CHAPTER 15
The next day, Scott arrives to pick me up at seven on the dot. I run to the sound of him ringing the bell, then stop myself, take a deep breath, smooth down my hair and my dress. After placing what I hope is a calm but happy smile on my face, I open the door.
I’m doing my best to put Michael out of my mind for the night. He’s fun and sexy, and I like him. I like him a lot, but he’s unattainable. He’s just my boss and nothing else, as he’s told me several times.
Scott is the opposite.
I drink in his Adonis appearance, then force my mouth to work. “Hi. I guess you found the place okay.”
He smiles, and I think I’m looking into the sun. How can any one man be so good looking? “No problem at all. Great to see you. Here. These are for you.”
He holds out a small summer arrangement of flowers, and I take them automatically. I’m stunned. Who is this guy? And why is he here to see me?
“These are beautiful. Thank you.” I lift them to my nose. “Come on in while I find a vase for them.”
Adonis is in my apartment.
Whose life am I living?
I rummage around in the kitchen, finally finding a cheap plastic vase. I fill it halfway with water and plop the bouquet in. It’s pretty and makes me smile. I haven’t had anything so bright and so alive in my life for a long time.
I set the vase on the kitchen counter, the one that’s connected to the living room, and find that Scott has been watching me the entire time. He has an enormous grin on his face, and I match it with a goofy one of my own.
He eases up from where he’s leaning on the arm of my couch, and his muscles ripple beneath his t-shirt. “They look beautiful there,” he says as he joins me.
I swallow and try to quit staring. “They do. Thank you again.”
“No problem.” He smiles. “Are you hungry?”
Yes, for him! To throw me down, right here, right now, and have his way with me!
I quell that thought and strive for some banter instead. “Absolutely. Where are we going?”
“I thought we’d stay local. There’re so many restaurants here. I hope I picked a good one.”
***
He did pick a good one. We arrive at the restaurant, arm in arm. He even holds the door open for me. He’s such a gentleman. I’m swooning and people’s heads are turning. He’s that gorgeous.
The hostess starts to lead us to a table, but Scott stops her and asks for one on the outdoor patio. It’s another beautiful summer evening, and he’s making all the right moves. I beam at him with the same goofy smile on my face that has been there since he rang my doorbell.
“It’s not a full moon, but it’ll do,” he says as we’re seated, pointing to the quarter moon hanging low in the sky. I follow his gaze to take in the sight.
“I’ll expect a full moon next time,” I tease and pick up the menu to hide the blush I feel starting to heat my cheeks.
Seriously, why is he with me? I’m overweight, not more than cute, and older than him. He, on the other hand, is a Surfer Dude God.
I shake my head, baffled, as I study the menu.
“Is something wrong?”
I try for a reassuring smile. “Not at all. It’s just everything on the menu sounds so good. I’m just trying to figure out what to order.”
He nods with a smile and retrieves a lighter from his jeans pocket. There’s an unlit candle on the table, and he proceeds to light it. “I hear the lobster is very good here,” he says as the candle sparks to romantic life.
I gape at him. Then start to bluster. “Oh, umm, no. Lobster is too expensive, I’m sure. Let’s see. How about—”
With a finger, he pushes down my menu so he can see my face. “Look, Kim, I know this is just a first date, and we don’t know where it’s going or anything, but I feel like splurging on you, okay? Get the lobster. I’m getting it too. Then, if this does go somewhere…” He shrugs and smiles. “Well, then we have a great first date story. I don’t know. I hope I’m not coming on too strong. I sometimes do that.”
His smile falters, and I realize he’s nervous. This self-confident Adonis is nervous, and I’m the cause. I’m flabbergasted. It also makes me feel good. Very, very good.
I smile back and motion to the waitress. When she arrives at our table, I order the lobster.
Scott adds a bottle of wine, and when that and the food arrives, the conversation starts to flow. It’s like we’ve known each other for years, and I’m finding it a little insane how comfortable I am with him.
We chuckle over the silliest things, and when I have trouble cracking my lobster claw, and it flies out of the nutcracker, Scott nearly chokes. I join in and don’t feel embarrassed. Why am I not at all self-conscious with him?
“I wish I had a camera to capture your face when the claw went flying,” Scott says as he leads me from the restaurant. “It was a priceless moment.”
I bump his arm with my shoulder as we walk. “Stop reminding me,” I say, but can’t keep a straight face. It was funny. “I’ll never live that down.”
“You’re not supposed to. I’ll tease you about it forever,” he says and laughs again.
