Page 49 of One Pucking Secret
“Just about to havedinner.” Not wanting to admit the truth about my uneventful evening.
I’m curled up on the couch, sweats hugging my legs, the remote resting in my hand. My parents have been dying to see Jasper, so he’s spending the night with them in Pasadena. It’s just me and a marathon of my favorite show tonight.
“Alone?” There’s a teasing lilt to his words.
“Yes, sir.”
He chuckles at my response. “How about I take you out instead?” The suggestion sends a thrill of excitement down my spine.
“Like a date?” I ask, sending my heart racing at the thought.
“Exactly like one.”
“Give me some time to get ready,” I find myself saying.
“I’ll be there in an hour,” he replies.
The line goes dead, and urgency replaces my previously relaxed state, and I dash to the shower hoping to be ready before he gets here.
An hour later, I’m standing in front of the mirror, giving myself a final once-over. A spritz of perfume lands on my wrists, the scent floral and warm.
The doorbell chimes, and my stomach knots. Wyatt’s had my building’s code ever since he started spending time getting to know Jasper, but there’s still something about him being able to buzz himself in that makes this relationship feel… real.
I smooth down my coral sweater, check the fit of my jeans, and slip into my black boots. With a deep breath, I open the door.
“Ready to go?” Wyatt’s standing there, all wavy black hair and blue-eyed intensity wrapped in casual elegance.
“Almost. Just need my coat.” The fabric is soft and comforting as I pull it on.
As I step over the threshold, Wyatt’s arms encircle me, and his lips find mine with an intimacy that steals my breath away. His kiss is an assertion, a claim that leaves no room for uncertainty.
“Sorry, you looked too good,” he murmurs against my lips.
Laughter bubbles up from within me, light and airy. “You look good too.”
Wyatt’s grin is self-assured, a reflection of the man who knows his effect on me. He takes my hand, leading me into what I can only describe as a night full of mystery and intrigue.
The engine is a steady purr in the comfortable silence between us as city lights streak past my window. The scent of his cologne, a mix of pine and something richer, fills the car.
“First date in public,” I murmur, my fingers tracing the cool leather of the seat. “Aren’t you nervous someone might record us?”
Wyatt’s gaze never leaves the road, yet his smile tells me he’s amused. “Don’t worry. We’ll have plenty of privacy where we’re headed.”
The Japanese restaurant is nestled between glittering Hollywood boutiques, its entrance unassuming yet elegant. As we step inside, the host greets Wyatt with a familiarity that highlights his status here. He’s no stranger to these polished floors and hushed conversations.
“This way please,” says the host, leading us through a maze of tables adorned with flickering candles to an intimate alcove.
“Talk about privacy,” I comment, sliding into our secluded space, walls lined with delicate rice paper screens.
Wyatt’s wink sends a ripple of warmth through me. “Told you we’d have plenty.”
An hour goes by quickly as we discuss memories of college and the early days of our careers.
“It’s nice to have dinner out of our apartments for a chance,” I tell him. “Even though it’s still only the two of us, it feels a bit more…”
“Normal?” he suggests, but I shake my head. I don’t want him to think I’m craving something he isn’t able to provide me.
“It’s just that I’ve spent the past seven years focused on being a mom and reaching toward goal after goal, which I’m proud of. But it’s refreshing to feel like a normal person again, since I’ve kept that part of me on hold for so long.”
