I forced a smile. “Just one of those days. I feel better now,” I told him.
“Good. Because I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me tonight? Maybe a movie, too?”
I paused. Wait . . . was he asking me out on a date? I turned to look at him and the hopeful look in his eyes told me that was exactly what he was doing. Adam wanted to take me out.
My immediate reaction was no. I wasn’t ready to do this, but I stopped myself before I could say something. That Grant had hurt me didn’t mean everyone would. Besides, Grant had saved himself some trouble. He didn’t know it, but he had. Adam wasn’t in that danger. I wasn’t going to want him the way I did Grant. Besides, was it fair that I protect myself from everyone? Did I want to be alone my whole life? No. I didn’t. I didn’t want to be living with my dad until I died. I deserved to know what living was like. I wanted to know I was loved. How would I ever find that if I didn’t look for it or allow it to come to me?
“I’d like that,” I said without thinking about it further.
The grin on Adam’s face was immediate, and I had to smile myself. I was going on a date. A real one. Dad would be proud of me.
“Whew, I’d been preparing myself all day for you to turn me down, and I had to pump myself up to ask.”
He had put himself out there. That made me feel special. More special than Grant had ever made me feel.
“I’m glad you asked,” I told him honestly.
“Me, too,” he replied, and threw his towel over his shoulder. “You leaving now?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Let me walk you to your car. My next appointment can wait a few minutes,” he said, and opened the gate for me. I liked that, too.
He fell into step beside me. “I can pick you up at your place if that’s okay,” he said.
“Oh, yes, that would be good. I live at 43 Rosemary Beach Estates,” I told him.
“Seven too early? Late?”
“Seven is perfect,” I replied.
We walked around the building instead of through it but Adam didn’t seem to be in a hurry.
“Things with Nan going okay?” he asked.
I shrugged. Not really. She hated Mase and she hated me more for being there, but I didn’t care. “Tolerable,” I replied.
We stepped into the parking lot and I remembered I’d valet parked.
“Harlow,” Mase called from his truck. I glanced over at him then back at Adam.
“That’s Mase, my brother. He’s here visiting.” I explained.
Adam’s eyes widened slightly. “I’d heard that Kiro had a son, but I thought it was a rumor.”
A nervous knot formed in my stomach. The mention of my dad threw me off. He had “heard” about Mase? Only diehard fans had heard of Mase. He stayed out of the news. I wasn’t sure what to think.
Adam turned his grin back to me. “I’ll see you tonight,” he said.
I nodded and he turned to walk back the way we came before Mase got too close to us.
“Get in. I want lunch and I don’t want it here. I need real food,” he said as he stopped in front of me. I climbed into his truck.
“Tennis instructor?” he asked
I nodded, still thinking about Adam’s comment about Mase.
“You like him? He’s sure got the hots for you. The dude’s tongue was almost hanging out.”