Page 6 of Bratva Past

“Yeah and no. She was a damn good cook, but could not bake to save her life. That was Dad’s area of expertise.” She couldn’t believe she was talking about her parents on a date.

“You must miss them,” Issac said.

“Yeah, I do. A lot.” She took another bite of chicken. “It was hard in the beginning. You know? It was strange. I’d wake up, and I’d always expect Mom to be at the kitchen counter, making coffee. I don’t know if it gets easier, or you just have to move on. I mean, the world doesn’t stop for you.”

“You got to keep moving forward.”

“You have experienced loss?”

“A long time ago, I lost my parents. It was a hit-and-run. The kind of situation where they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

She couldn’t help but look at the ink that circled his wrist and traveled up his arm. From what she saw of his ink, she couldn’t get enough. He looked so sexy, so dangerous.

“That must have been hard.”

“It was, but it was all dealt with in the end.”

There was something about his tone, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it was there.

“So, what brought you to Saint Falls?”

“The quiet life. I liked that it was a small town. Plus, there was a mechanic shop, some people might see that as divine intervention.”

“You’re a religious guy?”

“No, but I’m a believer.”

“I like that,” she said. “And you still like the town? It’s not too ... boring for you?”

“I like boring, Lucy. Life can be a little too complicated, and I like it being less so.”

“You’re not looking for complications?”

“I’m looking to make a connection.”

This intrigued her. “You are?”

“Yeah.”

“There are a lot of women who would love for you to pay attention to them,” she said. She had no choice but to listen to them in line at the bakery, at the diner, or in the library. For the last ten years, Isaac had been and still was “fresh meat” to them.

“Funny, because last time I checked, I was here on a date with you, and you’re the only one I’m interested in making a connection with.”

Okay, it was like the world seemed to slow down and fade out as she looked over at Isaac. She didn’t know if he was referring to sex. That was how connections were made, wasn’t it? Being a twenty-four-year-old virgin wasn’t fun, and she didn’t want to lose it to just anyone.

She looked at him and felt a little panic, but at the same time she couldn’t help acknowledging the spark that took place within her. For ten years, she had developed a crush on this man, and in the last few years, it had grown and flourished.

Marge told her she should throw caution to the wind, but there was a sane part of her brain telling her to be cautious. She didn’t want to keep being cautious. Cautious was boring. She wanted to be daring. To live her own life however she wanted.

Would it be stupid and naive to ask what kind of connection he was referring to? She hadn’t realized how out of her depth she was. Instead, she ate more chicken.

The music was a good distraction, and before they had even finished, Isaac wiped his hands on a paper napkin and grabbed her hand.

“Come on, you’re thinking way too much.”

Before she knew what was happening, he’d pulled her onto the dance floor. She looked at him, smiling and laughing, and it felt good to get lost in that feeling. The dance floor was chaotic, but they found a place, and Isaac gave her a twirl. The heavy beat song came to an end, making way to a slow dance.

She didn’t know if he was going to stop the dance, but instead he pulled her close, and Lucy got lost in his arms.

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