The spread of food he’d brought was simple. Peeled hard-boiled eggs, hummus, baguettes, Manchego and cheddar cheeses, grapes, figs, carrot sticks and prosciutto. Even two prepackaged slices of chocolate cake with buttercream frosting. The simple meal hit the spot.
“The only thing missing is a glass of chilled chardonnay,” she said.
“I would’ve brought wine or champagne, but you said you don’t drink.”
“Not for a while.” At his curious expression, she said, “I’m not an alcoholic, but I’m on medication that doesn’t mix well with alcohol.”
Pressing her lips together, she considered whether to go on without opening the door that led to the freak show of Chad Ellis. Dutch had shared deeply personal things with her last night. About his call to serve in the army, losing battle brothers in dangerous military operations, how being in Delta Force took so much out of him that it’d scraped his soul bare and he needed a break.
She owed him the same transparency. In baby steps. “I’m on Ativan.”
“I had a buddy who was on a cocktail of pills for his PTSD. Ativan was one of them. You don’t have to tell me details, but I take it that you went through a rough breakup with Ellis.”
“Yeah. You could say that.” She was still going through it. Would it ever be over?
“I know you have Brenda, but with your uncle being down in San Diego, I’d like to be there for you.”
Brenda was family. They’d been close since college, and she knew the ugly specifics of what Isabel had gone through. There were times she’d contemplated telling her uncle, since she shared everything else with him, but his support would’ve come with the strings of pity and bodyguards who’d spy on her. There had to be a happy medium.
Maybe Dutch was it. He was a good listener and didn’t push.
“My uncle is coming up to have dinner with me on Wednesday,” she said.
“Oh yeah. I’d love to meet him.”
Lowering her shades down the bridge of her nose, she met his eyes. “Don’t you think it’s a little premature? We haven’t even slept together. Why would you want to put yourself through such scrutiny?”
“You don’t realize how special you are.” He slung his arm around her, gripping her shoulder. “Maybe you should make all the men you date run that gauntlet. Trial by fire to see if they’re worthy of your affection.” His fingers moved along her arm, massaging, caressing. “Let me be the first. When I told you that I wanted to know you, I was serious. That includes meeting your uncle.”
She enjoyed the possibility of endless tomorrows with Dutch and wasn’t ready to lose him. “I don’t think you understand what you’re asking for. Once my uncle puts his stamp of disapproval on you...” That was it. There’d be no future.
Grasping her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he angled her face toward his. “I’m not a foregone conclusion, Isabel. If he doesn’t approve of me, we cross that bridge when we come to it. But the way I see it, you’re grown and financially independent. You date who you damn well please.”
“He’ll scare you off. He’s very powerful, judgmental and can be a bit of a bully.” A snobbish bully and that was putting it mildly.
“Do I seem like a man who’s easily intimidated?”
No. He didn’t.
“The only way I’ll walk away from you is if you ask me to.” Smoothing hair off her cheek, his fingers lingered, caressing her jaw, then gliding down her neck and back up again, sending tingles shooting through her. “I’ve gone up against my fair share of bullies. I can handle your uncle.”
He drew closer, his hand tangling in her hair, bringing her mouth toward his. But he stopped short of giving her what she wanted, what she craved. Another taste of him.
So, she took it.
She kissed him and hummed her approval at the wet heat of his mouth as their breaths tangled. His eager tongue met hers, velvety stroke for stroke. Need drove urgency, bringing their bodies together into a hard squeeze of a hug that ended with him sucking on her tongue until her belly twisted with arousal.
“Isabel,” he murmured against her lips, something raw and hungry in his voice.
She didn’t want the kiss to end, didn’t want to let him go. But she straightened, her thoughts bouncing back to the things he’d said. “Let me think about you meeting my uncle. Okay?”