A Single Date (Dating Just Got Serious) Read online

  Her reluctant steps were silent as she trailed behind him. In the kitchen, she studied the table and then him. She opened her mouth. Without speaking, her lips closed just enough to form a perfect circle.

  “Let’s eat.” He pulled out the chair for her.

  “I said I wasn’t having dinner with you tonight.” She huffed, but all the anger in her face had dissolved. Her eyes softened and instead of the fiery stare from earlier, now there was a sparkle.

  “Why do you keep doing stuff like this?” She sounded like she was pleading with him.

  “What? I’m hungry and there’s no use in going home to eat alone. Plus, you haven’t eaten since you arrived, so this is my solution.”

  “Where did all this food come from?” She circled the table and stopped next to him. Standing close to her was enough to warm him all over.

  “I didn’t know what you wanted and you were being too much of a bad-ass to disturb, so I got a little of everything. There’s honey-glazed chicken, garlic and thyme sautéed beef, steamed broccoli, string beans with blue cheese, and for dessert, cheesecake and brownies.” He pointed to each dish. “I think I’ve covered all the bases.”

  She sniffed. “It smells wonderful. You shouldn’t have done all this.”

  “Oh yes, I should. I figured if you ate something you wouldn’t be so grouchy.”

  “I’m not grouchy.”

  He pulled out the chair for her. She took the seat, revealing her smooth thighs as he pushed her closer to the table.

  He bent low to whisper in her ear. The view of her breasts caused his desire to wake up and demand attention. “Baby, you were in a mood and it wasn’t a good one.”

  Her eyes grew large and her body was still. “Don’t call me baby.”

  “Why not? Do you prefer I call you honey, or sweetie, or darling? I’ll call you anything you want.”

  “My father calls me that just before he gives me another tidbit of advice that I’m supposed to follow.”

  “Got it.” He turned to the counter and picked up the plastic martini glasses. “I made cocktails.” He placed the martinis on the table.

  She didn’t hesitate before picking up her fork and placing food on her plate.

  “You could have gotten something to eat on your way home,” she said.

  “Yes, but the company wouldn’t have been as good.” He held up his glass. She gave him a long stare before picking up and tapping hers to his.

  “What are we toasting?”

  He slid his chair closer to her. “I’ve been told that wise men say that if you’re lucky you can find happiness in a single date.”

  She shoved a piece of chicken in her mouth while nodding. After chewing and swallowing, she asked. “Is this a date?”

  “It could be.”

  She nodded again. “What about the night we screwed all over my house?”

  “I don’t screw, princess. I have sex with women I care about, and since I was feeling something for you I was making love to you.”

  She pointed her fork at him. “You care for me? You hardly know me.”

  “I know more than you can imagine.” He speared some string beans and bit them in half. “What about those people who say they fell in love at first sight? Don’t you believe them?”

  She put her fork down and her face turned serious. “Yeah, I believe it can happen.”

  Her voice was barely audible. In the harsh glare of the kitchen work lights she still managed to look gorgeous. Her face was scrubbed clean and her hair hung loose just below her shoulders. He had to have her. There was no way he could shove his feelings for her back in the bottle now. The universe had placed the woman he wanted right in the middle of his project and in the center of his life.

  He cleared his plate before pushing away from the table. She sipped the last of her drink and set the glass next to her empty plate. He reached for her hand. She hesitated for a moment as he pulled her into his lap. Before she could resist he planted his tongue deep in her mouth, tasting the mellow flavor of the olive juice from the martini. With his fingers intertwined around her waist he savored every inch of her that touched him. Her soft thighs against his legs, the thin indentation of her waist, the texture of her tongue as she played with his. If she could love him half as much as he loved her, they could live happy forever.

