“You mean the sperm donor?” When Trevor’s brows rose in reaction, Lexi quickly tried to recover. “Sorry. Filter malfunction.”
Trevor’s shoulders shook with a laugh. “No need to filter yourself around me. I like a woman who says what she’s thinking.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “I never understood why some people feel the need to talk or act differently than how they actually feel.”
“Right? I’m a ‘what you see is what you get’ kinda gal. Take it or leave it, I always say.”
“I’ll take it.” Heat flared behind his dark brown eyes.
Staring up at him, Lexi nervously bit her lip. When his gaze found her mouth, he started to lean inward.
He’s going to kiss you.
More than ready to feel his lips against hers, Lexi was about to throw caution to the wind and take charge when a loud pop came from the stove, right before she felt the burn on her arm.
“Ouch.” She quickly rubbed the spot where the hot oil had landed.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, the oil just got too hot.” Turning the burner down a bit, Lexi used a wooden spatula to stir the meat. With a smirk, she looked at him and said, “Occupational hazard.”
Trevor’s entire face lit up when he laughed. “Touché.”
****
Thirty minutes later, Trevor was nearly finished with the delicious meal Lexi had prepared. Not wanting passersby to think the diner was still open, they’d chosen to eat in the kitchen.
He’d offered Lexi the bar stool, but she’d declined, instead hopping up on the stainless steel countertop and holding her bowl as she ate.
God, she was adorable.
In typical, first-date fashion, they’d gotten to know each other a little more over dinner. He’d learned Lexi and her mom had moved from Missouri to Texas when she was a little girl. Her mom had been a teacher and had gotten a job at one of the smaller schools here.
Lexi’s dad—aka the ‘sperm donor’—had left her mom when he found out she was pregnant. Her mom never married and had no other children, so it had always just been the two of them, which made it even harder when Lexi lost her.
Imagining Lexi as a little girl growing up without a father pissed him off. Knowing she had no one to turn to during that difficult time, except for Joe and the people who worked here, made it even worse.
Trevor didn’t have kids yet, but he couldn’t imagine ever abandoning one. Planned or unplanned.
Trevor shared a little about himself and his time in the military. Then, without giving any specific details or breaking client confidentiality, he explained the basics of R.I.S.C. and what he and the rest of Alpha Team did.
He figured it was best to lay it all out there from the start. That way, if his job was a deal-breaker, they’d both know from the get-go and be able to part ways as friends before any real feelings got involved.
Yeah, it’s a bit too late for that, buddy.
Thankfully, Lexi seemed more intrigued than turned off by his chosen career. Of course, she looked concerned when he spoke of some of the dangers involved with going after a high-value target and such, but thankfully, her only response was to make him promise to do everything he could to stay safe.
An image flashed before him.
Trevor saw himself walking into the diner after being away on an op. Lexi would be standing at one of the booths taking someone’s order, her hair in the same, messy bun it was in now. She’d turn her head and smile as she ran toward him.
Lexi would jump into his arms, press her lips to his, and they’d...
“You okay?”
Trevor’s head snapped up. Realizing he’d gotten lost in the fantasy, he cleared his throat with a quick nod. “I’m good. And that was delicious, Lexi. Thank you.”
