6. LEARNING YOUR SMILE #2
“You don’t understand.” He smiles, but it’s a sad curve of his lips. “I’ve only ever given one person a chance. Never again after that.”
“So give one to me,” I rush out, voice small just like his. “Give me one chance. I’ll show you it’ll be worth it.”
Kenneth looks down at my hand that he’s been tracing, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“Your heart line is chained, indicating a tumultuous emotional life. It makes sense. You feel deeply.” I frown at his sudden change of subject.
“And here”—he traces said line and shows me where it divides at the end into a fork—“you have a choice to make. Two paths to choose from. Does that resonate with you?”
I shake my head, thoroughly confused. I have no idea what two paths I’d ever have to choose from; it’s not like I’ve had another love interest or anything along those lines. “No,” I say. “It doesn’t.”
He smiles shyly. “Well, maybe I’m reading you wrong.”
I grin. “Are you a romantic, Kenneth Dunn?”
“No way.” He snorts, and I laugh. “I’m a skeptic.”
Before I can reply, the server comes back and places two cocktails on the table, one in front of each of us. I look at them, down to the little umbrella, and look at Kenneth curiously. But he’s looking at the server as she speaks animatedly.
“Are you ready to order, darling?” she asks him, laying it on thick.
He smirks at me and shakes his head.
“No, darling,” I say pointedly. “We’re not. Please give us a few more minutes.”
Her eyes widen, but she nods, then walks away quietly.
Kenneth’s loud laugh bursts out of him, continuing until he’s clutching the table, and I roll my eyes.
I guess I can’t help my jealousy after all.
I’m proud of the fact that I can make him laugh this way in the first place, though, and when he finally quiets, he stares into my eyes with a smirk.
“Oh my God, Connie.” He chuckles, cheeks a bright shade of pink. “I said you don’t need to be jealous.”
“I’m not.” I roll my eyes, though I clearly am. “Just a bit territorial.”
“Caveman.” He grins, not at all put out by it. Thank fuck.
“What are these?” I ask him, looking down at my drink again, the orange-red hue of it alerting me to the fruity taste of it. The cherry on top solidifies my suspicions.
“Sex on the Beach.” His eyes sparkle when he says it, and I throw my head back and laugh.
“Subtle.” I grin.
“I know what I want.”
“I like a man who knows what he wants.” I wink, and he blushes even more, if that’s possible. His cheeks are now red. “I love the way you blush, too.”
Kenneth shakes his head. “I don’t blush.”
“Then what do you call what’s happening to your face?” I raise an eyebrow, and his eyes turn playful.
“A hot flash.”
“Do you need to take some clothes off, Ken?” I ask him with a grin.
“Are you going to help me out of them?” He doesn’t miss a single beat with his reply, and I chuckle.
“Only if you want me to.”
His eyes grow dark, pupils dilating, black swallowing blue. “I really, really want you to.”
I gulp, suddenly feeling hot myself, and he stares at me intently. I realize he’s waiting for me to say something, and I clear my throat. “You’re making it really hard to say no to you.”
“So don’t say no,” Kenneth says with a smirk.
I take a sip of the drink, hoping to alleviate my dry throat, and the sugary taste of the juices makes me close my eyes in delight. “Sweet,” I say softly. “Like you.”
“You have no idea,” he says in a sultry voice, and my cock hardens uncomfortably. I clear my throat and adjust myself in my seat, and he leans back with a smirk. “Are you turned on right now?”
“Yes,” I reply without hesitation.
Kenneth groans, throwing his head back and squeezing his eyes shut. “Fuck, you’re so hot.”
I grin when he meets my gaze once more. “Let’s order some food.”
“You sure you don’t want my cum instead?” he asks brazenly. I’ve come to realize this is how he always is. Unapologetic and bold in everything he does and says.
“Sorry, love,” I reply. “I don’t think that would fill me up much. Maybe for dessert.”
He groans again. “Tease.”
I chuckle, looking around for the waitress, and once we make eye contact, I nod. She comes quickly, this time asking us both what we want, but once more, Kenneth orders everything himself. I let him, mostly because I didn’t really look at the menu, and he seems to know what to order by heart.
Before long, the food is placed between us, and Kenneth’s hand falls to his lap.
I miss the heat of him immediately, but focus on the dishes instead.
A plate of broiled scallops, mashed potatoes, and broccoli is in the middle of the table.
