Chapter 4 #2
I pushed back from my chair and got up. I approached the man at the bar steadily and with purpose.
Hank was facing the dining room and shot me his shit-eating grin.
“What are you doing here?”
“No hello?” Hank came forward and gave me a hug. He’d been a buddy of Drake’s and flew in to be with me after that heartbreaking day. “I’m visiting my SEAL buddies.”
“And yet you’re at a French bistro hanging out alone?”
Hank blew out a breath. “I worry about you, sweetheart.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m a thirty-five-year-old woman and you’re treating me like I’m on my first date with a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Hank looked past my shoulder at Kyle. “He looks like a good guy.”
I glanced at my date who was watching us curiously. “Kyle is a good guy.” I leaned in closer. “And don’t you dare run a whole background check on him.”
As far as I knew, Hank Bristow worked in intelligence. I wasn’t exactly sure, but he seemed to know things and showed up when I needed him. I didn’t even question how he did it. Drake had been tight-lipped about what his friend did, but I could only surmise that it was a black ops team.
When he didn’t reply, I narrowed my eyes. “You already did.”
He shrugged.
“I’m trying to move on,” I whispered.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” Hank muttered and put an arm around me. “I really was in town to meet up with the guys, but I thought I’d check up on you.” He gave me a squeeze. “Go back and enjoy your evening with Romeo.”
I gave a small snort of laughter. Hank had a way of making an awkward moment turn around.
“We need to catch up,” I told him.
“I’d love to, but I’m on a tight schedule.”
“Bummer,” I mumbled.
After giving him another hug, I made my way back to the table.
“Friend of your husband?” Kyle asked when I sat down.
“Sort of,” I evaded. After what had happened to Drake’s team, I’d been thinking twice about pointing out a SEAL.
In his drunken ramblings, Marcus Harrelson insisted that there was a cover-up in his wife and kids’ deaths.
Rumors abounded that it was a hit by the same terrorist who masterminded the massacre of Fire Team.
But because the Navy refused to spend money on protecting the remaining SEAL widows, they didn’t investigate further.
No sense discovering a problem they didn’t plan to fix.
Our server returned with dessert. I had ordered a lavender crème br?lée while Kyle ordered a chocolate ganache layered bar.
“That looks scrumptious,” I remarked at the multilayered chocolate extravaganza.
Kyle chuckled. “Do I detect regret in your tone?”
I cracked the sugary shell of the custard and scooped a creamy spoonful into my mouth. “Hmm…this is good, but I bet yours is better.”
His eyes twinkled. “Do you want to exchange?”
My eyes widened. “You’d do that?”
His chuckle deepened, and the walls around my heart cracked as laughter bubbled up my throat.
This was good. Laughter was good.
“It’s just dessert, Izabel.” Kyle stopped laughing and grinned.
“I mean, lavender crème br?lée isn’t exactly something I thought a man would be caught ordering.”
“Izabel Maddox.” Kyle’s voice held a tinge of mock censure. “Do I detect some form of sexist remark from your last statement?”
“Well, have a taste.” I held out my spoon.
He screwed up his face. “Uh, no.”
“See?” I laughed harder.
“What I meant was—you can have mine and I can order another one.”
“Well, I don’t want to waste food,” I replied pertly and dipped into my crème br?lée again as if to emphasize a point.
Kyle dug into the tempting layers of sinful chocolate and then held it out to me. “Well, would you settle for a bite?”
I smiled impishly. “I would love to.”
When Kyle took me home, I marveled at how differently I felt before and after the date.
It had been cathartic to laugh and flirt again with a man.
Kyle was good company, charming, and he wisely didn’t pry into my past with Drake.
I’d been having such a wonderful time with him during dessert that I didn’t notice Hank leaving.
Of course, being a former SEAL, he was stealthy that way.
As Kyle’s Porsche pulled up my driveway, I turned to face him. “Thank you for a lovely dinner.”
His face was shadowed, but I could feel the heat in his eyes. My breathing stuttered nervously when he leaned in closer until our faces were inches apart.
“I’m going to kiss you,” he murmured. “Okay?”
I gulped and nodded.
The first press of his mouth felt totally wrong.
I opened my mouth to protest, but Kyle took that as an invitation to delve deeper.
His tongue swept into my mouth and he pulled me closer.
His kiss was gentle and coaxing, making me want to explore and give in to the moment.
His hand slid lower to my hip before settling on top of a thigh, just at the hem of my skirt.
Kyle’s breathing grew ragged and, although a spark had started low in my belly, I had to stop this.
A car alarm went off in the neighborhood and we both jumped back into our seats.
I ran awkward fingers through my hair. “Um…”
Kyle gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
I nodded, relieved to get out of the car.
He waited until I rounded the front of his vehicle and held out his hand. I had no choice but to take it. He tugged me close and together we walked up the pathway.
“I hate to see this evening end,” Kyle said as we turned toward each other at the door. The car alarm in the neighborhood was still blaring. “I really like you, Izabel. I know I should wait a couple of days before I call you and ask you for another date, but why waste time?”
“Are you asking me on another date?”
“Would Wednesday be too soon?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Let’s discuss details at the office.” He glanced around the neighborhood, a look of irritation crossing his face. “Someone needs to take care of that alarm.”
I unlocked the door and pushed it open. “I agree. So,” I said, peering up at him. “See you at the office?”
He paused as if wanting to say something, but changed his mind and lowered his head to press a chaste kiss on my lips. “Until Monday then.”
Seconds after I closed the door and stepped into the foyer, the annoying car alarm stopped.
Thank God for that.