“If that’s where you’d rather eat, we can go there. They don’t serve food, but I can think of something for me to eat.” He rakes his gaze over me, and I blush. I can’t help it.
We enter the restaurant, and the hostess recognizes him immediately. She guides us to a more secluded area in the back, where a table is already set with a bottle of wine, two glasses, and menus. He pulls out my seat as the hostess excuses herself. When I sit, he leans down and kisses my neck softly before taking his own seat.
“I have a question,” I say. He nods and then pours us each a glass of wine. “Would you take me to one of your girlfriend’s parties?”
He adamantly shakes his head. “No, never.”
“I’ve heard about them. People share. Would you not like to share me?”
“No, I wouldn’t. I would take you to the wife one, though.”
I grin, his answer pleasing me. “I’m not your wife,” I point out.
“No, I guess you aren’t…yet.”
I pause at the “yet,” and I hold back from commenting, even though I know he’s waiting for me to speak.
When he decides I’m not going to respond, he asks, “Would you like me to order for you?”
“Yes, I’ll eat anything. I’m not fussy.”
He orders each of us a steak and a dessert for after. When the waiter walks away, Soren reaches across the table and takes my hand.
“I’m not going home with you tonight,” I remind him.
“Yes, I know. Maybe tomorrow?” Soren asks, hopeful.
“Maybe,” I reply.
And he smirks.
The food is impressive,but I knew it would be. We have great conversations about various topics, and I’m surprised at how much I like listening to Soren talk. When he speaks to you, he gives you his full attention. It’s special because not many people can talk to someone without their gaze flicking to something else.
He makes me nervous, but it’s a good type of nervous. The kind that makes me wonder where this will actually go now that we’re both open to it.
I’m glad our thoughts on having children are similar. I wouldn’t want to be with someone and deny them a child if that’s what they wanted, because it’s a blessing to have a child, and a lot of people don’t get that opportunity.
As we leave the restaurant, his hand isn’t holding mine for a change. Instead, his arm is wrapped around my waist, and he keeps me close to him.
When we pull up outside my home, he gets out with me and walks me to my door. After I unlock the door, I turn to find him already stepping back, putting distance between us.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“I won’t kiss you or touch you until tomorrow,” he says, and disappointment fills me, even though I am the one who put up that barrier.
“Thank you again for tonight. It was nice to see a new side of you.”
“Anytime.” He winks, and I go inside and shut the door. Leaning against it, I sigh.
Part of me wanted him to come in with me. Actually, no, all of me wanted that. I know we went too hot and heavy to begin with, but I have never felt this way for anyone before, not even Noah. And I married that man and had a baby with him.
Pushing away from the door, I hear a noise coming from the other side. Taking off my high heel, I raise it above my head, ready to use it as a weapon if necessary, just as the door opens. And standing there is Soren, with the key he stole from me.
“Do you plan to stab me with that?” he asks, a hint of amusement in his tone.
“Depends.”
We stare at each other for a beat, then I drop the shoe and launch myself at him. He catches me and somehow kicks the door shut behind him as my legs wrap around his waist. Our lips smash together in a frantic kiss. His hands slide under my dress until they reach my ass.
