Page 12 of Romance Reset
Amelia’s cheeks filled with color and she smiled at him. Lincoln found himself caught, snared by the look of her, sitting there across from him like nothing bad had ever happened. She was beautiful, talented. Familiar and yet not because she certainly wasn’t the girl he’d known. She was… more intriguing as a grown woman? More tempting?
As his first date since meeting Jill, tonight hadn’t been so bad—but after what had happened in the past, did he want it to continue?
Chapter 5
Dinner was delicious. The chocolate cake the best she’d had in ages with its delicious decadence. The conversation mostly easy and flowing until they came to the inevitable touchy subjects like his wife’s death or Amelia’s middle-of-the-night sprint from town and the emotions surrounding that fateful decision.
Amelia couldn’t help but feel guilty. She should’ve better handled things with Lincoln. Talked to him instead of taking off and running away like a willful child. But at the time, she’d felt such pressure to accept Lincoln’s proposal, and she knew if she stayed in town, she probably would’ve made amends and accepted his ring, tried to be the wife he wanted her to be instead of discovering the woman she was meant to become.
But what had she given up by leaving as she had? Her best child-bearing years were behind her and now… now there was no guarantee she’d ever have a child of her own, even if she went the sperm bank route. That was something she’d have to live with, one way or another. Would she be okay with never being a mother? There were other ways, of course, but they weren’t avenues she wanted to consider pursuing at this time, not without trying to have a baby first. She wanted to know what it was like. What it felt like to carry a baby, to grow life inside of her. To have something so intrinsically hers that it was flesh of her flesh and blood of her blood.
She blinked to awareness and realized they had both grown pensive, their laughter and conversation falling silent as they finished the shared piece of cake. She opened her mouth to speak but words failed her. What to say? What to do? How could she make up for the hurt she’d caused him?
“I don’t know about you, but it’s been a long week. Are you ready to call it a night?” he asked.
Honestly? She would’ve liked a walk on the beach or the pier. Anything to extend the evening just a little longer, because in her heart of hearts, she felt there wouldn’t be another. “As you wish.”
It was a quote from a movie they’d watched countless times while dating, and the mention of it now brought a slight smile to Lincoln’s craggy features.
“Those were fun days. At least, I thought they were.”
“They were, Lincoln. I’ve never regretted them. Only… what I did to hurt you. I’m truly sorry.”
His jaw tightened at her words, but the waitress bringing their check ended whatever he might have said.
“Please let me get it?” she asked, reaching for the booklet with the slip inside.
“No.” His reflexes were faster. “But thanks for the offer,” he said.
Instead of a card, though, he paid in cash. So he could make a clean getaway? Not have to linger while the girl ran the card and brought signature slips?
Lincoln scooted his chair from the table. “We should go. We’ve held the table long enough.”
He couldn’t wait to get away from her. That much was obvious. And it hurt like crazy. If this was any indication of how it felt when she’d left him, she couldn’t blame him for wanting the night to end. He’d made good on the date. Been a gentleman as his mother would’ve wanted him to be, but now?
Amelia choked down the growing lump in her throat and led the way through the restaurant toward the door. She noted he didn’t place his hand at her back as he’d always done. Another sign of his displeasure with her and how she’d injured him. Lincoln wasn’t a player. Never had been. His love had been sincere, and she’d tromped on it like the ungrateful child she’d been.
When they reached the exit and were able to walk side by side she said, “I, um, wasn’t sure about tonight. This whole matchmaking thing wasn’t my idea but a friend’s. It’s a long story, but I’m glad it was you, Lincoln. I’m glad that we could talk and… I hope you’ll forgive me for running out like I did. I would very much like a fresh start with you.”
There. He couldn’t misinterpret that now, could he?
“I’m glad you stayed for dinner, Amelia.”
O-kay then. The roar of the waves crashing nearby and the sound of a Friday evening at the beach filled the air. Lincoln’s cologne teased her nostrils, a mix of sandalwood and musk and something masculine and sniff-worthy that she couldn’t identify.
Marsali’s description of Lincoln was spot on. His hair was dark but light at his temples, with more than a hint of silver scattered throughout, close-cropped though it was.
Between becoming his brother’s guardian at eighteen and now losing a wife with children to raise, she didn’t doubt that accounted for the premature gray. It didn’t detract from his looks in any way, though. In her opinion, it added to his allure, especially when he towered head and shoulders above her even with her heels, all broad and strong and formidable. She’d always been attracted to tall men, and Lincoln was definitely that. Lincoln was… everything, the whole package.
After they exited the building, she paused to remove the wrap from her shoulders. She’d needed it inside due to the chill of the air conditioning, but outside, it quickly became too much. Lincoln stood silently beside her as she fussed with it to buy time, hoping something might change between them. Maybe she should suggest a walk along the sand?
“Where are you parked?”
Yeah. Right. Okay, then. “Uh… that way.”
They fell into step beside each other once more and her brain scrambled to find the right words. “Lincoln? I never mentioned you by name to Marsali. Did you mention me?”
“No.”
