He nodded, his hands clasped on top of the table. “Have you been able to check in on the kids?”
I grimaced. “Janelle’s brushing me off. Then again, when I think about it she always has. Even when we were young.”
“I’m sure if you keep trying, you’ll get through.”
“I’m not so sure.” I shook my head. “I feel like I’ve spent my whole life trying.”
“Being the kind of person you are, I’d imagine that’s hard for you,” he deduced.
My brow wrinkled. “What kind of person I am?”
“A caretaker. Nurturing. I’m sure it’s no accident you landed on being a nurse for a living.”
I shrugged, taking a bite of my food. “It’s what I enjoy.”
“Well, then it’s good you’re doing it.” He smiled. “When do you plan on getting back to work?”
“Soon,” I replied. “I’ll be glad to get back, but I worry about another adjustment for Mason. I’ve been able to spend so much time with him. Being back in day care will be yet another change.”
He shrugged. “Kids are adaptable. He’ll be fine. He’s not the one who can’t sleep,” he pointed out.
“True,” I agreed quietly.
We dug into our food as a comfortable silence stretched between us.
“That was delicious.” I sighed in contentment, pushing my plate back.
“Glad you liked it.” He nodded as he threw some bills on the table. “I’ll bring you back anytime you want to come.”
His reference to the future had my heart galloping in my chest.
He looked at me thoughtfully. “You tired?”
“A little,” I admitted. I’d only managed a few hours of sleep the night before. “But I’m not ready for bed yet.”
The truth was, I wanted to spend more time with him.
I didn’t imagine the heat that suddenly smoldered in his eyes. He stood, took my hand, and led me from the romantic restaurant into the night beyond.
Chapter 11
We rode back toward Hawthorne, stopping in front of a bar I’d driven by often but had never been inside.
“Isn’t this one of your bars?” I asked as I unclipped my helmet. The Knights owned several businesses in Hawthorne.
“Not my bar, babe. It’s the club’s,” he answered patiently, taking my hand and leading me inside.
He may have thought of it that way but the stares we received when we walked in made it clear who owned the place.
Every eye in the dimly lit space turned to us. I dipped my head, embarrassed by the attention. Mack, Ettie’s husband, stood slinging drinks behind the bar and offered a chin lift in our direction as we drew closer.
Cal was something of a celebrity in Hawthorne. Everyone knew who he was. There was often chatter about him in the hospital, whether it was the nurses tittering over his good looks or people talking about how intimidating he was. He was frequent fodder for conversation.
With my hand held in his, I felt as though he was making some kind of statement by bringing me here. Was this part of the claiming all the girls talked about? Did I want that?
The fluttering of my heart and clench in my lower belly said I did.
He made some sort of hand signal to Mack and was soon handed two beers. He handed one to me and pulled me toward an occupied table. One look from him and the two men who’d been sitting there got up abruptly to offer their seats.
