Page 34 of Ace

Time to put her at ease.I could be charming if I put my mind to it.

“What are you studying at university?”

“Medicine.”A ghost of a smile played around her lips.“The plan is to get licensed as a paramedic, and then study to become a doctor.I’d love to specialize in pediatrics.”

“That’s a children’s doctor, right?”

“Yeah.”She toyed with the stem of her glass.“I know it’s a tough specialty, watching kids in pain, but I think I could make a difference.If I could take that pain away from them, that would be great.”

The passion in her voice when she talked about working with kids wowed me.“That’s a really damn cool ambition.I know you’ll make it too.You can do anything you set your mind to.”

She wrinkled her nose.“Not sure about that.It’s expensive, and it takes dedication.That’s why I don’t have time for this.”She gestured at the two of us.“I can’t let myself be distracted.”

I reached across the table and captured her hand.“The right guy wouldn’t be a distraction.He could help you.”

I saw the trapped look in her eyes, and quickly let go of her hand.“Tell me about your job at the bar.If you plan on becoming a doctor, why did you decide to take a job like that?Wouldn’t it make more sense to do something in the medical field?”

She retracted her hand, moving it out of reach.“Not much to tell, really.The tips can be good most nights, and the hours don’t conflict with my school courses.Money and time are both big issues.After a day in class, it’s refreshing to just do something without having to think a lot.”She took a sip of the water.“What about you?How did you end up the President of a motorcycle club?I would have thought you’d make a career in the Navy SEALs.”

“I considered it.”And I had some good memories of those days, right up until that last mission went sour.“I re-upped a couple of times.Really enjoyed the comradeship and the feeling of family, you know?Then there comes a time when you know you need to get out, so I got out.”

She gazed at me soberly, and I appreciated her not asking for details.I was not ready to discuss that.Maybe I never would be.

Stanley glided back into the room and placed a dish in front of each of us.“Your appetizer.Foie gras.”With a deferential nod of his head, he quietly left the room.

Emma’s brow wrinkled as she eyed up the dish.

“You don’t like it?”

She tilted her head up.“I’ve never had it.What isfoie gras?”

I chuckled.“No idea.I usually eat at those take-out joints on the highway, but they didn’t seem like a good place to take a date I wanted to impress.”

She took a tiny spoonful of the mixture and put it in her mouth.Looking surprised, she met my gaze.“It’s good.”

Relief washed through me.This was the kind of place where you ordered in advance of the date, and I hadn’t known what the fuck we’d get to eat.I’d opted to let chef decide on the meal.Left to me, we’d have a two-course meal consisting of steak for the main and chocolate cake for dessert.

The meal progressed slowly.I’d never thought to ask how many courses it might contain.My eat-in restaurant experience was sadly lacking.

“I love fish.”Emma beamed at me when Stanley placed the plate in front of her.For the main course, Geoff had cooked some kind of fish.Sea bass, Stanley informed us, pan seared to crispy perfection.

Emma’s eyes shone softly in the flickering light.I wanted to lean across the table and kiss her.“Me too.”I picked up a fork and took a bite.“Usually, mine is cooked over a fire beside the stream where I caught it.”

“You like to fish?”

“Yes.Didn’t do all that shit when I was a kid, so I’ve been making up for lost time.”

She sighed.“Yeah.I sometimes wonder how it would have been if I’d had a normal childhood.”

“Not much point in trying to rewrite the past.”I couldn’t keep my hands to myself any longer.Reaching out, I stroked a finger down her cheek.“The future is what counts, and it’s what we make of it.”

“True, I suppose.That’s why I’m determined to make something of myself.”The melancholy look on her face tugged at my heartstrings.

“You ever think about having kids of your own?”I’d honestly never considered it until this moment.I could picture a mini-Emma running around, pigtails flying behind her.

“No.”She gave a negative shake of her head.“I’m barely managing to hold my own, or at least I was until now.Adding a kid to the mix is not a good idea.”

“Maybe not now, but someday?”

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