Page 90 of Starting Back
Dinner seemed to go by so fast, and before we both knew it, three hours had passed. The customers at the tables around us had thinned out, and when I swept my gaze around the rest of the dining area, we were the only ones left other than the waitstaff.
“We better get the check before they throw us out,” I joked after I swallowed my last mouthful of cappuccino.
“They close in a half hour, and they won’t. The girls are probably sleeping.” She glanced at her phone before shoving it back into her purse. “Well, Emma is. Chloe is probably on her phone or playing something. Either way—” she shot me a sly grin “—no need to rush anywhere.”
I already hated taking her home tonight, but this was a beginning, not the start of something we knew we couldn’t finish. Still, my chest pinched with disappointment once the check came and we headed to my truck.
“I don’t think I’ve seen your condo yet. I mean, I’ve been to the complex when Peyton lived there, but it would be fun to stop by to check it out.”
I laughed at her innocent shrug as she fastened her seat belt.
“It would. But on our first date, I don’t want the girls to catch you coming home when they’re waking up. I’m trying to make a good impression here.” I squeezed the back of her neck.
“I said I just wanted to see it, not stay the night. Presumptuous aren’t you, Lieutenant?”
I took a quick glance around the empty parking lot and grabbed the back of her head, pressing my mouth to hers in a bruising kiss. I dug my hands into her hair, slanting my mouth over hers to go deeper, taste more of her. I swallowed her whimper as my tongue curled around hers, my self-control dwindling when she hooked her finger into the waistband of my pants to yank me closer.
Her head fell against the inside of the passenger door as our lips kept moving, each of us going in harder when one of us would try to back away, until I finally tore my mouth from hers and ran a thumb over her swollen, wet lips.
“That is why you can’t juststop bytonight. I’d peel your clothes off and make love to you until the sun comes up, never stopping long enough for air, never mind driving you home.” I pressed my forehead against hers, both of us trying to catch our breath. “As fucking gorgeous as you look tonight and how much Ialwayswant you, I need to take you home.” I kissed her cheek and dropped my head into the crook of her shoulder. “Believe me when I say how painful this is for me right now.”
She chuckled and wrapped her arms around me, pressing a light kiss to the side of my head. “Maybe when you have dinner at my house, we bake in a sleepover.”
“You’re sure?” I asked when I lifted my head. “You…They’d be ready for that?”
“I have recently learned”—she sucked in a breath and let it out slowly—“if you wait until you’re ready, nothing happens. And you and I, we’re happening, and they’ll get used to it. We’ll be as gentle as we can easing them into it, but I’m not going back.”
She pressed her lips to mine with light, lingering kisses, smiling into the last one as she feathered her hand down my cheek.
“Not again.”
THIRTY-THREE
LEO
“Thanks for coming with me.” I took Kristina’s hand and laced our fingers together on the elevator ride up to my aunt and uncle’s apartment. “I know it’s a busy day.”
She tilted her head to the side and smiled. “It’s a day for family, and I’m happy to meet yours.” She kissed my cheek. “It’s been a while since I met my boyfriend’s family for the first time.” She grimaced before leaning against the elevator wall. “I’m actually a little nervous.”
I laughed, pulling her to me by the waist as my heart seized. It was still surreal that Kristina was mine, not a dream or a yearning I couldn’t have. I’d never brought anyone to meet my family before because I was never interested in a woman long enough.
I was nervous too, but not because I was afraid they wouldn’t love Kristina as much as I did, but because bringing her here meant how muchIloved Kristina. It had only been a couple weeks of actually being together, but from the second I’d met her, I was sure.
I was also scared out of my mind, but I hoped I’d eventually get used to both.
“You have absolutely nothing to be nervous about.” I gave her a quick kiss after the elevator dinged on their floor. “You’re easy to fall for. Trust me, I know.”
“Still so suave,” she whispered, sliding her arm into the crook of my elbow and cuddling into my side.
“You just called me your boyfriend.”
Her head snapped up from where she’d rested it on my shoulder.
“I did,” she said, searching my gaze. “Although, can I say boyfriend? I’m in my forties, and it seems silly to call you a boy,” she teased, squeezing my bicep.
“Nice of you to notice.” I flexed the muscle and pressed my lips to her forehead. “You can say boyfriend. I like it.” I kissed her cheek, giving her earlobe a quick nibble before I took her hand and led her down the hall.
My aunt and uncle seemed to be settled in and doing well, all things considered. The new meds and additional therapy for tía Lucia seemed to be helping. Her voice wasn’t so strained, and now that she was able to make weekly trips to a salon in the facility, she soundedandlooked like herself again. With her illness, we all learned to take things day by day, but seeing her smile again was enough for me.
