Page 28 of Love's Home Run

“Thanks,” said Pilar. “That’s what I try to tell my parents. They should be advertising the restaurant differently.”

“Wonderful food,” said Dirk, pulling out his wallet.

Pilar held up her hand to stop him. “No, no. This is on me. Thanks for helping me.”

As she walked away, Dirk placed a thirty-dollar tip on the table. “For our waitress.”

“Thanks,” said Melissa. “Tipping is really important to servers, and you were very generous.”

He grinned. “I’m a nice guy.”

Her lips curved. “You certainly are.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

On the way back to her house, Melissa felt her nerves tingling. She hoped Dirk might want to stay a while, but she didn’t know how to ask without sounding awkward. But she was dying to see what chemistry they had. They were both reserved, so it might take time to be comfortable with one another alone.

Dirk drove onto the driveway to her house and stopped the car.

“Would you like to come inside?” she asked, feeling her fingers growing cold.What if he said no?

“Thanks. I would,” he answered somewhat formally, and she realized he was as nervous as she.

She led him inside and then turned to him. “Want a cup of coffee? Water?”

“Water sounds great. Thanks,” he said.

“Why don’t you go out to the porch, and I’ll bring it to you,” she said. “Make yourself comfortable.”

As Dirk headed outside, Melissa hurried into the powder room to check her appearance and then went into the kitchen to get them each a glass of ice water.

Melissa carried their water to the porch and was pleased that Dirk had chosen to sit on the couch rather than in one of the chairs.

He looked up and smiled at her.

She sat beside him, and they playfully clinked their glasses together.

After sipping his water, Dirk set down his glass and turned to her. “I hope you enjoyed the evening as much as I did.”

“Oh, yes.” She placed her glass on the coffee table and faced him. “It was fun. And such delicious food.”

“Exactly. Though I’m not a cook, you could call me a foodie because I love to try different things.”

“That’s so important. Being free to try something new is important to me.” She laughed. “But I’m not sure I could eat everything you did with your family in China.”

He chuckled. “For political reasons, it was important. We didn’t want to lose face in front of our hosts.” He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.

She nestled against his chest and felt the beat of his heart.

When he tilted her face up to his, her pulse raced. This was what she wanted. And when his lips met hers, she let out a soft groan of pleasure.

His lips were soft but sure.

When they pulled apart, he smiled at her. “I want to get to know you better, Melissa. I hope this will be the beginning.”

Her heartbeat thudded in her ears. “Me, too.”

When he kissed her again, she responded.

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