time to be dating anyone? My plate’s kind of full.”
“You’re going out with him tonight, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then let yourself have a little fun instead of facing it like an ordeal. Don’t you think you deserve that?”
She had a point. She’d been dreading this all week, thinking of all the things she could be doing instead of something frivolous like a night out. But her mother was right. She did deserve a little fun. And what harm could it do? She already knew she wasn’t going to get involved with Kal. They’d been down that road once, and she wasn’t going there again with him. So they’d have dinner, a nice conversation, and that would be it.
“You’re right. I do deserve it. And thank you for watching Oliver for me.”
“I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for me. Besides, I’m already here, aren’t I?”
“But you don’t have to do it.”
Her mother walked over and grasped her by the upper arms. “Stop trying to act as if this is a burden for me. I love having you and Oliver here. I’ve been lonely in this big house by myself. Oliver and I are going to have dinner, he’s going to help me do some puzzles, we’ll play some of those idiotic video games that make my eyes cross, then we’ll watch movies.”
She laughed. “Okay. Thanks, Mom. I won’t be late.”
“Oh, please, do be late. Go sit in his car and make out for a while.”
Her eyes widened. “Mom.”
Her mother laughed. “Have fun, Hannah.”
She shook her head and grabbed her keys, then walked out the door.
Make out in his car? No, they were going to have dinner. That’s all she was going to do with Kal Donovan.
And then she was going to come home to her son, where she belonged.
CHAPTER 6
HANNAH PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF KAL’S HOUSE and turned off the engine.
Kal had told her to meet him at his place. She assumed that was so they could take one car to whatever restaurant they were going to.
Nice house. Two stories, big yard, in a perfect neighborhood. The house was older, but looked as if it had been freshly painted, and had cute shutters on the front windows.
The kind of house she’d always wanted. She had once hoped that someday she and Landon could save up for a house just like this. Maybe have a couple more kids.
Ha. That dream died in the dust.
And what exactly was she doing here? Dreaming again? Of what? She’d long ago given up on dreams of some Prince Charming coming along. She knew now the only way to make her dreams come true was to make them happen herself. Yet here she was, having been talked into having dinner with Kal.
Granted, he was charming, for sure. But she wasn’t in need of rescue.
She was stalling and she knew it. And why? This wasn’t a romance. Sure, Kal was hot as hell, and maybe she had spent the week looking forward to seeing him. At least during those times when she wasn’t dreading seeing him.
Conflicted much, Hannah?
She really needed to make a decision and stick with it, one way or another. This was the problem with dating in general. The whole emotional aspect of it. Who had time for that? She certainly didn’t.
Then again, when was the last time she’d had an adult conversation with an intelligent, smoking-hot man who was attracted to her? And, even better, who wasn’t a stranger? They had a history together. Something to build on.
If she was interested in building something.
Was she? Good question. But either way, she was having dinner tonight. And some relaxation time with good company. Didn’t she deserve that?
Hell yes she did.
“Way to make an easy night complicated as hell, Hannah.”
She walked over to the door and rang the bell.
She heard footsteps, and Kal answered the door, looking delicious in dark board shorts and a white T-shirt.
Should her heart be racing like this? What the hell. He’s a firefighter. He knows CPR. In the meantime, it would be good to remind herself to breathe.
“Hey,” he said. “Come on in.”
She stepped inside and followed him through a living area and into a brightly lit kitchen that was much more modern than the outside of the house. The kitchen was spacious, with amazing appliances and beautiful countertops. She couldn’t get over all this space.
“This is lovely,” she said. “So you and your brothers did this?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Thanks.”
She inhaled. “And what’s that incredible smell?”
“Ziti pasta with meatballs in sauce on