Page 41 of Sweet Spot

“Maybe I don’t want to. What did he do?”

The possessive anger came off him in waves. On instinct I leaned forward and took his hand in mine. It was so warm and masculine that it turned me on even more. “All that happened is I accidentally overheard him talking to a friend before our date. It was…revealing. I called it off and came to Reds instead.”

The stony expression remained as his gaze fell to our hands before finally softening. “This is nice.” He flipped my hand over and took in both of his. “Your dad wasn’t around much. It was the girls at home. And I’m not saying your life was hard or anything, but there’s a hole when someone isn’t around or you have to worry about the future. The one time your dad was around all the time was when he came home and put on the suit. He stabilized your family finances. And then he left again. You look for men in suits because in the back of your mind that’s the safe place to be.”

How did I not see that? It was so obvious now that Isaac pointed it out. Years of my life came crashing down around me as one thing after another presented itself for examination. I threw myself into my work because I wanted the money. The stability. But I also avoided relationships because I didn’t want to be disappointed when he inevitably hit the road. So instead I hit the road. Chasing job after job.

Isaac traced the veins in my wrist, his voice low as he spoke. “My job puts me on the road half the year, Kate. I don’t want to cause you stress.”

Was it the same? Going on tour around the country for weeks or months at a time wasn’t the same as playing games on the road. This wasn’t my first sports team. I was familiar with the back and forth of life in sports. “It’s not the same thing,” I croaked out.

“No. It’s not. But it is similar and I wouldn’t blame you if it was a deal breaker.”

For a deal we hadn’t even struck yet.

“And there’s Rosie,” he continued. “She’ll always be my priority. Always. I can’t promise you time when I’m home.”

But that was the other difference, wasn’t it? Isaac prioritizing time with his daughter was exactly what I wished I had more of from my own father. It might even be part of what made him so freaking attractive.

“I’ll give you the suits. You’re one hundred percent right about that. But I think you’re wrong about the rest.”

He gave my hand a squeeze. Electricity moved between us, through us, like a lasso pulling us together. When the waiter finally returned, Isaac shoved his credit card in his hand.

“Don’t I get a say?”

“Not this time. I want out of here immediately and this is the fastest way.”

This attraction—need, desire, want, I wasn’t sure—pulsed between us, white hot and intense. We didn’t say another word, just felt in the silence until the waiter returned. Isaac finally let go of my hand, scrawled across the bill and tucked his credit card away. “Let’s get out of here.”

He hovered just beside and behind me, his hand on the small of my back, as we wove our way back through the mostly empty restaurant. Once outside he took my hand and quickly guided me down the street to a park. The cool spring breeze was only a temporary relief because being this close to Isaac kept my blood pumping at a much higher rate than normal. His height and strength felt foreign but also really good. Especially when he wrapped his arm around my waist.

“I’m trying very hard to keep my promise, but I really don’t want to.”

Promise? Oh. Right. No kissing.

Promises were stupid. “You fascinate me, Isaac Anson.”

His eyes darted between mine. “How so?”

“You’re wary when I expect you to be confident and confident when I expect you to be wary. You are comfortable with yourself in ways most men envy, but you’re also deeply worried about your decisions. And you see things about me no one else has.” It all came out in a rush. Like a confession.

Or just plain hope. Hope that Isaac’s interest in me was more than superficial.

His hand came up and hovered near my face, debating whether it was wise to touch me. And then he did. He sighed as his thumb brushed my cheek. “Everything about you is different in all the best ways. Something happens when I’m around you.” Confusion and desire flashed through his eyes before he leaned down and finally—finally!—pressed his lips against mine.

I groaned into the kiss because I had to. It overwhelmed me in every way. I couldn’t tell up from down anymore and my knees wobbled. Thankfully Isaac had his other hand around my waist. As he held me against his body, I reached up and wrapped my hand around his neck, holding on for dear life. His lips parted and the kiss deepened, heat and need flashed through me harder and faster than anything I’d ever felt in my life.

“Fuck, Kate.” He whispered as our noses collided and he ran his along mine before diving in for another kiss. Our bodies melded together like they were made to fit. His larger body hovering over mine. “Who am I when I’m with you?” His other hand moved up my back, over my shoulder, and cupped my face on the other side, taking full control of the kiss.

I drowned in that kiss. It was the sexiest, hottest kiss of my life. And Isaac was the hottest, sexiest man I’d ever met. No doubt about it. Everything about this was everything I ever wanted, all wrapped up in a package I would never have expected.

And maybe that’s what made it even more special. Isaac was so much more than I knew to look for.

He pressed his forehead against mine, panting. “I’m sorry. I already broke one promise and I don’t want to break another.” His hands moved down my back and came to rest on my hips.

When I opened my eyes I found his screwed shut. “Don’t be sorry. Don’t ever be sorry about a kiss like that.” I could barely stand he kissed me so thoroughly.

His eyes opened and locked with mine, sending a fresh wave of fire through my body. When he shook his head, it shook mine too. “You turn me into a different person. I don’t know this guy who kisses like he needs it to live.”

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