A bowl of lobster mac n cheese to the side of it.
A lobster roll next to that, and lastly, two bowls of clam chowder right in front of us.
I raise an eyebrow. “Did you order the entire menu?”
“Only the best for my babe,” he teases, making me laugh. “These are all my favorites. I figured you could like them too.”
I smile at him, blowing softly on a spoonful of clam chowder and then trying it. “Fuck, this is good.”
“Told you.”
We chat as we eat, mostly small talk about my work and his exhibits.
He tells me about when he opened his studio and when he got noticed for the first time.
I tell him about college and my job, and he sits on the edge of his seat the entire time, listening intently.
And then, before I can chicken out, I change the subject. Abruptly, might I add.
“I’m about to ruin the vibe.” I wince, and he tilts his head to the side, waiting for me to continue. “But what was your deal the other night? At the bar.”
“You want the honest answer?”
“Usually.” I nod.
“I already told you I thought you were attractive.” He exhales harshly. “It’s just that I haven’t been on a date in years. It’s kind of my thing. I only have sex, and then I move on. It’s not personal.”
“Then why am I here now?” Help me understand.
“I’m curious. I’ve been curious since the bar,” he admits.
“Then why act like you wanted me to disappear?” I ask him, hoping he’ll give me a genuine answer and not some bullshit.
He snorts, a chuckle escaping him. “Because sometimes meeting someone interesting is really inconvenient. And… never mind.”
“And what?”
“I recognized you.” Kenneth bites his bottom lip.
My heart beats a little faster, and before I know it, it’s pounding like a drum. “From where?”
He hesitates, “That’s the thing. I couldn’t remember.”
“Was it from the gallery?” I ask him.
“No. I recognized you then, too.” His smile is wobbly, and I swallow hard but don’t say anything. He watches me closely. “Wanna get out of here?”
“Y-yeah.” I clear my throat. “Okay.”
Kenneth asks for the check, and when he pulls out his wallet, I try to stop him. But he just gives me a small shake of his head and hands the card over to the server.
“You can’t pay—”
“I can,” he says firmly. “I asked you out, I’m paying.”
I nod slowly. “Fine. But can I at least walk you to your door?”
“Are you going to kiss me good night, Conrad?” There’s a smirk on his lips as he looks into my eyes, giving me his undivided attention once more. He doesn’t even look at the server when she places his card and receipt back on the table.
“Isn’t that first date etiquette?” I grin.
“Is that what this is?” Kenneth asks with a shy smile, blue eyes bright and golden hair falling over his eyebrows in a way that makes me want to brush it away from his face. “I’m not well-versed in dates.”
“I sure hope so.”
Kenneth’s grin is blinding as he tips the server and signs the receipt, then puts his card back in his wallet, which he shoves into his pocket.
He stands slowly from his chair, and I follow after him out into the warm summer night, the ocean breeze ruffling his hair as we walk.
Apparently, this restaurant is only a short distance away from his place.
Once we make it to his front door, he looks at me expectantly, eyes wide and dilated.
He leans back against the door, resting his back on the wood, and I close the distance between us.
My arms bracket his face, caging him in, and I touch my nose to his.
Our breath mingles, his smelling sweet from our cocktail, and I brush my lips against his lightly.
It’s barely a touch, but it still sends electricity shooting down my spine.
Right as I’m about to lean in and press my lips to his, he speaks.
“Come inside,” he whispers, lips moving against mine. “Please.”
“I shouldn’t,” I say softly, though my resolve is crumbling.
“No sex, I swear,” he says quickly, and I relax. “I just don’t want it to end yet.”
I want to tell him I don’t want it to end at all. Not now. Not ever.
The overwhelming feeling that I know him, that I’ve known him my whole life, is stronger than ever. It makes my hands shake, and my body feel like it’s about to burst from all the emotions I’m trying to contain.
I nod slowly and brush my nose against his, then kiss the corner of his mouth, right over his dimple. “Only for a little bit.”
Kenneth’s grin is blinding as I pull back, and he nods. “Do you like hot chocolate?”
I frown. “It’s summertime, Ken.”
“So?” He raises an eyebrow. “I’m not very traditional, if you haven’t noticed yet.”
“I do like hot chocolate,” I say with amusement, shaking my head.
“Great,” he says, turning around and unlocking the door. “I think I like you.”
God, I hope so.
I really, really do.