  Just as he made his wish she circled her arms around his neck and held him tight. She wiggled on his lap for better position or to arouse him more. Either way it worked. He held her up and stripped off her little top, revealing the gentle slope of her shoulders and the dewy softness of her breasts. He eased his hand inside her shorts and stroked her core before pushing her shorts and panties down her long legs. He caressed her thighs as he drew his hands back up her legs, savoring each slow minute as he reveled in her beautiful body.

  While he removed his clothes, she rubbed her hands over his back. Her movements were just as slow as his, unlocking his emotions. He couldn’t tell her how he felt until she was ready to hear it. Tonight, she wasn’t ready.

  He sat back down and pulled her on top of him.

  “Condom?”

  “Yes, of course.” He used his foot to bring his pants closer and then pulled the sheath from his wallet. She slipped it on him and climbed back into place.

  He eased into her and into paradise.

  Chapter Seven

  Yani sat in the front of the restaurant, near the window so she could spot her friends the moment they walked in. She picked up the fork and pressed the tines against the table. The effort of tamping down her anger from last night left her with very little fight. Cat and Phoebe had been her friends since they stood up to the bullies together in fourth grade. But if the two of them thought they could change her mind about Drew, she needed to straighten them out now.

  Their little intervention in front of Drew had led to wonderful, unforgettable sex, but she and Drew needed more than good sex to anchor a relationship. He’d grow tired of her soon enough if they tried to grab anything more than a few nights of fun.

  It was easier to spot Phoebe because of her tall statuesque frame. Cat was so short Yani didn’t see her follow behind Phoebe. Yani waved her friends over as they entered the restaurant.

  “Okay, which one of you is the wise guy?” She glared at each of them.

  “What are you talking about? Are you angry about something?” From the false tone in Phoebe’s voice, she could tell the two of them had come up with their little scheme together.

  Yani dropped the fork on the table and exhaled. The connection Phoebe and Cat had with their parents resembled nothing she’d grown up with. Phoebe’s father was easy going and supportive. Cat’s dad was quiet and left all the decisions up to his wife. But Brooklyn Maxwell was hands-on. His gripped reached so deep, he’d probably still be giving commands from the grave.

  “Why are you doing this? If no one else understands my dilemma, I thought I could count on you two. Don’t you remember what it was like for me when I started dating? My father almost chased one guy out of the house for kissing me in the front hall. I know I’m grown and should just ignore my parents, but it’s not easy for me. They were very strict, and raised us to follow what they dictated.”

  “Oh, come on, Yani. What can they do to you now?” Phoebe nudged Cat. “Cat, help me out here. You thought inviting him to the wedding was a good idea, too.”

  “I know, but I didn’t think she’d be this upset.” Cat dropped her eyes to her lap.

  “My parents just want the best for me. They always have. I’ve heard them say a million times how important marrying the right man is. If I pick the wrong guy, I could end up divorced, a single mother, or a battered wife. There are a whole host of bad things that can happen to me if I screw this up.”

  “Oh, you want a guarantee?” Phoebe folded her arms over her chest and sat back, as if she were scolding a child.

  “Isn’t the right man, the one you love?” Cat stepped in to take on the next round.

  “L
ove doesn’t last thirty and forty years, Cat. It takes more than passion to hold two people together for a lifetime.”

  Phoebe and Cat exchanged a glance like two detectives getting nowhere with their interrogation.

  “Yes, it does. It’s the only thing that holds couples together. Look I know Robby doesn’t love me yet, but after the lonely nights and missed holidays while he’s doing his residency rotation, we’ll see where this relationship goes. It can’t end as badly as my last one, now, can it? Either way, I’m seeing it through and giving it a chance. I trust him.”

  “Cat’s right.” Phoebe sounded indignant. “Love is the only thing that lasts. The way I feel about Cory I have no worries that he’s the one. Even when I’m upset with him, I still want to be with him. And I wouldn’t let some crazy belief keep him out of my life. Love can’t be ignored.”

  “Are you falling in love with Drew?” Cat eyes registered the sympathy her voice didn’t.

