Page 22 of Dare to Embrace
I wanted to say I didn’t care about Tara or the news she had for me. But I did want to hear how her talks had gone with the Iowa Cubs. In all honesty, I wasn’t as eager to know at the moment, as I would have been otherwise. If my husband wasn’t in good health, then nothing else trumped him.
“She’s stuck in the same traffic.”
“So has she told you how her meeting went?” Kade asked.
“All she said was we’ll talk at dinner.” I’d tried to get more out of her, but she’d had another call coming in, and I’d had a meeting with my manager earlier that day.
“I’m pulling into a parking garage. See you in a minute.” The line clicked off.
I sent Tara a text:Kade and I will be outside the restaurant.
Tara responded quickly:I’m taking an Uber from the hotel. I should be there in a few minutes.
I lowered my phone, scanning up and down the street. A parking garage was located one block up, and another sat one block down. I didn’t know which one Kade was parking in.
The bell on the door dinged, announcing a middle-aged couple leaving the Italian restaurant. As they did, a spicy aroma floated out, causing my stomach to growl. I usually didn’t eat much before a game, thanks in part to my nerves, so I was famished. My mouth was watering for a plate of ravioli or spaghetti.
As I watched the couple walk down the street, my gaze drifted past them, and I smiled when I spotted my hunky husband jogging toward me. Before my brain could catch up with my body, my legs were moving until I was jumping into his arms as though we hadn’t seen each other in years.
His hands dove into my hair, and our lips locked in a heated kiss.
A horn blew, snapping us back to reality. I slid down his muscled body, feeling Mr. Steel along the way.
I couldn’t help but giggle. “I’ve missed you,” I said a little breathlessly.
“Is there any way we can bag dinner with Tara?” he asked. “I need to be inside you.” His warm breath fanned over my ear, causing hot lava to pinch my cheeks.
As much as I would love to reschedule with Tara, I couldn’t. She had driven up from Boston to meet with us. It was only polite to see our meeting through.
I shook my head. “We won’t stay long.”
Kade looked around. “We could go down that alley across the street while we wait for her.”
I playfully slapped him. “I’m all for an adventure, but Tara is getting out of the car.” I flicked my head at the black Mercedes.
She dashed up onto the sidewalk with a smile that didn’t reach her brown eyes. “I’m exhausted and hungry. Sorry I’m late.” She glanced at Kade. “Do you know what happened on the highway exactly?”
“Some eighteen-wheeler jackknifed and ended up on its side,” he said.
That was why Tara and Kade hadn’t been at my game earlier.
The three of us walked into the cozy and elegant Italian restaurant.
Tara took the lead and spoke to the young blond hostess.
Kade leaned into my ear. “Let’s not linger too long, please. I’m tired as hell.”
I rolled my eyes. “You just want sex.”
“Sue me.”
The restaurant was dim and quiet with several empty tables. I shouldn’t have been surprised since the dinnertime had come and gone.
The hostess placed us at a table by the window. Then she handed each of us a menu.
No sooner had she left than a waiter in his twenties came over. He took our drink orders and spouted out the specials.
When I finally had a chance to sip some water, some of my muscles loosened but only because Kade was sitting next to me with his arm draped over the back of my chair. His presence always gave me the sense that I could handle anything.
