Page 53 of Welcome to Forever
Chapter 14
“Good night, sunshine.” A balding older man patted Kat’s back and cast a wary eye at Micah. “I know how you Marines think, but don’t even try to sleep with the lady on the first date.”
Kat nearly choked on the Coke she was drinking. “Mr. Vincent!”
He laughed heartily. “That’s old-fashioned of me, isn’t it? Just make sure you call her in the morning if you do. See you next month, Miss Katherine,” he said with a wink.
Kat grimaced. “Sorry about that,” she said when Mr. Vincent was gone. Bringing Micah here was as bad as she imagined it would be to bring him home to meet a clan of extended family. These people felt more like family to her than the few blood relatives she had left. She had her mom, widowed now, who lived close by. She rarely saw her, though. Then there was Julie, who had suddenly decided it was time to start acting like sisters again.
“Don’t apologize.” Micah sat on a metal folding chair as she finished collecting the bingo cards. “I grew up in a house full of men. I work with a bunch of men. Sex jokes are the norm,” he said.
“Well, I work in an elementary school. My life revolves around kids and cranky people who sit behind a desk. It’s not the norm for me.” Thus the reason for her burning cheeks, only made worse because she’d been fantasizing about Micah’s hands running over her body all night. She turned to him and realized he was still watching her, as if she was the most fascinating thing he’d seen all day. “All done. Ready to go?” she asked.
He held her gaze for a long beat with those bone-melting eyes that made her stomach turn nervously. Then he stood and took her hand. “Thank you for letting me come with you tonight.”
She lowered her gaze. If she didn’t, she might be compelled to step closer, to press her body against his, surrounded by a room full of people who would never let her forget her actions. “The vets here mean a lot to me.”
“Me, too. There’s one thing we have in common.” A slight smile formed on his lips.
He had a nice mouth, she decided, liking the way it was surrounded by a dark five o’clock shadow at this late hour.
“Care to go investigate more commonalities with me?” he asked.
A breath shuddered through her. The Veterans’ Center was more like working together at the Friendship Club. Sure, they’d been flirting, even kissing. Whatever happened after they left this building, though, would be different. This was a date, where the possibilities ranged from mediocre conversation to wild, unbridled sex to something more. Something real. She took a step toward him that felt like a leap off a very high cliff, then stopped to catch her breath.
“You okay?” he asked, still watching her.
She took the hand he offered, wanting to feel his skin against hers as much as needing something to keep her grounded. “Yes. I’m fine. Let’s do this.”
He cocked a brow that made her squirm.
“I mean let’s go,” she said.
A light sprinkle of rain fell as they walked toward his Jeep at the far end of the parking lot.
“Should’ve brought an umbrella,” he mused, hurrying to open the door for her. His hand brushed against hers as they both reached for the handle.
“Not for me. I love the rain.” She stepped inside and smiled back at him, wiping a damp strand of hair from her eyes.
“Two things we have in common.” He shut the door and entered on the driver’s side.
“So where are you taking me?” she asked as the headlights flooded the quickly emptying parking lot. They might have walked slowly, but the older gentlemen and women who frequented the Veterans’ Center drove like maniacs.
Micah’s mouth quirked on one side. “My place.”
Her blood ran hot again.His place?“Wh…Why are we…?” Maybe she’d been out of the dating game too long. Maybe sex on the first date was the norm now.
“Ben is at my aunt Clara’s tonight. I thought I’d take you to my house and show you my garden.”
“Your garden?” she repeated, unsure she was understanding him.His garden?
He laughed, seeming to read her expression. “Don’t sound so excited.”
“No, I am. I’m beginning to love gardens. The one you showed me the other night was amazing. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen.” She just hadn’t expected he’d take her to see another garden tonight.
He looked over. “It’s kind of my baby, so…”
She nodded, willing to go almost anywhere with him tonight. “I’d love to see your garden, Micah.”