I peek up at him. “Well, I do have to admit, it was the best lobster claw I’ve ever eaten.”
He looks at me to see if I’m serious and then we both burst into renewed laughter.
After a few more moments, he starts leading me in the opposite direction of his car. I hesitate, thinking he might have lost track of where he parked, but he pulls me along. “It’s still early. I thought we could walk along the boardwalk for a little while.”
I nod, but otherwise remain quiet. I don’t want something flippant, coy, or stupid to fly out of my mouth and ruin this perfect moment.
We walk up the wooden incline to the boardwalk, our shoes making a pleasant thwapping sound on the planks. The moon is shining a path on the ocean, other couples are walking hand in hand, music is playing from a band farther down the beach, and a sweet light breeze carries the heavenly scent of coconut oil. If I tried, I couldn’t imagine anything better than this moment.
Scott puts his arm around me, and we walk in comfortable silence for a while. Finally, he steers us toward an empty bench facing the ocean. We sit close together, our legs touching. It’s comfortable and erotic at the same time.
“It’s really nice here,” Scott says and pulls me in closer, the arm around my shoulders causing heat to sizzle along my skin. “I don’t know why I don’t come here to surf on my days off. I guess I should start.”
I laugh. “I knew it! I knew you were a surfer.”
He chuckles. “Am I that obvious? I’d want a place to shower and change though. Sad but true, I don’t have a beat up old surfer car anymore. Someplace close to the beach, to shower, I mean.”
I gulp and try to find my voice. “Yeah, umm… that would be convenient.”
Scott laughs. “You’re not going to give me an inch, are you?” He looks down at me, and I see something — lust? desire? heat? — smoldering in his blue eyes. “Well, Kim, I hope you don’t mind.”
Mind?
Did I miss something?
“Umm… mind what?”
His eyes darken. They really are smoldering just like in those romance books. I’m in awe and almost miss what he says next.
“I want to kiss you now, so I hope you don’t mind.” His voice is low, rough, and yet, at the same time, very sweet.
My mouth drops open. Oh, how very convenient.
He smiles and inclines his head until our lips are just barely touching. The shock hits me like a tidal wave, and I feel like I’m drowning. His lips are soft and hot. He’s burning me, but I press my lips harder onto his, seeking the flame. I can feel him smiling, and he traces a path across my lips with his tongue before sitting back and breaking the gentle contact. I think I’m whining deep in my throat.
In protest.
I want more.
“That was nice,” he says in a tender whisper. “Thank you.”
I’m amazed by how much we learn about each other while we sit and talk and look out at the ocean and at each other.
He’s a middle child. His parents are still together. He almost drowned the first time he went surfing and had to be rescued by a lifeguard. He loves scary movies. His favorite food is Italian with seafood being a close second. He wanted to be a cop for as long as he can remember. I laugh when he tells me he’s addicted to the TV show “Cops.” And he laughs with me.
He’s so damned easy to talk to, and I could sit here listening to him forever.
And I try so hard not to let the doubts creep in.
Why is he with me?
Me?
Yeah, that was a real good attempt at keeping the doubts at bay.
I’ve lost track of the hour when it’s time to end the evening. We both look sad and disappointed as he drives me back to my apartment and walks me to the door.
I wonder how it will end. Will he kiss me again? Should I invite him in? I mean, this was like the perfect date. Does it end with sex?
I fumble in my bag for my keys, find them amidst all the other junk, and turn to him, anticipating another heavenly kiss.
“Let’s take this inside?” he asks and smiles at me.
I swoon. I want to say yes so much. The entire evening has been erotic foreplay, and I want the grand finale. I want him. But then, at the most inopportune time, that damned nagging voice of reason speaks to me inside my head.
Don’t put out on the first date, or you’ll never see him again.
I don’t want to listen, but I know the voice is right.
I sigh and put my hand on his arm. “Next time? I hope there’s a next time.”
Scott nods in understanding, but I can see the disappointment on his face. “Are you sure?”
I nod and force myself not to drag him inside. “Next time,” I say again.
He sighs and studies me. I bite my lip and look down. “Okay. I had a wonderful time tonight. I’d like to see you again.” He leans down and lightly brushes his lips against mine and then straightens before I’ve barely had a taste of him.
I guess he’s from the leave ‘em wanting more school of dating. It’s maddening but refreshing in a weird tingly sort of way.
I push my hair back from my face. “Me too. I’d like that.”
He smiles, and I almost reach for my sunglasses. “Great! I’ll call you soon. G’night.”
And he’s gone before I can blink.