It’s as if they want me to be a permanent fixture, but for me, it’s unnerving.What would I do here?Have Pages & Brews at the courthouse every day. Maybe there’s something else I’m supposed to be doing. It hasn’t shown itself yet.
For now, my impulsive personality is in full force, leading me to agree to a date with Kai.
“You know I have been thinking about it.” I finish applying mascara, close it, and place it back on my vanity. The tug on my heart has me taking a deep breath. I have been thinking about it even more since meeting Kai.
My sister stands up. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing with Kai? I hate to see either of you wind up hurt. You haven’t dated in a while, like years.”
I twist in my seat and glance over at her. “Thank you for pointing out the obvious. I’ve had drinks with guys.”
“That doesn’t count.” She gives me a pointed look, a reminder that I don’t make room for guys in my life. “And it leads to nowhere because you keep yourself guarded.”
With my head shaking, I say, “It’s different, he’s different. The only way I can explain it is that he listens when I talk. He doesn’t hide behind a tough-guy persona, and I’m very attracted to him. It’s a date, but who knows where it will end up.”
She steps closer to me and, while holding both my shoulders, she says, “Okay. I hope you have an amazing time.” She laughs and brings me in for a hug. “I love you.”
I hug her tighter. “I love you, too. Thanks for always having my back.” There’s never a doubt in my mind that she has my best interests at heart. I’m here for three more weeks, and it will be amazing if I can spend more time with Kai. It’s like I’m on a seesaw of emotions, and fear is the center.
Pulling back, her eyes silently saying more than she does verbally, “Have fun.”
“I always do.” No matter what, this date will be fun because I’ll be with Kai.
We both descend the stairs, and when I reach the bottom, there he is, standing tall next to Logan. He’s wearing a deep green polo shirt. No surprise there. His black shorts and shoes match his outfit. I wonder if he ever wears a t-shirt.
Our eyes lock, and I stroll right over to both of them with my light blue strapless sundress flowing up against my ankles. To finish the look, I have on strappy silver, sparkling sandals, necklace teardrops at the crest of my cleavage, and earrings to match.
His gaze drags down my body, and when he meets my eyes, it’s like all the air leaves my lungs. If he tries to touch me, I might combust into thin air. “You’re stunning this evening. Am I underdressed for you?”
“I was half expecting you to show up in your suit, so this is an improvement.” I tease and run my fingers along the collar of his polo, fixing it, but it’s an excuse to be close to him, which fills my belly with butterflies. And for a split second, I think he leans in…maybe he does, but stops himself. We still for a few extra seconds. I’m taking in the earthy scent, a mix of rain and earth, of his cologne. With one more inhale before reluctantly moving my hands from his collar, I take a small step backwards.
He chuckles, and my entire body vibrates. When he reaches up to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, the heat rises up my neck. It doesn’t go unnoticed. “I thought for sure you’d poke fun at my extensive collection of polo shirts.” He smooths the front with his hand, and for a split second, I want to be the one touching his chest, his abs. “I have them in over a dozen colors and styles, I’ll have you know.”
My hand slaps the skin on my chest. “You do not.” I half chuckle. This shouldn’t surprise me as much as it does. “Do you?”
He grabs his collar and pulls it up. “Yes, I most certainly do, and if you keep it up, I’m wearing it like this when we’re out.” He dramatically pops his collar again. I tuck my lips into my mouth, trying like hell not to laugh, but it’s futile. I burst out laughing; covering my mouthdoesn’t help. He’s trying so hard not to react, but I see his lips tugging ever so slightly at the corner, ready to let loose his smirk.
“I’m going to let you two do whatever it is you’re doing.” Logan interrupts our moment.
Kai turns to him. “Oh, Logan. I didn’t see you standing there.” He leans over and raises his hand for a high five. Logan reluctantly high-fives him and shakes his head.
“Thanks, man, I’ll have her back home before curfew.” Kai raises his eyebrows at me and places his hand on my back, opens the door, and we walk out to his car.
“Where are we sneaking away to?” I wink at him. “Because I don’t want to be back home before curfew.”
He opens the door, and I slip inside the car. Once in his seat, he stares at me. “I thought we’d have dinner and then we could hit up the beach for an evening walk. You can stay all night if you want.”
My breath stutters, and I sweep my hair off my shoulders, catching his eyes flicker to my neck before he starts the car. With wide eyes and my mouth slightly open, I quip back. “We shall see then, huh?”
The radio fills the silence before the bit of small talk takes over. I shift in my seat, wondering if I should say something more. When he moves his hand to the shifter, I tense up, thinking he’s going for my thigh. Although I wouldn’t mind his hand there, it stays put and never moves my way. The forty-five-minute ride somehow feels both endless and over just as quickly.
His hand lands on the small of my back as we enterThe Boardwalk,a restaurant perched above the boardwalk where the waves crashagainst the shore beneath the horizon. My breath catches thinking about how he put so much thought into this date. I love the crashing waves; they settle something restless inside me.
The hostess sits us on the balcony overlooking the ocean. Kai slides out the chair for me to sit. I whisper into his ear, “Thank you.” I scope out the place, the people, and realize he is closer than I expected.
Instead of sitting across the table, he sits down, right next to me. The warmth of his leg radiates against mine, our knees barely touching. His fingertips graze my thigh, then settle with gentle pressure. When I glance up, his eyes are watching me from beneath those lashes, one eyebrow slightly raised in question. The corner of my mouth twitches upward before I can stop it. I cover his hand with mine, feeling the slight roughness of his knuckles as I drag my chair forward, the metal scraping softly against the floor.
My palm tingles where we touch. I press my fingers into the back of his hand, half to stop the sensation, half wanting more of it.
After we order and our drinks are served, his gaze catches mine over the rim of his glass. The ice cubes clink as he takes a sip, never breaking eye contact. My cheeks warm, and my eyes look away. When I glance back up, the corner of his mouth lifts into a half-smile, and my heart skips a beat.