  “No,” Yani lied. “I don’t know. I’ve only known him a few weeks.”

  “Love doesn’t tell time. You can fall in love in a day, in an instant. But I have to respect your choices. Maybe we shouldn’t have intervened, but we thought we were helping you out.” Cat sat back with resignation, too.

  After placing their lunch orders, Yani wrung her hands. Last night she’d try to envision her future and the image was blank. There was no white dress, no smiling groom at the end of the church aisle waiting for her. If she couldn’t have the man she wanted, she wouldn’t have anyone. Everyone else would be compared to Drew. But they were so different, having a fulfilling life together seemed impossible. Would she grow to resent the things he couldn’t give her? Would he resent her wanting?

  “So how do I uninvited him to the wedding, now? Drew has a stubborn cord running down the center of his spine. He’ll probably want to show up just to spite me,” Yani said as they finished their lunch.”

  “You’ll think of something,” Cat responded.

  As they walked out of the restaurant, Yani turned to her friends. “Just so we’re clear. You both know I’m going to get you back for this stunt of yours. You might not see it coming, but keep an eye over your shoulders.” She pointed at them.

  Back at her office, behind the closed door, was the safest place for Yani. Her greatest accomplishment this morning was getting out of the house before Drew showed up. She didn’t need to see his fit body or penetrating eyes to know she was falling for him. She had driven to work wishing she could extricate herself from her brewing feelings without always thinking she’d missed her one opportunity for love. Maybe what they’d had would have to be a memory from now on.

  That first Saturday they’d spent together, laughing and looking at samples had been the most fun she’d had in a long time. He wasn’t pretentious and cautious. He was just fun.

  Long after she left the restaurant with her friends, their words echoed in her head. Yani tried to shake the comments off. But the truth in their words stung. She liked Drew, and ignoring her feelings for him didn’t seem possible. What she thought she knew about herself and her future was less certain, now. She felt like she was pushing a gigantic rock uphill and at any minute she’d lose her grip and be crushed by the one thing she wanted, Drew.

  The phone rang, pulling her away from the unhappy thoughts. Her father’s number flashed in the display, making her palms clammy. After the third ring, she picked up with a deep breath. “Hi Dad.”

  “Yolanda, I know I shouldn’t interrupt you at work, but your mom and I have decided to come up a little early for Phoebe’s wedding. We’ll be there on Monday.”

  Yani held the receiver above her mouth and sighed. He wasn’t asking, he was telling. Always telling.

  “Dad, I’ve got a lot going on. I’d rather you guys arrived on Friday like we planned.” Her voice grew firmer. “If you guys insist on coming earlier, then I may not be available to see you until the end of the week.” She held her breath.

  For several moments silence occupied the line. Yani sensed the irritation her father was holding back, but she refused to give in. Instead of speaking first she remained quiet.

  “Okay, Baby. Let me tell your mother.”

  She exhaled long and slow. “I’ll see you then.” She hung up the phone with a grin. “Boy, that felt good.”

  While tidying her office to go home, she recalled her last relationship, the one her parents had blessed. The first few dates with Glen had been promising. She was almost certain they could get serious. But the passion never erupted. They drifted apart. His only interest was his work. On the few days they managed to schedule time together, he talked on his cell phone or recapped the events of his day, in glorious, dull details. It bored her. He fit the profile of the perfect, professional man, but their relationship lacked sparks let alone a full-fledged fire.

  She had become as boring as Glen. When she wasn’t working, she was thinking about what she needed to do when she got there. Without Drew to hang out with or banter back and forth with the contracts, nothing could take her mind off all the emptiness in her day. Her life would go back to the monotonous loop that she was so familiar with. The routine she now hated.

  She hurried down the stairs and out of the building to her car. Tonight she planned to get a good long look at Drew. Paste it in her memory so she’d never forget how he strummed her body like a precision instrument. With the bathroom now finished, he would be done with the whole project long before Memorial Day. Then he’d move on to his next job or next woman.

