Page 22 of Dare To Kiss You
“I’m so full, but I absolutely love baklava. Want to share one with me?” The smile on Kat’s face would make me say yes to anything, even if I am totally stuffed.
“Sure.”
“Do you mind ordering while I just go…” She nods her head toward the bathroom, and I nod hurriedly.
“Of course. No problem.”
Except when the waiter comes to take our order, I realize I can’t remember what she said. Bah something?
It gets worse when I open the dessert menu and the page swims with unfamiliar Greek words. In the dim light, it’s even harder to read. The waiter’s looking at me expectantly and my chest is tightening with the pressure. I point blindly at something that starts with a “b” and hope I guessed right.
But when it arrives, Kat looks at it quizzically. “That’s an odd-looking baklava. Interesting.” She picks up a bite on her fork and some sort of creamy filling oozes out. She makes a face and my heart plummets. “Oh, that’s not baklava, that’s why.”
Shitfuckdamnit.I must have pointed to the wrong thing on the menu. Fuck. I should have listened closer to what she said, so I could’ve just said it back to the waiter. I’m such a screwup.
“Fuck. It’s my fault, I couldn’t remember what you said. I’m so sorry. I’ll get them back and order the right one.”
“No, it’s okay, Hunter. We don’t need dessert. No big deal.”
“It is a big deal. I screwed up.” I start looking around for the waiter, determined to make this right.
“Hunter, stop.”
There’s a firmness in her voice that leaves no room for argument. I slowly turn to face her.
“It’s just dessert. You didn’t screw anything up.” The warmth in her quiet words washes over me, replacing my self-criticism with relief.
I lean back in my chair and run my hand through my hair. How does she manage to put me at ease better than anyone else in my life ever has? She has no idea that just by being her, she builds me up and makes me feel like a better man.
“I just want tonight to be perfect for you,” I say, letting a bit of vulnerability show.
Kat lays her hand out on the table, palm up, and I cover it with my own. That simple touch grounds me and connects us.
“Perfect is overrated. I’m having a good time, Hunter. The food was delicious, and the company is wonderful. It’s the best date I’ve been on in a really,reallylong time. The wrong dessert doesn’t change any of that, so stop apologizing.”
I sigh deeply and smile sheepishly at her. “Sorry.” I wince and she laughs lightly. “Damn it, you know what I mean. I’m just nervous.” I blow out a huff of air. “At the risk of sounding like a sap, I’ve wanted to go out with you for a really long time.”
“But I was with Tyson,” she says quietly, dropping her eyes to the table.
I reach over, and gently tip her chin up. “Yeah, you were, but you’re not now.”
Her smile returns, thank fuck. There’s a hint of the pain I’m guessing she still feels about her asshole ex cheating on her, but the warmth and happiness is back.
“If we aren’t getting dessert, should we get out of here? Maybe go for a walk?”
Kat nods, and the last trace of pain vanishes from her face. “That sounds lovely.”
I pay the bill, and soon we’re walking along the waterfront of Westport. Kat slips her hand in mine, and I swear, my heart grows impossibly large inside of my chest.
She makes me feel like I could conquer the world.
“My brother Max lives in Westport, to be close to the hospital he works at. I like it here, but honestly, give me the small-town energy of Dogwood Cove over this hustle and bustle any day.”
Her offhand comment is like a bucket of ice being dumped over my head. Because with just one reminder of her brothers, I’m faced with the reality that eventually, they’re going to find out Kat and I went out on a date.
And there’s no fucking way they’ll ever think this is a good idea. ThatI’ma good idea.
Tightening my grip on Kat’s hand, I try to push that thought aside, at least for now. I’m on a date with the woman of my dreams, and I just want to enjoy it. Especially if it ends up being the only one I get with her once the other Donnellys find out.
