Page 49 of Where Our Turn Begins (Arrow Creek 4)

18

Dane

A few daysafter the punching incident, I still can’t look at the reflection of my cracked lip without feeling a warm swoop somewhere in my gut. The punch was the catalyst for a storm of passion that I want more of. Her embrace, her lips, the taste of her mingled with my blood are the stuff of dreams. Not that I previously allowed myself to have them. Funny how life has a way of dishing out exactly what it wants. My own desires be damned.

Caiti’s hand sits firmly in mine as we walk down the sidewalk on Main Street. I finally convinced her to let me call a babysitter so we could explore some time alone. The two of us deserve to test out this new rapport between us. Or whatever she wants to call it. We don’t know each other well, and we’ve spent most days at my place or the bar. She might not know it yet, but I intend to find out everything there is to know about her and offer her the same. In order to have a true shot, the guards have to come down.

Starting with a proper date without the distraction of wild toddlers or serving drinks in a busy bar.

Dominic’s Steakhouse is relatively new to town and beats out any other restaurant in impressiveness for over forty miles. Even with Caiti’s anxiety calming to a manageable level, I didn’t want to cause a flare by taking her too far out of town.

The black dress she borrowed from Cami sparkles in the late afternoon sun, and the mid-thigh slit showcases her flawlessly tan skin. She’s a tad overdressed for this small town, but I wear her on my arm with pride. I even dusted off a pair of slacks and a black button-down for the occasion, paired with my only pair of dress shoes.

As if reading my thoughts, Caiti shakes our hands and says, “How bad do you think people will talk?”

“Who gives a fuck if they do.”

She brushes her glossy hair over a shoulder with the hand not holding mine. “Oh, I don’t, really. I thought you might since this isn’t really like you.”

“You think so, big city girl?” I can’t help the grin sliding into place.

“Small-town bartender out for a fancy dinner. I’m sure the gossip mill will be turning over all night long.”

I give her slender fingers a long squeeze. “Let them.”

Her chin falls to her chest a little too slow to hide the tilt of her ruby lips.

With my hand in hers, I pull us to a stop. “What is it?”

“This is too easy.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” My forehead creases. Fuck, I hope she isn’t one of those women who wants a fight every few days to stay interested. I am not that guy.

Her voice drops into a whisper. “It’s a great thing. Unexpected. But great.”

“C’mon.” I set us in motion again. If she doesn’t stop questioning, I might have to provide a thorough demonstration of how great I can be.

Without dropping her hand, I hold the door open for her, letting her enter first. The blast of air-conditioning chases away the late summer heat, nearly provoking a chill. The host barring entry immediately grabs two menus and leads us to a table in a secluded corner of the half-filled restaurant. The early hour was my choice to enjoy some quiet before the dinner rush.

The host sets the menus on the table and walks away. I pull out Caiti’s chair and gesture with my hand. “Have a seat.”

“Now you’re just showing off.”

Once she tucks her skirt beneath her and sits, I gently push her chair in. My mouth is perfectly positioned near her ear, and I’m not one to waste an opportunity.

“I’ve always wanted to try that.” With a discreet nibble on her neck, I straighten and find my own seat. The table touches the corner wall with only two chairs, putting us in intimate proximity.

“What? You don’t usually take your dates to fancy steakhouses and act like a gentleman?” The teasing lilt in her voice finds its way straight to my dick.

“I don’t think my thoughts about you in that skirt would be considered very gentlemanly.”

Caiti fiddles with the roll of silverware, a blush staining her cheeks. “Have you lived in Arrow Creek your entire life?”

Her transition from gasping under my mouth to small talk is admirable. “Yeah. I was born and raised not too far from where we live now.” The pronoun is intentional, and I hope she lets it slide.

“It’s a nice place.”

The sentiment could send my hopes soaring, but I’m not ready to let them out of my clutches quite yet. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

A server dropping water glasses interrupts Caiti’s answer, but noticing we haven’t picked up our menus yet, she quickly disappears.

“Well, I’m an only child. I’ve never had a pet though I’d love to get Ophelia a dog someday.” She taps her chin, eyes averted, and shrugs. “I’m a pretty average human being. So much of my identity has been tied to my circumstances. I was a wife, then a widow, and now I’m a mother.”

“Those are some of your roles, but they don’t describe who you are.”

“I think I’m still figuring out who I am.” She studies the flickering candle in the glass centerpiece.

“Do you want to know what I think of you?”

A look of surprise crosses her face as she reverts her attention back to me. She rests her chin on her propped fist. “Only if it comes with flattery.” She bats her dark lashes.

I lean into her space, inhaling the sweet scent of cherry blossoms she’s so fond of. My mouth nears the shell of her ear, poised to divulge dark secrets. Only one of those remains on my end, and at the start of a fancy dinner isn’t the time or place to share.

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