Chapter 13
13
Mark released Karen’s hand just long enough to quickly round the car, his movements brisk but filled with intention. He opened her door and reached for her, his hand firm as he helped her out of the car. Without letting go, he guided her toward the bright red door of the restaurant, the soft glow of the lights inside spilling onto the sidewalk. Something about holding her hand felt natural, like he had been waiting for this moment longer than he realized.
Inside, the restaurant buzzed with energy, soft lighting casting a warm glow over vibrant decorations that adorned the walls. A server greeted them and led them to a corner booth covered in red leather, offering a sense of intimacy despite the lively surroundings. Mark gently slipped her coat from her shoulders when they approached the booth, his fingers brushing against her skin for the briefest moment. She smiled, a subtle but palpable connection sparking between them.
Karen slid into the booth, placing her coat beside her, and as Mark settled in across from her, he couldn’t help but scoot a little closer. The pull between them was undeniable, magnetic. Though he stopped himself from fully closing the gap, their knees brushed under the table, sending a warm current through him. She must have felt it, too, because she leaned in ever so slightly, her presence a quiet but constant reminder of the chemistry building between them.
After she ordered a margarita and he ordered a beer, he was quietly thankful he knew exactly what he wanted to order. The menu lay forgotten on the table, its presence overlooked as his eyes took in every detail of her.
After her girls answered the door, he’d easily remained a gentleman with a soft kiss on her cheek and a sincere compliment about how beautiful she looked. But the way her pale blue dress had clung to her curves had left him momentarily breathless, and his polite smile barely concealed his surge of attraction. Karen was stunning, and while it was far too early to predict where this might lead, he hoped for a second date.
“You haven’t looked at the menu,” she said, a soft smile curving her lips.
“It’s a good thing I’ve been here before and know what I want because I can’t seem to take my eyes off you.”
Her eyes widened. “I hope that’s a good thing. I suddenly don’t know if my lipstick or mascara has smeared, giving me a clown appearance that has captured your attention.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Nothing about your appearance is clownish, I assure you. Quite the contrary. At the risk of sounding like I’m trying too hard, you really are beautiful.”
A blush danced across her neck and rose to her cheeks. “Why, Detective Robbins, if I didn’t know better, I would think you were flirting with me.”
His chuckle turned into a laugh. “If you have to wonder if I’m flirting, I guess I’m off my game.”
She shook her head, her smile brilliant. “No, no, nothing is wrong with your game. And thank you for the compliment. I have to say that you look perfect tonight, too. I’ve already received a text from Olivia telling me that if I want to stay out past curfew, that’s fine.”
Still laughing, he shook his head as his gaze lingered on her. “Your daughters are sweet. They look so much like you.”
Her smile widened, a glimmer of pride in her eyes. “They do have my facial features and hair, but they have their father's more slender, runners build. I, on the other hand,” she added with a playful shrug, “take after my mother, who definitely had more curves. I exercise just enough to say healthy. The girls get running from Jeffrey, not me. If you ever see me running, you’d better pull out your service revolver because I can assure you a serial killer is chasing me.”
Her laughter was contagious, and Mark found himself swept up in it, the sound warming him from the inside out. He was about to respond when the server arrived to take their order. He gestured for Karen to go first, his attention fixed on her, absorbing the way her eyes sparkled with humor, her lips curving into a radiant smile that seemed to brighten the entire room.
Something about her—her realness, her ease with herself—was magnetic. She wasn’t pretending or trying to mold herself into someone she wasn’t. Her confidence and delightful honesty only deepened his admiration.
Lifting his beer, he offered her a smile. “A toast?”
As she clinked her margarita glass against his beer bottle, she tilted her head, her eyes glimmering with curiosity and mischief as she waited for him to speak.
“To a wonderful first date,” he said, his voice warm with sincerity, “and to the hope that it ends with plans for a second.”
She smiled, but there was a teasing glint in her eye as she replied, “It’s still early, Mark. I could very well turn out to be a raving lunatic by the end of the night.”
Mark held her gaze, his smile softening into something more certain. “Somehow,” he murmured, his voice low and confident, “I highly doubt that.”
Karen’s grin widened, and with a playful lift of her glass, she added, “Then here’s to new beginnings.”
As they sipped their drinks, a plate of nachos arrived. Munching on crisp nachos dipped in salsa and queso, she asked about his job.
“I have a couple of cases I’m working on now, but I suppose the one that will gain the most publicity is the burglaries in the area.”
“I was surprised when I saw the story about several break-ins on the local news.” She tilted her head slightly to the side. “I have a strange question. Burglaries sounds like such an old-fashioned word. Is there a reason you don’t say robbery?”
“Most people use them interchangeably. But a robbery involves taking property from a person through the use of force, threat, or intimidation. A burglary involves the unlawful entering of a structure with the intent to commit a crime. Both are stealing, but it has to do with how the crime is committed.”
“I never thought of that. But then, in each profession, we have our own language.”
“Tell me more about what you do as a nurse.”
She dabbed at her mouth after swallowing. “Having been a nurse in the Army, and then a nurse at a large hospital, I find that being a home health nurse for the county fits this stage of my life perfectly. Essentially, my hours are about the same hours that the girls are in school. If Jeffrey had lived, I might have stayed at the hospital because I enjoyed that type of nursing. I’m sure we would have covered the hours the girls were home, giving them time with both of us. But, as you know, being a single parent, you look at things differently. I wanted a job where I could be home when the girls were home.”
“You’re exactly right. I didn’t want to be a big city police officer working shift work with a young son at home, trying to figure out childcare. Coming back to the Shore so Benji could have the benefit of getting to know his grandparents, giving them the benefit of a lot of time with him, and giving me a chance to still work a job that I loved without worrying about my son, was the best decision I could’ve made.”
