Chapter 10
10
“ Y ou wish I was that simple,” I tease back, stunned— in the best way —by how this date is going.
Claire is fucking gorgeous, but there’s more to her than looks.
She’s challenging me at every turn, and I’m loving it.
There’s something refreshing about a woman who doesn’t hold back, who pushes and prods like she’s testing what I’m made of.
“Do you want another one?” I ask, eyeing her empty drink.
“After we’re done eating, yes.” Then a sly smile grows on her face.
“If you have one more drink, are you going to be more or less inclined to break your rules?”
I nearly grumble.
Is she teasing me, or does she seriously want to hook up?
“It wouldn’t matter. Rules are rules.”
“Another hard habit to shake from the military?”
“There are plenty of lingering habits from the military … like waking up super early. The Marine discipline is drilled into me.”
“So, you never break the rules?” she flirts.
“Who are we without our principles?” I say, leaning forward.
She smiles down at the food, avoiding my gaze, and I watch her cut her appetizer into small bites.
“Are you hoping that with another drink, I’ll objectify you?”
“Hoping?” she mocks, looking up through her lashes.
She knows exactly what she’s doing, and I’m here for it.
“If you want me to tell you that you’re the sexiest fucking woman I’ve ever seen, I’ll just tell you.”
She bites her thumbnail, her blue eyes staring deeply into mine.
“If you want me to tell you that your action-figure aesthetic is working for you,” she says, with a growing smile, “then I guess I will.”
“Action figure.” I chuckle.
“If you’re looking for a toy, then I don’t think this is going to work.”
“I’m not looking for anything,” she shoots back, her tone more serious than I expected.
Her words hang in the air between us.
I set my elbow on the table, resting my head in my hand, taking her in.
“I don’t believe you,” I whisper, selfishly hoping the response is her defense mechanism and not the truth.
Because I want more.
We eat silently for a moment, and I take the time to think.
I’ve been on plenty of dates this year, but this one feels different.
There’s real potential here, but she’s so guarded.
Maybe she really isn’t looking for something serious, or maybe she’s afraid to admit she could be.
I can’t tell yet, but I want to find out.
“Tell me about your daughter,” I say, shifting gears.
“How’s she doing? I kind of guessed a stuffed animal would be appropriate since you said she was at Tot Academy.”
“She loves stuffed animals, so thank you,” Claire says, and her expression softens.
“Gabriella … Gabby is feeling better. Minutes before the fire alarm went off, they called me saying she had a fever, so I was stressed about needing to pick her up. That’s why I was frazzled.”
“You handle pressure well,” I say, watching her closely.
“I wouldn’t say you were frazzled. Stubborn for sure.” I wink, trying to ease the tension.
“Well, I’m a redhead. I think by birthright I have to be.”
And she’s funny.
I check Claire out, letting my eyes linger on her chest a moment longer than I have all night, then flick my eyes back to her face, captivated.
“How old is your daughter?” I ask, wanting to peel back the layers.
“She turned four a couple of months ago.”
Four.
Claire looks about my age, maybe a couple of years younger.
It makes me admire how she’s managed everything—the divorce, the move, being a single mom.
She’s one strong woman.
“When did you move to Wisconsin?” I ask, although I already know.
“In January. Once the divorce was final, and we had our custody agreement locked in,” she says, her tone more guarded again.
“I’m curious, but I don’t want to press.” It wouldn’t be polite to grill her about this, although I want to know.
“Maybe in a couple of dates we can get more into all of that,” she says, and I nod, understanding.
More dates.
I try not to smirk, excited about the idea of more dates.
I don’t need all the answers right now, but I’m already thinking ahead–our next date.
“So you want to go out with me again?”
Claire takes a bite of her gnocchi.
“Are you trying to get yourself some more time? Or just trying to make me nervous?” I tease.
She laughs, covering her mouth.
“I don’t have that much free time.”
“Aaron said something about you getting the week off.”
“Did he?” I nod, and she smiles.
“I’m free tomorrow, Saturday, and half of the day on Sunday.”
“I work tomorrow night. The barge setting off fireworks could catch fire. I’ll be manning the fireboat. How do you feel about a morning date?”
“You want to see me tomorrow morning?” Claire sounds too surprised.
“Yes.”
She’s smiling, but she isn’t saying anything.
“No pressure,” I add, trying to give her an easy out.
“I’m sure you want to just chill by yourself too.”
“I like walking on the lake path and haven’t done it enough this summer. Want to go for a morning walk?”
“That sounds great. What’s your coffee order?”
“Why?”
“When I pick you up, I’ll bring coffee.”
I want to bring her a morning treat before our long walk, the perfect date to keep peeling back her layers.
I want to know everything about her.