Page 8 of Lisa's Unexpected Valentine's Day

He greeted her with narrowed eyes, gaze moving slowly down to examine every inch of her, before coming back up filled with heat. “You’re late,” he growled. Then added, “But that outfit made the wait worth it,” as he stood.

Rick really didn’t care who was watching as his mouth came down on hers. His tongue slid between her lips as his hand landed at the small of her back and pulled her up against his body. Most people thought of him as reserved, austere, and he could be, especially in public. But when she was in his arms all of that dropped away and the hunger in his kiss demanded a response.

Her arms slid up to loop around his neck as she leaned into him. Her tongue glided across his as he tried to devour her mouth. The power of the kiss took her breath away and made her feel utterly limp when he finally pulled back.

He chuckled as he glanced around at the nearest tables. “We might be causing a scene,” he said.

“I don’t mind.”

“I’m not surprised, since you started it by wearingthat.” His eyes swept over her again.

“This old thing?” She tossed her hair back. “I’ve had it for ages.”

“Little girls who lie get spanked, young lady. Do you really want me to remind you of that while everyone is looking at us?”

Maya’s lips pouted and she let her head fall back. “I was only teasing. That doesn’t count as lying. Of course I had to buy something new for our date.”

“Mhm.” It was more growl than word. He let his arms drop away, releasing her, only to catch her when she wobbled a little. “Careful.”

“That kiss made me dizzy,” she explained with a breathless laugh.

“If one kiss did that, then what I do to you when we get home is really going to destroy you.” He pulled her chair out and guided her into her seat.

Not that she needed his help to sit, but Rick was prone to old-fashioned manners at times. It was something she loved about him. It made her feel so cared for.

There was a bouquet of white roses, which she preferred over red, and a cute penguin stuffy holding a big satin Valentine’s Day heart crowding the small table. “Are these for me, Daddy?” Her voice dropped slightly on the last word, very aware of how closely packed the tables were.

She’d been so tempted to grab for the penguin first, but that would have been Little behavior. She was a mature Middle girl, and she could wait before snatching it up for a cuddle. Plus, the roses were really lovely.

One eyebrow went up and he snorted. “And who else would they be for?”

She lifted the bouquet, inhaling the heavy perfume of fresh roses. It was intoxicating. “Hmm, maybe for your side chick?”

Rick scoffed. “Side chick? Really? And when would I have time for another woman, when I devote every moment of my free time to you, sugarbear?”

That drew a giggle from her. “Okay, good point.”

“Besides, I haven’t even looked at another woman since we met, and you know it.”

She did know it. Rick was definitely a one-woman kind of man. When he fell for someone, he fell hard. He’d warned her about that on their first date. Telling her in no uncertain terms, “Maya, you’re not going to hear ‘I love you’ from me, until it’s true. And I don’t want you to say it either, unless and until you mean it. Because once we cross that threshold… there’s no going back.”

It cleared away a lot of the awkwardness about not knowing how each other felt, and whether the words were real. Rick was as straight forward about his feelings, as he was about everything else. When he did finally tell her he loved her, she knew, without a doubt, it was real, and she appreciated that.

There was very little about her Daddy that she didn’t appreciate, come to think of it.

“Have I mentioned how much I love you?” she asked as she set the flowers aside and picked up the stuffed animal.

“Hmm, I can’t recall…” He grinned as he sat back in his seat.

She shot him a look. “What did you say happens to people who lie?”

That got a laugh out of him. “I’d like to see you try it, Little girl.”

Before she could say anything, a harried looking waiter appeared to take their drink orders. He thrust menus into their hands and then hauled off at high speed with barely a word. “I have a feeling dinner’s going to be slow tonight,” Maya commented, as she watched him race across the room.

He agreed and then jerked his chin at the penguin. “So, what do you think of him? I didn’t think you had a penguin yet.”

She pursed her lips and looked the penguin over with narrowed eyes. “I think… he looks like a troublemaker. He’s hiding mischief behind those big blue eyes.”

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