“And you grew up here! Have you connected with people you knew back in high school?”
“Absolutely. Many people about our age in the American Legion were people I knew in high school. My parents lived in the county, but we all went to the same school.”
“One of the nurse aides who works with me grew up on the Shore. I sometimes envy her for that sense of family and connection. Her son was raised with cousins, something my girls don’t have.”
Their food was delivered, and the conversation faded as they enjoyed their meals. Another margarita was brought, and Karen eyed it with trepidation. “I’m not much of a drinker. I’m not sure I need a second one.”
“I’m stopping at one beer, and I’m driving. So, indulge if you want to, but there’s no pressure.”
She sipped a little of it, then pushed it back, switching to water. He didn’t want to bring up their earlier topic of previous dates, but he was reminded of one of his that barely made it through the first date when a woman drank to excess and became a sloppy drunk by the time the meal was over.
Looking at Karen with their knees now touching, he felt a familiar longing stir deep inside. It wasn’t just the desire to kiss her—though that was certainly there—it was the yearning to know her better and spend more time in her company, savoring the way her presence made everything around him seem lighter. She was beautiful, yes, but her authenticity drew him in, her humor charmed him, and the way she effortlessly blended grace with realness held his attention. For a fleeting moment, a memory of Sue crossed his mind. Sue had shared some of these traits—beautiful, grounded, warm—but they were two very different women, and he wasn’t looking for a copy of his past. Twelve years after he’d first met Sue, the man he was now wanted something more than a replacement. He wanted something new and genuine… and Karen might be that.
They decided to split a massive dessert of fried ice cream served in a crispy tortilla. Leaning close, they playfully battled their spoons in the crispy-coated ice cream drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce.
“I’m always amazed that they can fry this without the ice cream immediately melting,” he said, savoring another bite. She nodded, and his eyes locked in on her lips as they closed around her spoon, dragging off the delicious dessert and then moaning appreciatively. His cock twitched, and he didn’t want to be reminded of when it last saw any action besides his hand.
“All I know is the ice cream, crispy coating drizzled with gooey goodness is going to go straight to my thighs. And right now, I don’t care!”
“Thank God you don’t! You're beautiful. You are perfectly beautiful.”
Karen smiled at him, her eyes shining as she aimed her spoon right at him, a teasing glint in her gaze. “I try to model the right behavior for my girls, you know? When I was growing up, all we saw were thin, perfectly polished models and actresses. Society told us that beauty came with high cheekbones, pert noses, and surgically enhanced everything. Add to that the hair extensions, false lashes, and the Botox—honestly, it’s a wonder any of us have any self-esteem left.” She shook her head. “And now, my daughters are growing up in a world where AI can make anyone look like a human Barbie doll.”
Mark chuckled softly. “I never thought of it like that, but you’re right. It’s crazy.”
Karen nodded, her tone shifting from playful to earnest. “We talk a lot about healthy eating and feeling good in our own skin. My girls love running, so they need more calories, but I always want them to feel beautiful just the way they are. We have fun with hair and makeup, sure, but at the end of the day, I want them to love themselves without needing to change a thing.” She glanced down at their empty dessert plates and laughed, a light blush creeping into her cheeks. “Now, obviously, I can’t eat like this every night, but I’m all for indulging now and then. Especially when it’s paired with such delightful company.”
Mark’s heart skipped a beat. "Delightful company" was the perfect description for their evening, and he wasn’t ready for it to end. Not when he’d just spent hours with a woman who felt like so much more than just a friend. He wanted to learn everything about her, hear her stories, know her thoughts.
“Do you feel like a walk before we return to your place? I’d love to spend more time with you.”
Her eyes softened, and she smiled, patting her stomach. “That sounds lovely. Honestly, I should probably walk some of this off. Let’s face it, I’m not in my twenties anymore. A huge meal right before bed means nothing but indigestion.” She blushed instantly, her cheeks flaming as she covered her face with her hands. “Oh my God. That was so not a first-date confession.”
He leaned closer and gently pulled her hands down, moving so he was directly in her line of vision. “It’s just like you, Karen. Beautiful and real. And I’ve had more fun tonight than I’ve had outside of being with Benji in a very long time.”
Their gazes locked, and the air between them felt charged with unspoken words, unvoiced desire. He had to resist the overwhelming urge to lean in and press his lips against hers. They were still in the middle of the restaurant, and he wanted their first kiss to be private, something just for them.
As soon as the server came around, he paid the bill and then slid out of his side of the corner booth. Bending, he snagged her coat and held it for her as she stood and slipped her arms inside. His hands stayed on her shoulders as she fastened her coat, then turned to look up at him. His gaze roved over her face, landing and halting at her lips. The desire to kiss her swelled within him, and he kept her hand firmly in his as they left the restaurant.
Once at his SUV, he assisted her in. With her now seated, her face was perfectly level with his, and the closeness between them ignited the simmering tension that had been building all evening. He gave her the opportunity to let him know what she wanted. She met him halfway without hesitation, and her lips landed on his.
His mouth started to curl up in a grin, but her tongue licked over the seam of his lips, and his smile died, replaced by a carnal groan. He angled his head to take the kiss deeper, his tongue sweeping into her warm mouth.
The electricity that he’d felt earlier in the cab of his SUV was now centered inside his body—in a straight line from his mouth to his dick. He pulled away reluctantly, barely aware that they were still near the lighted entrance of the restaurant, not exactly where he wanted to be when he delved into another kiss like the one they’d just shared.
Her eyes were wide as she looked at him, and her tongue dragged slowly over her pinkened lips. Yeah… we definitely need to get out of here to continue this kiss.