"Reservation for Brentwood."
Finding the name, she marked on a map of the table layout. Gathering a couple of menus, she led them to a quiet corner table, away from the hustle and bustle of the salad bar and the kitchen entrance and exit.
Scooting Riley's seat in, he took the one next to her, watching as she opened the menu. Her eyes widened even as she sucked in air. "Oh, my."
Prepared for just that reaction, he quickly reassured her. "It's okay. I know it's expensive. I can afford it. Besides, this is a special occasion."
"It is?" She lowered the laminated pages to look at him.
"Yes, it is." He smiled at her. "I'm hoping this will be the best night ever."
All tension drained from her body as she mirrored his grin. "It already is."
"You liked the carriage ride." He made it a statement, remembering her earlier enthusiasm.
"I loved it. But, I would have the best night of my life even if we sat at my apartment on the old lumpy couch and ate popcorn while watching a Three Stooges rerun."
His eyebrows arched.
She leaned in to brush her lips across his cheek. "Silly man. Don't you know that you are what make my evening wonderful?"
Meeting her gaze, the corners of his mouth curled upward. "That's good to know since you're the sunshine in my life."
Her cheeks stained crimson as she peeked through her lashes at him. Green eyes lightened in obvious enjoyment of his praise.
Pleased with her words and even more with the sign of affection, he felt his heart buoy. Maybe, just maybe, this would work out. He needed her trust, her affection, her love.
For the first time the word didn't send a shiver of dread through him. Instead, it clicked right along with the idea of spending years to come with a certain little redheaded author. If his remaining years were half as much fun and enjoyment as this first month of dating, he would die a very happy man.
* * * * *
Taking a long drink from his tea, Spoon watched Riley finish off the last of her decadent chocolate cake dessert. She had polished off her shrimp like a starving woman just returned to civilization after enduring a decade long solitary existence on a deserted island, relying on coconuts as her only food. Not that he complained. No. Watching her eat had been a study in amusement and sensual temptation. Besides, his superb steak disappeared nearly as quickly and they both pretty much cleaned their plates.
He couldn't resist digging his spoon into her dessert, claiming a large hunk for himself. She only grinned and nudged the bowl closer, eager to share. After a couple of mouthfuls, he pushed it back, already feeling the overload of sugar zinging through his bloodstream.
As he watched, she licked the last of the chocolate sauce from her utensil, her dexterous tongue snaking around the edges to capture every drop. His groin tightened immediately as he imagined what joy that same tongue could bring to certain parts of his anatomy. Yanking hard on the reins of control, he focused on the next stage of their date.
"Are you finished?"
"I'm stuffed." She nodded and rubbed her stomach for emphasis. "I'll have to live on salads and do an extra hour of workout this week." A small smile appeared. "Heck, several extra hours of exercise."
I know a great way for you to work off some calories. Grappling with his libido, he shoved the thought aside. No matter what, he intended to sleep in his own bed this evening. Alone. As a true gentleman would do after such a romantic venture.
"It was delicious. Thank you." She leaned in to press a chaste kiss to his lips.
He returned the affection with a kiss of his own, keeping everything light and undemanding even as he savored the feel and taste of Riley. The last place he wanted to press the intimacy issue was in a busy restaurant surrounded by prying eyes.
"You're welcome." He tucked money in the little black folder containing their bill. Leaving it on the table, he stood, reaching for her hand.
She picked up her purse, twined her fingers with his, and moved to his side. "Now what?"
Interlacing their fingers, he led her to the exit, stepping out into the warm evening air. "Feel up to a little walk?"
"With you? Anytime." The full moon broadcast enough light to illuminate their path as well as reflect the whiteness of her teeth.
Shortening his strides, he ambled along the boardwalk, lazily wandering around the landscaped area full of pools and ponds with fountains and other various water features that drew one's eye and would amaze even the most dedicated water gardener. Strategically placed lamps lined each feature, casting soft lighting over the area. Though not needed with the sun still in descent, once night fell, the lights would show visitors the path.
Riley matched his steps, staying close to his side. She broke the companionable silence first. "What do you see in the future?"
Perplexed by her off-the-wall question, he asked for clarification. "Whose future?"
"Yours."
Still not precisely clear on what she prodded for, he tossed out an answer based on a safe subject. "The Wind Warriors are my near future. I plan to stay with them for a while to come."
"After that?" Riley wrapped her hand around his forearm.
"When I retire, I hope to use my savings and investment to do a couple of things. First, I would like to open up my own gym, cater to high class athletes, similar to where you work now. I've also considered buying some land and renovating it into a camp for teenagers, something like basic training on a smaller scale and for teens in trouble. I believe they could really benefit from stability and routine in their life."
"Wow. That's impressive." She glanced up at him. "Would you board the kids, too?"
He shrugged. "I haven't figured out all the details or even if it's possible. If there's too much red tape, I might just tweak the idea to lean more toward a cross-training outdoor facility for athletes interested in such." In reality, he had little time to fine-tune his plans or even check out the logistics of such grand schemes. Once he left the Wind Warriors, he could take time and energy to focus on transitioning his dreams into reality. Until then, he left everything on the back burner. No sense in burying yourself in details of something that might not come to pass for another ten years, if ever.
