“And I’ve done little more than take you up in the air and feed you. Imagine what’s going to happen when I actually start to woo you again,” he says smoothly.
When I look up and meet Jennings’s eyes, I feel scorched by what I see in them. My lips part, but no sound comes out. Heat that has nothing to do with the small flame beneath our melty cheese licks at my skin.
“Now, tell me what it was I said so we can work through it. I’m not leaving things unsaid between us, Kara. Too much is on the line.”
“Men, at least some of the ones I’ve dated, haven’t always been supportive of a smart woman,” I blurt out. Jennings places his hand on top of mine and squeezes. “I’d do something like I just did, problem solve, and they’d ridicule me, make me feel small.”
His thumb brushes back and forth over my knuckles. “I don’t want to bring other women here, but I think I need to. Just for a moment. Not long ago, I felt like they were interchangeable. Jed used to ask me about when I’d get tired of it, and long before I met you, I realized I was. Now, I’m out for an evening with a woman who is self-sufficient, valiant, clever, and better yet, understands the meaning to all of those words.”
I can’t help it; I grin.
Jennings smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes which are intense on mine. “She’s brave, loyal, and loving. Remarkably, she’s beautiful, and she has no idea about any of it. So if the men she dated are as foolish as the women I did, then I hope they all find happiness together.” He lifts my fingers to his lips. “I have other plans.”
My heart flips over in my chest, but before I can even think of a reply, our waitress, Cindy, appears. “Oh, I’m so terribly sorry. We just got a new batch of croutons out of the oven. Would you like some to finish your appetizer?”
Jennings and I exchange a quick glance before we both burst out laughing. Thank goodness he regains his composure enough to say, “Yes, thank you.” Otherwise, I might have pulled the rest of the delicious cheese to my side of the table.
No matter if his words gave me chills in all the good ways.
And it’s making me think I really don’t want this night to end.
Jennings
I don’t want this night to end.
Kara and I are the last seated in the restaurant. In fact, I’ve way overtipped the waitstaff to make certain they knew I appreciated the extra time they’ve lingered over nothing while Kara’s continued to tell me stories about her brother and Jed. And while I’ve cherished the insight I’ve gained into my friend’s life in Florida, I relished every single moment I’ve spent with the woman who’s shown me hopes and dreams don’t just have to be found thousands of feet up in the air.
“And then there was the time Jed came to the bar wearing only a Speedo and a St. Patrick’s Day hat.” She’s gasping as her head crashes into the table with a thud. Her giggles are infectious, even as the image she paints makes me want to bleach my brain, but I can’t ignore the third time the manager passes us deliberately.
I run a hand over her hair. I guess I should have expected it when her head snaps up to mine, eyes blinking in rapid succession. “I think they’re trying to tell us something,” I say gently. “Let’s head out and we can find somewhere to keep talking. I want to hear more.” The truth is, I want to hear everything.
A light blush covers her cheeks. “God, Jennings. I haven’t even checked in with Maris about Kevin.” Quickly, Kara reaches for her purse, but I stay her hand.
“Why don’t we head out? We can check from the car?” I suggest.
Relief crosses her face. Quickly we don our coats and thank the manager profusely. He grins. “Come back anytime.”
I roll my eyes behind Kara’s back, knowing that has as much to do with the outrageous tip I left as him being gracious. But within minutes, when we’re tucked in the warmth of the vehicle, Kara starts in surprise.
“What is it?” I ask. Hooking an arm around the back of her chair, I lean over her shoulder.
She holds up her phone. “Kevin. He’s having a blast.” She holds up her phone to show me a