Page 57 of Stolen Kisses

“You’re welcome. I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to spoil you since our time without kids is limited.” He pours water into my glass and his before setting the bottle back on the table. We spend a couple of minutes looking over the menu. A waiter takes our order, then leaves us alone. The warm breeze from the ocean caresses my skin and blows my hair. Theo leans forward, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear, his knuckles gliding down the side of my neck to my collar bone.

“How was your shopping excursion with your sister?”

I can’t nor do I want to hold back my smile as I remember my sister peppering me for information about Theo. “It was great. We don’t get a lot of opportunities to hang out like that, so it was nice.”

“I’m happy to hear you had a good time together.” He gets a wistful look on his face, his eyes going slightly dull and I get the feeling he’s thinking about his own sister.

The waiter returns, filling our glasses with wineand we both take a sip of the fruity beverage.

“What was your sister like?” I ask quietly, hoping I haven’t crossed a line. He doesn’t really talk about her much, but he must have some good memories of her.

His eyes slowly make their way up to mine, returning to the bright blue that I love. “She was a lot like Kenny. Bubbly, friendly, always happy.” His lips leisurely tip up in a smile. “I was telling Kenny the other week about how scared she was of worms.” He goes on to tell me about the prank he pulled on her when they were young and I can’t help the giggle that bubbles up. I can just imagine a young Theo diligently collecting worms to use in his despicable plan to terrify his sister. “She always loved to help out in the kitchen. When we were small, she was always keen to help Dad cook. Then as she grew bigger, she would help out in the restaurant. After high school, she went on to college to learn everything she could to help Dad in the restaurant. It was always going to be her thing.” He takes a sip of his wine. “She loved feeding people. She loved that good food brought people together.”

Reaching across, I take his hand in mine to squeeze it in comfort. I haven’t asked how she died and he hasn’t been forthcoming in telling me, so I leave it be. I imagine it’s a difficult topic for him. “Do you mind if I ask a personal question, which is absolutely none of my business?”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

I take a sip of wine just as the waiter brings our meals out. Both dishes look and smell divine. We’re both quiet for a moment as we begin our meal.A rack of lambfor Theo along with puréed potatoes, char-grilled peaches, and a red wine jus. My grilled halloumi,chicken, and pear salad is a taste sensation with a pomegranate and honey dressing, and candied hazelnuts.

Theo swallows a bite of food. “What were you going to ask?”

I chew slowly, formulating the question in my head. “I was going to ask about Kenny’s father. Why he’s not involved in her life?” I rush to add. “But if it’s too personal, I completely understand.”

Wiping his mouth slowly, he places the napkin neatly next to his plate. “That’s okay. It’s a reasonable question given the situation.Anna felt she was running out of time to meet and fall in love with someone, but she desperately wanted to have a baby of her own.” I nod. I can understand that feeling. “She actually, uh, she went through an agency and used donated sperm to fall pregnant. We don’t know who Kenny’s dad is. The agency assures their sperm donors the utmost discretion, so the women can never find out who they are.”

My eyebrows must almost hit my hairline. “Wow. Good for her. Knowing what she wanted and going after it the way she did. I’m so impressed.”

He nods. “She was determined to become a mom. By all accounts, she was a great mom, too.” He sucks in a sharp breath. I need to direct the conversation to happier things.

“Do you remember the day we first met?”

His eyes widen at my change in topic. “Yeah. I do.” He nods slowly. “I thought I’d lost my niece after only six hours of having her in my care.”

I laugh. “We heard you running down the side of your house looking for her. The little character that she is wanted to hide from you in mybackyardso you wouldn’t find her.”

His eyes widen comically. “She what?”

I can’t stop the laugh that’s bubbling up, so I don’t even try. He shakes his head, a smile forming on his kissable lips. Pointing to the side of his head, he says, “See these?” I spot a couple of gray hairs at his temple, making me laugh harder. “I didn’t have any of those until I started looking after my niece.” He looks quite affronted at this recent development.

“Well, I think they make you look even sexier than you already do.” I snap my mouth shut, realizing what I’ve said. I mean, I’m sure he knows he’s sexy, he doesn’t need to hear it from me.

One eyebrow rises as a ghost of a smile touches his lips. “You think I’m sexy?”

I wave away his question. “You know you are. You don’t need me to tell you.”

“It’s always nice to hear it coming from your partner.”Partner?Is that what we are?

“How about I show you how sexy I think you are later?” I wipe my sweaty palms on my dress. I don’t even know who I am right now. This woman that offers such a thing to a man she doesn’t know all that well is not me.

Theo moves forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the table, deleting the space between us. Excitement glistens in his eyes as he licks his lips. “Yeah?”

May as well go with this new me, so I lean forward, licking my tongue across the seam of his lips. Locking eyes, I whisper, “Yeah.”

As quick as a flash, he pushes his chair back. Standing, he offers me his hand and I can’t miss the unmistakable bulge at the front of his jeans. I stand and follow him to the cashier, where he pays quickly. Then he’s on the move again. I almost have to run to keep up with him.

Giggling, Iquestion, “Slow down. What’s the hurry?”

He stops dead in his tracks; so fast that I almost run into the back of him. His hand goes to the back of my head, his body crashing into mine as his mouth slams down onto my lips. Nipping my bottom lip gently, he encourages me to open to him, which I eagerly do. I don’t think there’ll come a time where I won’t want to kisshim. His kisses embolden me, empowering me to embrace my sexuality, my desires, my needs. He makes me feel sexy in this body of mine. Our kiss is hot, passionate, and all-consuming. I don’t remember ever feeling so wanted.

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