  Yani pulled her car out of the parking lot. Maybe she could find another project for him. Her. Like her new kitchen, her life needed a makeover too.

  Torn between what she really wanted and what she ought to want, her knees wouldn’t stop shaking. Standing up to her father was like facing down Goliath. But she really hadn’t slayed the big monster, yet, her fear. And until she learned how to do that, she’d be running from it forever.

  The man in the car behind her blew his horn when she failed to move through the green light. The vision of Drew disappeared when she pressed the accelerator. She shook away the image of her fantasy handyman and focused her attention on getting home. It was silly to think she could be falling in love with someone so different from the men she’d dated in the past; men with lots of money, long lists of degrees and pedigrees. But those relationships were behind her for a good reason. None of them were memorable enough to make her heart yearn.

  Yani slowed the car when she turned onto her block and examined the well-manicured lawn, pleased to see her landscaper had kept his promise to trim the shrubs and plant spring flowers in the beds. Now the house had character, it looked alive and happy…unlike her. Drew came into view in front of the French doors. His muscular shoulders strained against his white signature t-shirt. Her pulse quickened and so did her heart. She watched as he fished around in his large toolbox, and all she could think about was stepping into his thick arms and letting him capture her tongue again.

  Before going into the house, she checked her make-up in the rear-view mirror to make sure she looked presentable. Her brown eyes stared back at her, revealing the loneliness she tried to ignore. Maybe they could have one more fling between the sheets before she watched him walk away. Nobody had to know about it. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves before climbing out of the car and heading inside.

  “Yani, you’re home.” His husky voice greeted her.

  She nodded. She wished she could run into his arms, instead she let the kitchen island separate them. The cold stone functioned as her chaperone. Again, she tried to slow her breathing.

  The ripped wall from yesterday was now taped and spackled. The progress in one day was noticeable. Maybe he was in a hurry to get away from her crazy baggage.

  “With the insulation and bug problems, I thought you would get behind, but you’re making good progress.”

  “I called in a few more men. I know you’re planning a party for the holiday. I don’t want to be the
cause of any delays, princess.” He ran tape along a seam.

  “Well, it wasn’t just about the get-together. The place has been a little chaotic. I want my life and house to get back to normal. I work better when everything is steady.”

  He pressed the tape firmly into place and then dropped the roll in the box. He swiped his hand on his pants leaving white chalky marks.

  It took a moment for him to answer. Yani felt uncomfortable with his penetrating gaze. “Is that the only thing important to you? Neatness. Following directions and work?”

  She put her briefcase in the chair. “Isn’t that why we work, to make a living?”

  “Yeah, but it should be something you enjoy, something that excites you to get out of bed in the morning.”

  “Hammering all day does it for you?”

  “Yes, hammering is fun. But it’s a small part of what I do. It takes planning, organizing and imagination to complete a project.” He gave her his infamous smile as he walked around the counter to stand closer to her. She wanted to touch him, feel his skin, to see if the sizzle still existed between them or was her empty life working her imagination overtime. It took extra fortitude not to move nearer to him.

  “Before I begin hammering, as you put it, I have to develop a plan and fine-tune it until I come up with a design that works. Changing your kitchen was akin to working on a canvas. It’s like art for me, creating something no one else has ever done. I took your old, non-functioning bathroom and made it into something you can enjoy using.” He swung his arms wide to encompass the kitchen. “When I’m finished in here, I’m hoping I can say the same thing about it, too.”

  “Well Drew,” she hesitated. “What you’ve done so far looks great.” She ran her hand along the smooth quartz of her new kitchen island, admiring his work. The man knew how to use his hands. Too bad he wouldn’t be using those hands to work a little magic for much longer. Everything else about Drew was perfect; he almost had her panting and he hadn’t touched her. She could feel his eyes on her as she moved around the space.