“Any good?”
“I’ve read worse, but it wasn’t really my thing.I like mysteries and thrillers.Well, I likereadingabout them.Not living them.”
One side of his mouth kicked up.“I get that.”
“You do anything exciting?”
“Took Carly to a movie.”
“Just a movie?No shopping?”she said in surprise.
“There might have been a little shopping before.”
“Called it.”She took a sip of her wine.“I love how you spoil her.And I don’t mean buying her things.Spending time together, just the two of you, is priceless.Even if she doesn’t fully appreciate that yet.”
“I like spending time with her.She’s great company, and I love her to death.”
Her traitorous ovaries cramped.But damn, he really would be such an amazing dad.The kind who stayed even when things got tough.The kind who would love and support his child for life.
Disliking the direction her thoughts were taking, she was saved from having to think up something else to say when the server arrived with their food.She wolfed down her burger embarrassingly fast, then polished off the fries.
“I’m not usually a fry fan,” she said, pushing her empty plate away.“But the fries here are ridiculous.I dunno what they put in them, but they’re addictive.”They used Yukon gold potatoes, double-cooked them so they were brown and crispy with the perfect interior texture.And the house-made ketchup had a tangy punch without the sickly sweetness of the storebought stuff that just put them over the top.
“Here.Have some of mine if you want.”He slid his plate toward her.
“No, I’ve had more than enough.”
“I insist.Eat.”
Her food probably hadn’t hit bottom yet, so her brain didn’t realize her stomach was full.She took a fry from his plate and ate it.It was just as delicious as all the others.
She ate a few more, watching as Tristan finished his sandwich and wiped his hands on his napkin.It almost hurt to look at him.He was gorgeous and hot as hell in that dark green henley that hugged every muscular contour of his shoulders and chest.And he’d dropped everything to show up at her door after finding out what had happened earlier.
He was making it so damned hard to keep him at a safe distance.
“Want something else to drink?And maybe dessert?”he asked.
She’d likehimfor dessert.Stretched out on her bed, naked, for her to explore at her leisure.
“No, I’m too full.”
“We can wait a while.Unless you’re in a rush to get home?”
Home to her empty house that was usually her refuge, but she was trapped by his magnetism and didn’t want to escape.He was the flame, and she was the moth.“No, I’m okay.”
“Feel like a walk on the beach then?Or we could drive up to the lighthouse and sit there for a while.Settle your thoughts.”
He knew she was dreading going home.Was making it impossible for her to turn him down.Because she didn’t want to.God, she wished she was in a better place emotionally, and that they didn’t work together.“I wouldn’t mind sitting up there for a while.”And maybe brainstorming a bit about what might be going on.
“Okay, let’s go.”He flagged the server down, waved away her protest at paying for her own meal.“You can get the next one.”
They walked out to his truck together.She even liked being the passenger while he drove, something that almost never happened.And the truck held the faint scent of his cologne.She felt completely safe with him beside her.Wasn’t once tempted to check her mirror to ensure no one was following them.
He drove them along Front Street and up the hill to the north end of town, then headed left on the winding road to the lookout point.The red and white lighthouse stood at the edge of the cliff, its brilliant beam of light skimming over the restless waves below.
As soon as she stepped out of the truck, the wind whipped over her, forced up the steep cliff.Tristan appeared beside her.
“Here, put these on.”He handed her a waterproof jacket and a knit cap.
