Am I putting too much pressure on a first date? Maybe. But I wouldn’t even be here if I didn’t think this could turn into something.
Pulling into the parking lot, I turn off the car and take a steadying breath. It does nothing to settle my nerves when I see Derek sitting on a small picnic table on the patio.
He looks as sexy as ever in a short-sleeved, coral button-up, gray shorts, and his hair styled expertly.
In a word? Drool-worthy.
It’s the perfect night as I approach the small beachside restaurant. Red and white umbrellas cover the picnic tables.
“Sutton, wow.” Derek stands, dropping a kiss on my cheek like the gentleman he is, when I get to the table. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks. You look pretty good yourself.”
I drop down onto the picnic bench, as Derek hands me a small paper menu. Noise from the beach filters up here. The restaurant isn’t crowded for a Thursday night—one of the only times both of us had off.
“Food is great here. I recommend the fish tacos. You can’t go wrong with them.”
I tuck the paper menu into the holder and rest my elbows on the table. “Fish tacos it is then.”
“Beer?”
“Yes.”
Derek winks at me before going up to place our order.
I feel like a lovesick teenager watching him walk away. This is only the fourth time I’ve seen him. I shouldn’t be acting like this.
I have a daughter to think about.
But when Derek walks back, two beers in hand, it’s hard not to get swept away in him. In the gorgeous man that is smiling at me as he sits on the bench seat next to me.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers.” I clink my glass against his and take a cooling sip. “Who’s watching Troy tonight?”
“My parents. They love having him. Maybe as much as he loves being with them.”
“That’s nice. I’m sure my mom gets tired of watching Lydia for me.”
“You know,”—Derek scoots closer to me—“as much as I love Troy, I don’t want to talk about him tonight. I want to talk about you.”
A blush creeps up my cheeks. “Sorry.”
Derek drops his hand over mine, linking our fingers together. “Don’t be. I know it’s hard to not talk about them.”
“God, am I totally ruining this?”
Derek shifts closer to me. “I don’t think you could.”
“Stop it.”
“I’m serious. I don’t think I’ve met a nicer person than you. You were able to keep Troy calm?—”
“I thought we weren’t going to talk about the kids?” I interrupt with a smile.
He answers back with a grin. “Touché.”
“Okay, so tell me about football. I’m not a big fan.”
