for their mother to tell them the truth about their real father. The man they’d spent so very little time with over the short years of their parents’ marriage.
The man who’d never even seen his third child.
Kylie dressed with care for her dinner with Seth, choosing a long-sleeved amethyst V-necked sweater dress that clung to her curves, hoping the cashmere blend would keep her warm in the cool September evening.
The fact that the fabric accented her curves only helped to give her some badly needed self-confidence.
She couldn’t help staring at her reflection in the mirror, wondering why Seth was attracted to her. She wasn’t beautiful by anyone’s standards. Her mouth was too wide, her nose a little too big. He could have any woman he wanted—had in fact dated many of the pretty doctors and nurses at Cedar Bluff Hospital.
So why her? Why now?
She didn’t have any answers. In fact, the more she thought about it the more she grew convinced that this intense attraction they shared couldn’t possibly last. Not for the duration needed for a true relationship. What she felt when Seth touched her was probably similar to the heat and flash of a comet that quickly burned out.
She bit her lip, trying to quell a sense of panic. Was it the worst thing in the world if it didn’t last? As long as Ben wasn’t hurt, what difference did it make? She hadn’t felt this longing for a man in a very long time. Maybe she owed it to herself to try and trust again? To trust Seth.
Putting a hand over her jumping stomach, she took a deep breath. She must be crazy to even contemplate such a drastic step.
The doorbell rang at precisely six-thirty, causing her pulse to spike with anticipation. Swallowing hard, she left her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Down the hall, she could hear Ben and Elise, the young babysitter, talking to Seth.
When she stepped into the living room, Seth’s gaze cut to hers. The frank approval in his eyes as he stared at her made her feel special. Sexy. Desirable in a way she hadn’t felt in years.
“You look beautiful, Kylie. Are you ready to go?”
For a crazy moment she knew she’d never be ready. Not for Seth. Not for the way he made her feel. But the knowledge didn’t stop her from responding.
“Yes. I’m ready.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
KYLIE tried to relax as much as she could, considering she was seated next to Seth in his plush sports car. The interior of the vehicle exuded his sexy, masculine scent, making her feel light-headed. And she was hyperaware of him—from the way his strong hands held the steering wheel and shifted the gearstick, to the way his broad shoulders brushed ever so slightly against her.
After weeks of chatting with him about football, her son’s accident and hypothermia protocols, she suddenly couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
“I made reservations at the Blue Diamond Resort, overlooking Lake Michigan,” he told her. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Since she’d never even heard of the place, it was difficult to mind. Her exposure to restaurants centered around child-friendly places. Haute cuisine wasn’t something she indulged in on a regular basis.
She offered a weak smile. “Sounds good.”
“Seems Ben is doing much better without the eye patch,” he commented.
“Yes, he is. Although I don’t think he’ll be happy until he gets that cast off his arm.” Ben might be a safe topic of discussion, but Kylie couldn’t imagine Seth had ever talked about kids during any of his other dates.
“Kylie, relax,” he murmured, far too clued in to her discomfort. “You’re supposed to be having fun tonight.”
Fun. Okay, sure. She could do fun.
“I guess I am nervous,” she admitted, feeling a desperate need to break the silence. “I haven’t gone out with a guy in a really long time.”
He swiveled his head to stare at her, before letting out a rueful laugh. “Which only means I’m one lucky son of a gun, doesn’t it?”
She wasn’t so sure, but didn’t answer as he pulled into the parking lot of a large building built right on the edge of the rocky lakeshore. Tiny lights were sprinkled in a random pattern on the roof of the building, the effect not Christmassy but reminding her instead of stars twinkling in the sky.
Seth took her hand to help her out of the car, and didn’t let go as they walked inside. The place was all black and chrome, with tall green plants and lots