14. Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
Warlock
I’m thrilled Tallahassee finally agreed to this date.
Conceited as it sounds, I’m not used to working this hard to get a woman to go out with me.
I also know if I want her to agree to a second date, I have to tread carefully.
I need to stay away from any topics that might upset her or cause her to withdraw from me.
Since the game, I’ve been preoccupied thinking about our kiss. My only goal tonight is for Tallahassee to enjoy herself, but I can’t deny I’m hoping I get the opportunity to kiss her again.
When I arrive at Nash’s and she opens the door, my lungs seize.
She’s wearing a short, gold, beaded dress that leaves little to the imagination, with matching strappy sandals. Her makeup is subtle, and her loose blonde hair is a little wild, tumbling over her shoulders.
I can’t help myself, I’m staring at her.
“Are you okay?” she asks, frowning.
“No. Wow,” I breathe. “You’re absolutely, perfectly beautiful.”
She ducks her head, a pretty blush coloring her cheeks. “You look very nice too.”
“If you’re ready, we should go.” If we don’t, I might drag her back inside and do something she’s not ready for. Something we’d both regret.
The restaurant I chose is intimate and romantically lit. After a short wait, we’re seated in a small corner booth. Realizing she doesn’t seem uncomfortable sitting this close to me, I breathe a sigh of relief.
When our server arrives, we order drinks. After they’re delivered, Tallahassee takes a generous gulp of her pi?a colada and whooshes out a breath.
“Is your drink not okay?” I turn to search for our waiter. “We can get you something else.”
She waves me off. “No, it’s fine. I just don’t drink very often.”
After taking another sip, she surprises me when she explains, “I used to be a swimmer.”
She knows I’m aware of that, but it’s the first time she’s volunteered that information.
“When I was training, my coach forbade alcohol, so I got a late start. I’m a lightweight.
” She rotates her glass absently between her hands.
“But this feels like a situation that calls for alcohol. I’m nervous and need the liquid courage.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date. I guess I have first date jitters.”
Hearing that causes my brows to tug together.
I hate that she feels that way. I rest my hand on her knee to get her attention.
“There’s no reason for you to be nervous.
You’re safe with me, Tallahassee. I won’t hurt you or let anyone else hurt you.
Tonight, I don’t have any expectations beyond the two of us having a nice meal and getting to know each other better. ”
I take a long swallow of my own drink, letting her digest my words before asking, “So, a swimmer, huh?” I keep my voice light. “What was that like?”
A faraway look clouds her eyes. “Swim, run, gym, swim again. It was exhausting.” She shrugs one shoulder. “At least that’s what I tell myself now.” She takes another drink.
I know this is a touchy subject for her and need to approach it carefully. “What do you mean, that’s what you tell yourself?”
She’s silent for a handful of seconds. “Do you like being a SEAL?”
I answer honestly, “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
“Are you good at it?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll bet it takes a lot of work to be good at it.”
“It does.”
Her tone changes along with her mood. “So imagine if tomorrow, for whatever reason, you couldn’t be a SEAL anymore. You’d be…”
“Lost and hollow.”
She gives me an affirmative nod, pinning me with those big blue eyes. “Yes. Lost and hollow. So, to survive, I tell myself I don’t miss the early wake ups, the exhaustion, or the competition, trying to believe I don’t feel so…lost.”
Now it all makes sense. I’m desperate for more details but I’m reluctant to ask and burst the bubble. I’m happy she’s opening up and giving me this much. I can’t push. I have to be patient and allow her to tell me at her own pace.
“Is that what you meant when you told me you were broken?”
Her eyes fill with emotion, and instead of answering, she takes another healthy drink.
“I get it. If someone took my Trident, I’d feel broken too.”
Puffing out her cheeks, she blows out a long, uneasy breath. “Well, now that I’ve ruined our whole date…”
Our small horseshoe booth puts us close enough our knees and thighs are already brushing, but I still angle my body to face her, reaching out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Stop. You didn’t ruin anything. I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me.”
I assume I’ve hit a nerve and veered into forbidden territory when she changes the subject. “How’s your dad?”
I don’t have a problem letting her steer the conversation. I just want her to keep talking. “There might be something to your mom’s matchmaking. He’s still seeing Cynthia. I’m sure you know she runs an animal rescue.”
She bobs her head. “All of my parents’ pets came from her rescue.”
“Dad’s been volunteering. He started fostering a dog Cynthia found chained to a tree in the middle of nowhere. Abused. Starving. Distrustful.”
Tallahassee’s expression softens.
“She’s got some sort of skin infection. She’s lost all her fur. Her scabby skin is bright pink and feels like an elephant’s. It’s so bad, you can’t tell what breed she is. My dad has to give her medicated baths twice a week. Oh, and she had six puppies two days after he brought her home.”
