He stands up straighter as I approach, his gaze scanning me, but not in a way that makes me feel exposed. He’s trying to understand who I am without saying it out loud. Like he’s trying to figure out how far this evening is going to go and what that means for the future.
I don’t have the luxury of dreaming about the future, though.
I can’t help but shift under his gaze, the heat rising in my cheeks. But there’s something about him that calms the storm inside me just a little, even though it still rages.
“You look amazing,” Ford says as those intense eyes of his find mine once more.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I say, a little too quickly, and I can’t help but feel awkward.
Ford chuckles, the sound warm and genuine, a sound that’s meant to make me feel at ease. “Ready to head to the diner?”
I nod, forcing myself to take a step forward. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
There’s a moment where he offers me his hand to help me up into his truck, and the electricity that sizzles up to my elbow makes the hair on my forearms stand on end.
He climbs in behind the wheel, all cool and calm and collected, and the roar of the engine only serves to enhance the masculinity of the Alpha I’m sitting next to. He drives with one hand on the wheel and the other hand in his lap. I glance over every once in a while, seeing his fingers twitch. Like he’s holding himself back from reaching out toward me.
Why do I want him to reach toward me?
Eventually, we park in one of the parallel parking spaces about a block and a half down from the only restaurant on the street: the diner. He comes around and opens the truck door for me, holding out that callused, massive hand of his.
I curse the electric shock that buries itself into my skin as I take it.
“Thanks,” I say as I drop down to my feet.
“No problem.”
We walk side by side toward the diner, and as we do, the tension in my chest starts to loosen just a little. It’s not gone, but it’s manageable. Still, I can feel the magnetic tug, the quiet ache in my limbs, a sudden desire to close the space between us flares within me once more. My fingers twitch at my sides, instinctively wanting to reach out and touch him, to feel the warmth of his skin beneath my hand.
I don’t know what’s going on with me. I don’t know if I’m even ready for this. But there’s something about Ford, about his calm presence and the way he looks at me.
Like he sees therealme.
When we get to the diner, Ford holds the door open for me with a little grin. “Ladies first.”
I roll my eyes playfully but walk through, the warmth from the establishment wrapping around me in a hug. It’s the kind of small-town place where the neon signs buzz in the corner while the jukebox plays soft tunes in the background and the smell of grilled food is always in the air. It feels comforting in a way I wasn’t expecting.
Comforting.
Like Beck.
I shake my head. The fuck am I doing, thinking about another goddamn Alpha while I’m out on a date?
The hell?
We slide into the booth, and I try to shake off the nerves that cling to my skin. Ford’s easy presence helps, though. He’s not pushing for anything, not rushing. It’s as if we’ve done this a hundred times before.
“So,” he begins, picking up the menu with a smirk, “what’s your go-to diner order? What’s the Lo Marsh special?”
I roll my eyes, leaning back into the booth with a small laugh. “Well, if you want the real Lo Marsh special, it’s the chocolate cream pie and coffee with a side of angst.”
Ford laughs, a warm, genuine sound that fills the space between us. Like the crackling of a fire on Christmas Eve. “Angst? Didn’t know you could sustain yourself on something like that.”
I shrug. “It’s my signature dish. Tansy says I have a ‘dark side’ when I’m hungry.”
His eyes glint with amusement, and there’s a little challenge in his tone when he replies, “I think I can handle your dark side.”
I shift in my seat, my chest tightening in a way I can’t ignore. My pulse picks up just a little faster. I’m trying my best to keep things light, but it’s hard. Ford’s smile, the way his eyes flicker to mine, feels… easy. Even as I sense his Alpha flaring.
