Page 38 of Knight's Fall

He waited for her to lock the door, then he took her hand loosely in his as if it was the most natural move in the world. His hand dwarfed hers, and she was embarrassed for him to feel how sweaty her palms were. He didn’t seem to care as he guided her to his truck and opened the door for her. Soon, she was buckled into the passenger seat, he was behind the wheel, and they were on their way to Mama Bella’s.

She was curious about all the things he alluded to at the dog park, but she let him guide the conversation. He kept the topics light, and she was fine pretending they were on a traditional date and not one that could decide their future together.

Once they were at the restaurant, she took a moment to appreciate the romantic atmosphere of Mama Bella’s. The maître d’ showed them to a back table away from the other diners. The wooden tables and booths were bathed in a warm glow from elaborate light fixtures dangling from the ceiling. Fresh flowers adorned the center of each table, and greenery added lovely touches to the common areas such as the front seating and the walls surrounding the bar. A waiter approached their table to take their drink order as soon as they were seated. Then they were alone.

“Do you know what you want to eat?” He studied a menu the waiter had placed in front of him.

“Yes. Do you?”

“Honestly, I get the same thing every time I come. I don’t even know why I’m looking at a menu.” He closed the menu and placed it back on the table to emphasize the point.

She chuckled. “Sometimes I mix it up, but I’ve been thinking about their shrimp scampi since you mentioned coming.”

“Funny.” He reached across the table for her hand. “All I can think about is our kiss and how much I want it to happen again.”

Holy pasta, he’s smooth. Her cheeks flushed again. It seemed she would forever be embarrassed around him. “I want that too, but you said you had some things to tell me before we went any further.”

His gaze shuttered. She expected him to pull away, but he continued to hold her hand, his thumb tracing circles on her skin.

Before he could begin, the waiter returned with their drinks and took their orders. She lost her appetite as her nerves twisted her stomach into knots. He seemed to have difficulty choosing his next words, and she squeezed his hand.

“It’s okay. Just be truthful, and we’ll figure it out.”

“You’re too good for me, you know. You’re sweet and kind and beautiful. I’ve seen enough ugly stuff to make me wonder if I’m ugly on the inside. I wonder if I’ll taint the good parts of you just by being around you.”

“I don’t see ugly in you.”

“It’s there. I served as an Air Force pilot. I saw combat, and I had buddies who were killed. And now, this job I have. It’s dangerous, more dangerous than I can tell you. It’s hard to shake off the evil I’ve seen or will see. If we’re together, I don’t see how that won’t touch you too.”

“I don’t understand. You’re a private investigator. Isn’t that what you told me?”

“I work for a private security and investigation firm. But there’s more to what I do than that. I can’t really tell you more, so I hope you’ll trust me on this.”

“I trust you,” she answered without hesitation and knew the words to be true.

“I’ve never told another woman about what I do because it didn’t matter. I knew it would never move past the moment. With you, it’s different, but if we move forward with whatever this is between us, I need you to understand what you're signing up for.”

She nodded, but she didn’t have a chance to respond because the waiter brought their food. Wings released her, and they thanked the waiter for their meal. Wings urged her to dig in, but she wasn’t through talking.

“There’s something about me you should know so you understand what you’re signing up for with me.”

“It doesn’t matter. Whatever it is won’t change my mind.”

She tilted her head as she regarded him. “I’m a luck magnet.”

His fork full of lasagna paused on its journey to his mouth. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

She shrugged. “It can be. I mean I have good luck a lot of times, but for every good thing, there’s usually something bad heading my way. It’s inevitable. I got it from my mom. She always said our luck ran hot and cold. You said you had bad stuff touching you. I do too. I can’t say it’s the same kind of stuff, but if it’s bad, it’s bad. If we focus on that, then we miss out when the good happens. I never want to live my life like that, and I would hate to see you do that.”

“It’s hard not to let the bad overshadow the good.”

She nodded. “I know, but I believe it’s worth it.”

“Is it worth being with someone who’s gone a lot with work and can’t tell you where he goes or what he’s doing?”

His question was not one she expected, and she tried to process the hidden meaning behind his words. She leaned forward and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Are you a spy?”

She could see him biting back a grin. “Would it matter if I was?”

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