They came to a small stand where a flower vendor stood patiently waiting for passers-by to purchase his wares. Spoon raked over the offerings, pointing to a long-stemmed red rose tucked in a simple plastic holder with enough water to keep the flower alive for a few days. Handing it over, he pulled out his wallet and paid, noting Riley already sniffing the gift.
The tightly coiled petals had just begun to transform the rose from a simple bud on its way to a marvelous bloom, reminding him of the woman standing beside him. The symbolism proved uncanny as he watched Riley begin as that shy little bud that slowly but surely opened up bit by bit. One day soon he hoped she would fully blossom into the beautiful woman he knew her to be, one any man would be lucky to have at his side. He only hoped he would be there to witness the happening personally.
She waved at the florist and turned, resuming their evening stroll.
He quickly caught up, his long strides eating the distance between them. "What about you? What does your future hold?"
Sniffing her flower once more, she used her free hand to push stray locks out of her face. "I also like my job. In a perfect world, I could be a full time writer. In reality, though, I don't have it bad at all. The gym gives me benefits and a steady paycheck while my writing fills in the gaps."
When she quit talking, he prodded her further, needing to know more. "What about a family? Ever thought about having kids?" He held his breath, waiting to hear her all-important answer.
Her gaze focused straight ahead as if peering into the future through a magic haze in the near darkness. "With the right man, I would love to settle down into marriage. Kids would be a nice addition, but not for a while. I'm selfish and want to enjoy married life before being saddled with two am feedings."
Cautioning himself to wit
hhold his excitement, he wrapped her smaller hand in his. "Just what are you looking for in a man?"
She smiled slightly and pulled to a halt. "Wanting to find out what roles you need to play?"
He shook his head, raising one hand to brush windblown hair away from her face. "Wanting to know how to please you, to show you that I'm sincere."
Her eyes sparkled as her mouth opened on a gasp. Unsure what that reaction meant, he waited.
Riley swallowed then met his gaze fully. "I want… a courageous man, an intelligent man, a man who thinks of others, and knows the meaning of compassion. One who will never stray or wander. I need a man who will love me for who I am, flaws and all."
Spoon cupped her cheek, leading her close enough to brush his lips across hers, asking no more of her than to share a moment of affection with him.
"I want a man… just like you," she whispered against his lips before sealing their mouths together again.
His heart leapt as he took control of the kiss, nibbling at her lips until she opened her mouth for him. With their soft parting, his tongue swept inside, thoroughly investigating her teeth and tongue in his gentle foray. She met his passion, flicking her tongue over his, offering up a sultry game of tag.
The clearing of a throat interrupted them, setting them apart with reluctance. Riley's cheeks stained red as she ducked her head away from curious onlookers. He grinned at her shy response to being caught, took her hand, and led her back the way they'd come.
"You didn't say if you wanted a family." She pointed out, walking steadily back toward the restaurant, her arm linked with his.
He considered her question for a couple of beats. "I would like to have a family one day." Sucking in a breath, he cautioned her with baseline facts. "In my profession a family is a luxury, one that some men may never come to realize. Heck, if you asked me a year ago if I would ever marry and have kids, I would have called you crazy for asking. Wind Warriors live for the present, not the future. Each mission is a risk with a good chance that someone might not make it back."
She needed to remove her rose-colored glasses and see the reality of a long term relationship with him. Not every woman could or would want to take that chance and handle the constant worry if their husband would make it home again in one piece. He didn't want to spoil their perfect evening with sadness and melancholy, but at the same time, he needed her to visualize the whole picture.
She walked a few steps farther before speaking. "None of us know how long we have on this earth. Sure, your career sits on the front line of dangerous occupations, but that doesn't prove a desk jockey will live longer, either." Pausing, she swiveled to meet his gaze. "I believe that we all have a set amount of time and once your time is up, there is nothing anyone can do about it." Taking his hands in hers, she lifted them for a kiss. "I would like to spend my time with you, however long that might be."
Touched by her honest words, he pulled her into his embrace, holding her tight and savoring the feel of her lithe body pressed against his frame.
"I want that, too. Very much." He whispered against her ear.
* * * *
All too soon, they stood at her doorstep from a date that occupied several hours of the evening but felt like only minutes. Time flew by on the best evening Spoon could recall in his recent past.
Riley shoved her key in the door. "I need to walk Achilles. I'm sure he needs to go."
"I'll go with you." He trailed her into the living room. The huge mastiff greeted him with a nose to the crotch. "Hi, buddy. Ready to go outside?"
Achilles looked up at him with those big brown eyes and thumped his tail. Each day that passed, the super-sized canine appeared to fill out a little more, his gaunt look slowly vanishing with a layer of muscle and fat under his loose skin.
"You don't have to." Riley returned with a leather leash in hand, adeptly attaching it to the dog's collar. "The trail has lights and no one would bother me with Achilles at my side. If they considered it, I still have my mace handy." She lifted her key ring to show the attached small black container.
