Chapter Five

Hal

It took some doing, but I managed to find someone to cover me for Saturday night at the Moonlight Lounge. An old buddy who’d had a date cancel on him and who was willing to pick up the sets for what I’d earn plus a cool hundred. I didn’t say he was my best friend. But I had my priorities in order and a date with an omega who already meant more to me than money or applause.

I also had managed to get reservations at a casual fine dining restaurant by calling in a favor. The maître d' had five kids who came to Dr. Chen’s dental office on a regular basis, and I had gotten him a group discount of sorts. We’d have a table by the fireplace behind a privacy screen for our evening.

I knocked on Kipling’s door and he hollered, “Come on in. I’ll be just a minute or two more.” I complied and made myself comfortable on the brown leather sofa. A dozen or so magazines were fanned out across the coffee table. A quick perusal showed them to be mostly psychological journals and workout mags. He was serious about everything he did, my omega, it seemed. Even his living room reflected his lifestyle with free weights in one corner and a desk in another. His home was not large but the furnishings were good quality, and either he or someone kept it all tidy. “My training ran late, and I just got out of the shower. Almost ready.”

A moment later he emerged from a doorway wearing jeans, a brown sweater that unless I missed my guess was cashmere, and low brown boots. His blond hair was still damp when he approached to greet me, hand extended. I drew a deep breath of his shampoo, woodsy cologne, and his own scent that reminded me of a day in the sunshine at the beach.

Despite my best intentions, I took his hand and tugged him into a hug that became an embrace that became a long, sensual kiss. When we stepped back, we were both panting a little.

“And hello to you, too,” I said. “If I’d known you wanted to get in my pants, I wouldn’t have made a reservation at Brenda’s.”

When his eyes lit up, I knew I’d chosen the right place for our evening. “How did you get reservations? You must have made them months ago.” Then his face fell. “Did your other date fall through?”

I took a step toward the door. “No, I only planned to take you, and as for getting in at the last minute, I have my ways. Impressed?”

“Hells yes,” he said. “I’ve been dying to go there, but I hate making reservations months in advance because inevitably something comes up and I end up canceling.” His sigh seemed to come from all the way from his toes. “You must know people.”

I held in the laugh his comment caused. “Oh, I do. Big, big people. Waiters of all kinds.” I guided him by the elbow to my car and settled him in the passenger seat. “Don’t hate me because I’m famous.”

“Well you are, you know,” he said as soon as I’d come around and gotten in the driver’s side. “You are probably just used to it, but to the people in the Moonlight, you’re a rock star. The only one they know, and they all love to guess who you’re dating and what you do when you’re not there.

I pulled out of the parking place and joined the Saturday night traffic. The night was cool and crisp with a light breeze pushing around the few clouds that hung in the sky. “Well, as you know from yesterday, I run the office for Patrick, Dr. Chen. I was, until last night, dating nobody, and was that it for questions? Or did I miss one?”

“Well not one of theirs, but is it okay if I ask one from me?”

The restaurant had only been a few minutes’ drive, benefit of living in a small town, so I was parked when I turned to him and nodded. “Yes, ask away. I’m an open book.”

“I don’t date a lot, between ninja training and counseling, I stay pretty busy, and I’m just not someone who likes to run from guy to guy. What I want to know is...oh gods, how can I ask this?” His cheeks flushed, and he buried his face in his hands. “Never mind. I have to be crazy to even think it.”

I reached over and peeled his fingers away from his face then linked my hands with his. “Just tell me. What’s the matter?”

“You’re so calm, and I’m the one who is supposed to be the counselor.” But Kipling sat up straight and faced me. “Okay, here goes. I’ve been trying to get my courage up to talk to you for a while. I don’t know if you noticed me at the Moonlight Lounge once or twice?”

“Or maybe even a few more times.” It was at least a dozen, maybe two dozen, but I didn’t want to make him any more embarrassed than he was. “And yes, I noticed you. I wondered why you didn’t come over and say hello. Everyone else does.”

“I think that’s it. Everyone does, but even then, even before we talked, I had this odd feeling that we were, that is, we might…”

I waited but he didn’t go on, so I helped him. “That we might have something special between us if we did meet?”

He nodded. “That’s dumb, isn’t it? I mean, you were the center of attention, singing with that insanely beautiful voice that makes all the guys want to jump in bed with you, and I was over there at the bar imagining you might like me. A little.”

My jaw dropped. How could it not. “Kipling, you are not only smart and funny and a man who helps kids for a living, but have you seen you? Gotten a glimpse of your hair, face, or body? What man in that lounge didn’t notice you?”

“That means a lot coming from you, but I think you’re mostly trying to make me feel good.” He was murmuring, staring into his lap, but I cupped his chin and brought his face up so he’d meet my gaze.

“I saw you on television, remember? I watched the crowd groan when you lost and heard the announcers call you the heartthrob ninja. And did I mention you’re smart?”

“Uh huh.”

“So don’t try to tell me you have no idea you’re the hottest guy in five states. Sure, I know the people at the lounge like me, and some may even want to make a pass at me, but you...Kipling, you’re in a class by yourself.”

His face softened and he leaned in to press his lips against mine then pulled back to smile at me. “Sounds like we have a mutual admiration society going here. Would you like to come with me to the gym tomorrow and see how the heartthrob ninja works out off season?”

“Do you wear a shirt when you do it?” I was really getting into this.

“If you’ll agree to try out a few moves, I might be convinced to work out shirtless.”

Now, that’s what I was talking about.