CHAPTER 8
CONNER
Conner was having a great date. Of course, he knew that he would. Keisha was just as mesmerizing now as she was when she slammed into his life unexpectedly. Everything about her from her voice to her laugh had seduced him.
When she walked in, his heartbeat sped up. The black dress she wore hugged her body so right he was jealous of the material. He wanted to be draped around her curves, caressing her body everywhere. He ran his hands through his hair, and adjusted himself.
Get it together, O’Bryan.
As he washed and dried his hands, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and smiled. He looked truly happy, and for the first time in months, he could say that he was. With the newest gym opening, and dealing with his crazy ex-girlfriend, Conner had been under a lot of stress. However, one trip to the grocery store, and his whole outlook had changed.
Conner hummed as he exited the restroom, but the tune died on his lips when he eyed a man sitting in his seat across from his date. Conner had no idea who the man was, but the way he was leaned in smiling at Keisha let him know that she was at the very least familiar with him.
However, the closer Conner came to the table, the better he was able to see that the man wasn’t smiling at all. In actuality, he was baring his teeth at her like a wild animal. Conner didn’t like that; he also didn’t like the way Keisha was holding onto her chair. Her knuckles were damn near white from her tight grip.
When Conner touched her on her back, Keisha nearly jumped out of her seat. He frowned and narrowed his eyes at the man. When Keisha cleared her throat, Conner smiled down at her in reassurance. But her eyes were telling him that whoever this guy was had scared her. Conner could feel her lightly tremble as he left his hand on her back.
“Everything okay, baby?” Conner used the pet name to stake his claim in front of the asshole, but it felt good to use the endearment.
Keisha shook her head and cleared her throat nervously. “No, it’s not.”
“Who the hell is this?” The man’s voice stayed even but the menace that covered his face was obvious.
Keisha looked up at Conner with tears in her big brown eyes, and it broke his heart just a little. She was such a strong woman, and she had stood up to Conner, a perfect stranger, without batting those long lashes of hers. And Conner was not a small man. So to see her so upset, made him upset.
“Sweetheart, why don’t you go to the ladies’ room, and I’ll take care of our visitor here,” Conner stated as he pulled out Keisha’s chair.
Keisha shook her head and she finally found her voice. “No, Conner. This is my ex-husband, Dylan. He was just leaving.”
“No, the hell I wasn’t. Who is this damn guy?” Dylan’s voice began to rise, and Conner raised a brow at Keisha silently asking her what she wanted.
She dropped her head and took a deep breath before rising from her seat. “Please, don’t do anything crazy. He’s not worth it.”
Conner nodded, but he didn’t really agree to anything. He would tear the whole restaurant down if it meant not ever having to see that solemn look in Keisha’s eyes. Keisha took a step, but stopped short, and turned back to him.
“Nothing crazy,” she whispered, and then she kissed the corner of his mouth. Before she could leave, Conner pulled her back and kissed her on the lips.
There were several reasons that he didn’t deepen the kiss and let her walk away; one being they were in the middle of a restaurant; two they had an audience of a crazy ex; and three, it was their first kiss. The taste of her plump lips had him watching like a stalker until she was out of sight.
Even with such a small taste of her, he could understand why her ex-husband wouldn’t go away. However, that didn’t mean that he held any sympathy for the douchebag.
Conner slid into Keisha’s seat, and looked the man directly in the eye. “Is there a reason you are so rudely interrupting my date?” He questioned.
“Who the hell are you to date my wife?” The façade was slipping fast, and Dylan’s crazy had started to show.
“Ex-wife.”
“Wh-what?” Dylan stammered before he gathered his composure.
“Keisha is your ex-wife. She’s my current girlfriend. Keisha doesn’t want you here, and you don’t have any reason to talk to her, so leave.”
“Who the hell are you to tell me to leave? You can’t tell me shit!” Dylan smugly replied.
Conner chuckled. Dylan was playing at being hard. But Conner actually was hard. He would turn Dylan’s little world upside down with a flick of his wrist. But today, he wouldn’t play games with the petulant man. Today, he would get straight to the point.
Conner leaned in and smiled wickedly. “I’ll tell you who I am. I’m the man who will fuck up your entire world behind that woman. Now what I suggest you do, is find your way out of this restaurant before I kick your ass.”
Conner calmly sipped from the glass of water that was in front of him as he watched the man’s eyes flash with uncertainty. Conner knew Dylan’s type; he was a bully. A mean-spirited asshole that picked on people he deemed unworthy. However, his time to pick on Keisha was over. It would never happen again if Conner could help it.
****
“That was an interesting date,” Keisha replied casually as Conner walked her to her car.
Conner smiled, knowing that she probably felt all kinds of awful that her crazy ex-husband had tried to ruin their first date.
“I’ve had worse.” Conner shrugged, and smiled. However, when he looked at Keisha’s face his humor dropped.
“Hey, don’t cry. I know that being in my company isn’t that horrible.” Conner joked as he pulled her into his arms.
He’d been wanting to hold her since she’d come back from the restroom with a worried look on her beautiful face. But once she had seen Conner sitting alone, relief flooded her face.
“I’m so sorry.” Keisha sniffled into his chest. “I haven’t seen or talked to Dylan in over a year. I don’t know how he even knew where I was.”
“It’s not your fault that your ex-husband showed up. Like you said… you haven’t seen him in over a year. There’s no need for the apology or the tears.” Conner stepped back and placed his large hand under her chin and lifted it up to see into her red rimmed eyes.
“Not your fault.” At that moment, she looked so vulnerable, and if he wasn’t such a bastard he might’ve just opened her car door, and let her go home. But he just couldn’t resist her lips any longer.
He leaned down slowly, giving her a chance to step away. But she didn’t. She stood on her tip-toes, meeting him. He pushed his lips against hers softly with a feather light touch. Then he felt her tongue against his lips, and his control snapped.
Conner pressed Keisha’s succulent body against her large SUV for support. His hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to his growing manhood. He deepened the kiss, tasting the chocolate and strawberry mousse she had for dessert. He devoured her mouth, his tongue dancing with hers in an intimate tango.
Keisha moaned, and Conner tightened his grip on her waist. His other hand instinctively pushed into her massive curls. Her body seductively moved against his, and he pressed harder into her, he loved the feel of her body against his.
A couple talking loudly and laughing broke through the haze of lust they were surrounded in. Conner slowed the kiss, but he didn’t step away. He licked her bottom lip before kissing it lightly one last time. He put his forehead against hers and tried to slow his breathing. When he inhaled, her scent of vanilla engulfed his senses.
“Conner?” Keisha’s voice was low almost shy.
“Yeah, baby?”
“Does the kiss mean that you accept my apology?” Conner could hear the smile in her voice.
“If I say yes, will you keep kissing me?” He smiled as he took a step back to look in her face.
Keisha giggled. “Yes.”
“Then, hell yes. Apology accepted.”