"Nope. I'm going with you." She might live in a quiet neighborhood mostly made up of retired and elderly persons, but that didn't mean riffraff didn't hang out, watching and waiting for any opportunity to steal belongings or cause harm. No way would he leave her alone to take such a risk, especially since he'd kept her out much later than normal, making the walking trail pitch black instead of the vibrant orange sunset that occurred during her typical walk time. As she'd mentioned, night lights dotted the area, providing decent illumination, but leaving more than enough shadows for his level of comfort.
She petted Achilles and left her apartment. "Okay. Let's get going."
All three trotted down the single flight of stairs, turned right, and headed to a cement trail less than fifty yards away. Meandering along, Riley allowed Achilles to range from side to side as he searched for a spot to do his business.
"I have to attend an event tomorrow evening. Will you come with me?"
Spoon glanced at her. "What kind of event?"
She released a harsh sigh. "My father is having a campaign rally at the hotel on Sentinel Street. He called and finagled me into attending."
He could feel the tension gripping her body at the mention of her father and the dread of meeting him face to face again. Sliding his fingers between hers, he gave her hand a squeeze.
"You don't have to go, you know."
Her gaze lowered to the ground. "Yes, I do. It's easier to just show up for a few minutes then make a hasty exit. If I don't show, he will be after me like a bloodhound chasing an escaped criminal. It's just easier to go and get it over with than suffer dozens of phone calls and further demands.
Don't I know that for a fact. The more he avoided his own father, the more determined the old man became. "Of course I'll go with you."
She lifted her chin to shoot him a small grin. "Thank you. We don't need to stay long. Just make an appearance."
"Whatever you need, I'll be along for the ride," he promised as they turned in a circle after Achilles found a tree and emptied his bladder. No way would he decline, leaving her to face her poor excuse for a father alone. Hell, the bastard probably had one or two allies lined up to match her to, earning him another step on the powerful political ladder to success. He would be damned if the senator would try such a low-down scheme now. Not that Riley would fall for such an old trick, but he didn't want her to suffer through another example of her father's lack of concern for his only child. Standing by her side, he would provide all the support she needed and deflect any fancy-pants men intent upon catching Riley for themselves. Now that he'd found the woman of his future, he refused to lose her to a pathetic brown-noser aimed at marrying into a solid government position.
As she opened her apartment door, shooing the large canine in first, Spoon planted himself at the threshold, determined to complete the evening in a true gentlemanly fashion.
Riley turned around, her head tilting in question. "Aren't you coming in?"
"No. Not tonight."
Her face contorted as if he'd just delivered a physical blow. Tears began to well. The sheer crestfallen expression stabbed a virtual knife through his heart.
Spoon took her hands in his. "Let me explain. I want you to be absolutely sure…"
"I am." Her voice held confidence.
His spirit lifted hearing the truth about her feelings, but he stayed the course, inherently understanding his previously planned path led to a highly promising result. "Last time you had second thoughts."
When she opened her mouth, he shushed her. "The last thing I want to do is rush you again. If you still feel the same way in a few days, I'll gladly stay the night, several nights, for as long as you would like."
She sighed longingly.
He met her gaze boldly. "Be sure because once we cross that bridge I intend to hang on to you."
"For how long?" The whispered words carried a ray of hope.
"Unti
l the end of time."
She sucked in a breath and wiped a stray tear from her cheek. "I love you, Spoon."
Slowly, he smiled, joy abounding inside him at her declaration. The words had never sounded as sweet as when uttered from her lips. "I love you, too." The phrase tumbled out much easier than he'd anticipated, each syllable feeling right and giving verbal truth to his innermost emotions.
A wide grin appeared through her tears, as her eyes lit up with unabashed happiness.
Taking a page from Shakespeare, he offered up a romantic quote. "Then I bid you adieu, my lady." With one lingering kiss to her soft lips, he stepped away. Pausing for a long moment, he memorized the look on her face. Pride washed over him as well as an abundance of jubilation at her reaction.
She blew him a kiss then waved once more before pushing her apartment door open.
Turning on his heel, he headed directly for his SUV, not daring to glance back, lest he lose the battle to remain a gentleman for the night and keep his word. Temptation rode him hard, but he cast it aside, telling himself he would have hopefully hundreds of opportunities in the future to demonstrate his love in a physical sense. Tonight, he presented her with the gift of himself, his heart, and all the time she needed to make her decision for now and always.
Chapter 18
Entering the crowded room, Spoon puffed out a breath. He would have preferred to spend the day in a hot tent surrounded by hungry mosquitoes than to attend the silly campaign rally. But, Riley had asked him to come as her support person and he would never turn his back on her, especially when it came to her useless father.
When she'd presented the verbal invitation, he had heard the upset in her voice and read between the lines in her almost tearful and apologetic explanation of the situation. After years of simply avoiding her overbearing father, she'd decided to meet him face to face, and dump a lifetime of emotional baggage at his feet. He'd applauded her aspirations and promised to be at her side no matter what happened.
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