Page 54 of Long Road Home

“You’re a nut,” I replied.

A pretty littleteen greeted us at the hostess stand when we walked in. “Hi Mr. Marx, how are you tonight?”

“Good, Kylie. Any chance you have a booth for us somewhere?”

“Um.” Her grin went wonky, which meant no, but I came here a lot and was friends with the owner, so I hoped she could swing something for me.

“It’s okay,” Destiny said, stepping up to my side. “A table will be fine. Whatever you have.”

Kylie’s eyes went wide for a moment and she bit her bottom lip. Yeah. I didn’t exactly bring women here. Didn’t exactly date women in town much, either. When I needed an itch scratched, I was more likely to head to Kansas City for a few days. Screwing women who knew I had more money than anyone else in town meant I didn’t trust women easily. Plus, most of them had at one time, been a bitch to Destiny.

“No. It’s okay. If you don’t mind waiting a few minutes for a booth to be cleared, we have a table leaving.”

“Perfect. Thanks, Kylie.” She hurried away, and I wrapped my hand gently around Destiny’s bicep, pulling her to the side to the one small bench they had for waiting customers.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Destiny said. “But I bet with the way that girl looks at you, you could get her to do anything.”

The hell? “What are you talking about?”

“Please.” She bumped her shoulder into mine. “That girl looks at you like our entire class of high school girls did. And the older ones. And the younger—”

“I get your point. You’re crazy. She’s a kid.”

“She’s a kid who looks at you and sees supper and she hasn’t eaten anything since Sunday’s brunch.”

“Gross.” I laughed. “That’s messed up.”

“It’s how all the girls always saw you.” She pressed her lips together and looked away, not sadly, maybe reminiscing.

I’d only ever cared about one thing back in school. “How did you see me?”

Her pressed lips lifted into a grin and pink spread so hot and fast on her cheeks it turned the tip of her nose pink.

“Tell me.”

Slowly, she turned to me, eyelids fluttering. So damn nervous. Pain flared in my rib cage. “I looked at you like I hadn’t eaten inweeks.” She spoke so quietly, so sweetly, I had to fight against my dick going hard again. “Every time I saw you I felt like the wind was knocked out of me.”

“That’s messed up and maybe the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.” She shrugged, turned toward the restaurant like what she’d said was no big deal, but it was. That’s how I always felt around her. I was also pushing my luck when I asked, “And now? Now what do you see?”

“Your table is ready now, Mr. Marx.” Kylie was a sweet kid. Good student who wanted to get out of town and head to KU to become a doctor someday. Right then, I wanted to smack her.

“Saved by the bell,” I groaned and stood from the bench. “Thanks, Kylie.”

Destiny was slower to move, fidgeting with the strap of her purse as she lifted it to her shoulder. We’d taken two steps when she placed her hand on my forearm and tilted back her head. “The same, Jordan. I still feel the same.”

Talk about getting the wind knocked out of you. My steps faltered, and it was all I could do to stay standing and head toward the table, and not turn around and shove my mouth to hers. Instead, I grabbed her hand and firmly squeezed her slim fingers. “Good.”

Fortunately,the booth Kylie cleared off for us was tucked into the back corner of the restaurant, away from the windows lining the parking lot. Personally, I didn’t care who saw Destiny and me together. It wouldn’t be the last time. I knew she appreciated it though as she slid into the booth facing away from the restaurant, so the only person she could see was me.

Her bravery apparently only went so far, which was also fine. Suggesting coming here was a big step for her.

Conversation was kept light while we placed our drink orders and then food orders by another high school aged waitress, but it was time to actually get to know the woman Destiny had become. There was a lot we’d talked about. A lot we needed to rediscover. As much as I didn’t want to hear it, I needed to. I waited until she’d sipped her water, fiddled with her silverware in a way that showed her nerves.

“Tell me about your life in Houston.”

Her hands stilled on her fork and knife. “My life?”

“Yeah, Destiny. Your life. What’s it like? What do you do? Do you like it?”

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