The more I talk, the more amused she becomes. When I finish, she lets out the first real laugh I’ve heard from her. It’s breathtaking and the sound goes straight to my dick.
Her smile is rare, her laugh even rarer, which is what makes them the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen or heard. I’d do anything for her to feel this free and happy all the time.
I risk draping my arm across the back of the booth, trailing random patterns against the soft skin of her shoulder with my fingers. “Why are you laughing?”
She sips her drink, then waves a dismissive hand. “Of course, I feel bad for the poor thing, but I’m laughing because your dad is now the proud owner of a dog.”
I give my head a shake. “No. He’s only fostering her until her medical condition clears up and her puppies are weaned.”
She laughs again. “No, I don’t think so.
I’ll bet he got her a big fluffy dog bed she doesn’t use because she’s snuggled up next to him on the couch or in bed with him.
” She wags her finger at me. “Trust me, that dog is already a foster fail. In two or three months when she’s ready to be adopted, he’ll be so attached, he won’t be able to give her up. Did he name her?”
“The rescue called her Katrina, but Dad calls her Lady.”
“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your dad has a new dog.” She laughs again.
I’m becoming addicted to the sound.
I curl my fingers around the nape of her neck bringing her closer to me. I can’t help it. “If I’d known this was all it took to make you laugh, I’d have done it sooner.”
Her lips part on a startled inhale. Her eyes widen, and her pupils dilate.
I release her before I give in to temptation and kiss her.
Thankfully, our waiter returns, and we order our meals.
Tallahassee surprises me when she asks for another drink.
She wasn’t kidding about being a lightweight.
It’s easy to see she’s got a nice little buzz going.
I’m not proud of it but use it to my advantage to keep her talking.
Tonight, she’s letting down her walls and it’s a beautiful sight.
While we eat, I ask her questions about her life, her childhood, her likes and dislikes. All of which she readily answers with amusing stories and anecdotes.
“Hey, why am I doing all the talking?” she asks after wrapping up an entertaining story about a roadside attraction in Alliance, Nebraska, called Carhenge—a replica of Stonehenge made entirely of vintage cars.
“I like it.” I nod toward her drink with a grin. “I finally figured out how to get you to open up a little.”
“You’re trying to get me drunk,” she teases.
Her laugh and smile are magnificent, but I might prefer this playful side of her even more.
I feign outrage. “Tallahassee Crockett! You know that’s simply not true.”
I don’t try to fight the smile that creeps over my lips when she giggles in response.
“Okay, then tell me something about you.”
“What do you want to know?”
“You work a lot. Train a lot. What do you do for fun?”
“You may have noticed I like to hang out with my friends at your brother’s bar. We eat, play pool, and sometimes participate in trivia night. I also like bowling.”
She smiles wide. “Bowling? Really? Would you believe I’ve never been bowling?”
“You’ve never been bowling?” I’m in shock. “How’s that possible?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess I never had the time or opportunity.”
“We’re going to rectify that. Everyone needs to go bowling at least once in their life.”
“Is that so?”
“Absolutely. It’s a requirement as an American.”
The conversation flows easily between us throughout dinner. Even after we’ve eaten, we both seem reluctant to leave. Pulling up to Nash’s house, I’m feeling rather optimistic about this date and the time we’ve spent together tonight. I’m hoping she enjoyed herself as much as I did.
“Thank you, I had a good time tonight,” she tells me when we reach the front door.
“You don’t need to sound so surprised.”
“But I am surprised. It’s been a long time.”
“I’m glad it was with me.” I step closer, cradling her face between my hands. Our mouths only inches apart. “I’m going to kiss you now, Tallahassee.”
“Okay,” she breathes across my lips.
I draw her close with a grunt of satisfaction. I savor the gentle swirl of her tongue against mine, the faint taste of rum and coconut. Like our kiss at the stadium, it turns incendiary, but unlike at the game, this time there’s no one watching and I’m able to take my time with a long, slow kiss.
I’ve never enjoyed kissing a woman more than Tallahassee, and if I had my way, I’d stay and kiss her all night long. I hope that day will come, but until then, I remind myself I need to have patience.
When I ease away from her, we’re both breathing hard, our breath surging in and out of our lungs. “I’ve been dying to do that all night,” I confess.
Still pressed against me, her palms flex against my chest. Her response is confident yet shy. “I was hoping you would.”
“Does this mean you’ll go out with me again?” I ask.
A surge of warmth spreads through my chest with her flirty smile. “It’s a possibility.”
I grin down at her. “That’s not a no.”
“Well, you did promise to take me bowling.”
“Yes, I did. And that’s what we’re going to do on our next date.” I kiss her once more and reluctantly let her go.
As I watch her disappear inside, I’m already counting the hours until I see her again.