Page 31 of Nailing Studs

They took me to a Peruvian-Japanese restaurant serving fusion cuisine, and I couldn’t have had a better time. It was more like three friends out for a night of fun than a date between us, though occasionally, either Dom or Taylor would toss flirty comments my way. I’d volley them back, especially after my second glass of wine. At one point, Taylor touched my knee when he asked what I thought about some renovation they wanted to do to the sun room, but I almost couldn’t focus on the conversation because of how surreal it all felt. I only knew his hand felt solid, real, and safe on my knee.

I wanted it there. I wanted it everywhere.

I felt like the center of attention, and it seemed like everyone in the restaurant knew it, too.

“So, Kayla.” Dom turned his eyes on me and I marveled how they could be so dark and yet so soft and warm at the same time. “Have you had any luck with the job hunt?”

I told them about how difficult it had been to find something that interested me, which led to me talking about what always held my interest—baking. “You already know how much I love baking, though,” I laughed. “I’m more than a little obsessed with it. At least you guys seem to appreciate it.”

Taylor nodded. “Right. You said your ex didn’t appreciate it. Can you believe that?” He looked at Dom.

Dom scowled. “Your ex sounds like an asshole.”

I laughed. “Well, he cheated on me, so I’m not going to disagree. Plus…”

“Plus what?” Taylor asked.

“My ex, Grant, would make me feel guilty for eating what I baked. He had an image of me that rounded curves on my hips didn’t fit. So I stopped baking for a while. Stopped doing what I loved. Stopped being me.”

“Kayla, first of all, you’re beautiful and sexy as you are. And second, screw that guy.” Dom’s voice was harsh and full of protection. “You should always be yourself.”

“I don’t know if I’ve ever really known who I was,” I said, surprised that I was being so open and honest with two guys I still barely knew, despite how close I felt to them. These were admissions I’d never shared with anyone. “I feel like I’ve always been trying to figure out where I fit in and I’ve been pretending to be whoever I needed to be to fit in there.”

They both listened like my words were the only sound in the entire restaurant, like they needed to catch every syllable just to survive.

“And well, I’m starting to think I’ve had it backward. I need to figure out who I am, who I want to be, and then finding where I belong will all fall into place.”

Tentatively, I reached out, placing one of my hands on Dom’s and one on Taylor’s. “The thing is…I’ve only known you a few days, but you’re helping me figure out who I am. Who I want to be. And I can’t thank you enough for that.”

In perfect synch, they each turned their hands to entwine their fingers with mine.

“You’re finding out who you are all on your own, Kayla,” Taylor said.

“Right. We just get the honor of witnessing it. And it’s a damn beautiful sight,” Dom said.

* * *

After a great meal and several glasses of wine, we walked outside. I enjoyed the evening breeze and the happy full feeling in my tummy after a delicious meal. We slowly made our way to the parking lot, and when Taylor hung back a moment to check something on his phone, Dom suddenly pulled me in for a hug. Having his warm, scrumptious body pressed against mine felt so good, I almost swooned.

My arms wrapped around him, and I enjoyed the embrace.

“You know back in the restaurant,” he whispered, “that moment when you were talking about finding yourself, finding what you want for yourself?”

I shifted my head so I could see his dark eyes that gazed down at me softly. “Yes?”

“I think you’re very brave,” he continued, and I sensed him growing embarrassed at his vulnerability. “And, well, I think I haven’t been that brave in a long time.”

I started to protest, but he shook his head.

“No, no, it’s true,” he insisted. “But you make me want to be.”

We stared into each other’s eyes and I knew he could see me. I wondered if someday he would let me see him, the real Dom.

Kissing my cheek lightly, he said, “I’m gonna take off.”

“You are?” I asked, surprised that he’d be leaving so abruptly after our intimate moment together.

“Yeah. Been a long day. Taylor will take you home.” He pulled back, and for a second I thought he would kiss me, but instead he wrapped his hands around my face. “I had a great time, Kayla. Thank you for letting us take you out.”

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