Page 11 of Until Kendal
The second she left, I called a local store and sent clothes for both Kendal and Valerie. I also set up a full spa treatment in Nashville for Valerie to enjoy while I took her daughter out tomorrow.
My heart lifted as I thought about when I would see Kendal again. Her dark-brown eyes haunted me, even in my sleep. To be honest, she was the sexiest woman I’d ever met. She had a wow factor like the A-List stars who had propositioned me. She outshone them all. My heart had never once been on the line with any woman, until Kendal crashed into my life.
As I finished setting up details of our date, part of me wondered if maybe I needed to walk away. Something painful stirred in my soul when I was near her. I wanted to help ease her life, but soon, I would head back to the norms demanded of my inheritance of trillions and my business. If I had my way, she would come with me.
However, as I left the room and knocked on her door, I wished I’d brought flowers too. I’d opted not to as the clothes was one gift, and too many gifts at once might have scared her away.
I almost backed away as I waited. Then she opened the door, wearing her blue dress with sparkles. Everyone would see I had the sexiest woman on my arm.
Her mother waved at me then closed the door to leave us alone. I glanced down, and her full lips were pressed together, her eyes conveying more of that unsaid pain.
I asked, “Was this one of the ones I sent over?”
She curved her mouth higher and nodded. “My mom and I had so much fun. Thank you.”
Tonight, I wanted to make her laugh. I offered my arm. “Are you ready to head downstairs?”
She glanced at my hotel room door. “That’s what you want?”
I ached to kiss her and claim her as mine. It would be gentle and sweet with her, not demanding and fast. So I needed to earn her trust and not rush what my gut said was the best. “I promised dinner. Let’s go.”
She blinked then pointed with her hand on her hip. “I was offering… We could go to your room.”
If I took her up on her offer, I would be a jerk. I would wait for feelings to be here for her too. I stayed still. “I’d prefer to show you what life might be like and get to know you first.”
She took my arm. “Lead the way.”
Soon, we would be physical. It was a fact, but I wanted her heart too.
ChapterSeven
Kendal
The modern French restaurant, the Five Senses, was always off my radar. It was pricey, designed for date nights and celebrations. Its dark tables and chairs were made for people who had more than me.
However, as we sat and ordered drinks, I realized people our age were here. I gazed at people in love or looking for love. A few women glanced at Joel, and I clutched his arm. For tonight, he was mine and mine alone. We headed to the table, and I lifted my chin. He hadn't looked at anyone but me. For a first date, Joel clearly wanted to impress.
Once we sat, I let out a breath, and we glanced at our menus. I decided to try something new and ignore the people around us. Blackened red fish wasn’t something I could grill.
Folding my menu, I glanced across the small table. “So what about you? What do you want?”
“I think you mean more than the burger-and-fries option.”
His legs brushed mine underneath the table, and his warmness sent a thrill through me. I let out a giggle. I half pictured him cutting his burger into pieces and eating with his fork. “I have a hard time imagining you eating with your hands.”
“I’m not proper.”
The waitress gave us our wine, took our order, and left. Joel’s eyes shone like he saw only me in the crowd. He folded his hands on the table and said, “I grew up in a trailer in Kentucky until my birth father gave me up. I probably lived a life worse than yours.”
I laughed, and everyone else faded out of my view. Despite that story, I bet he hadn’t slept with one eye open frozen in fear. He was still a guy, and he now had a twenty-four-karat bathroom if he chose to. I held out my wine to clink with his as I said, “Then you were blessed.”
He toasted with me, but my skin had goose bumps.
“That’s an understatement, but I try to give back. Arman and I set up a foster home for teenage boys. Most of the kids there will never go to college or achieve academically, but they can be productive members of society.”
Life sounded like a fairy tale near him, and for one second, I indulged. With him, I would never have to lift a finger if he married me. I shook off the dream, put down my glass, and narrowed my gaze. “What about teenage girls?”
He pressed his hand on his heart. “I have less experience being a girl, to be honest.”
