Page 47 of Domino
His expression darkens as he focuses on the road, and it’s clear to me that there’s a story there.
“It’s not that I don’t like kids. It’s just that I had a… bad experience,” he says cryptically.
“A bad experience?”
“Yeah. When I was overseas. It was… I’d rather not talk about it, if it’s all the same to you.”
“Well, if you want to date me, then you need to know my son is the center of my life and I make no apologies for it. He’s the reason I’m here in town. So, if this is going to be a problem for you, then we should probably just—”
“It’s not a problem for me at all. It’s not that I hate kids or think you need to hide your son from me. I just… it just brings up a few issues of my own.”
I can hear the pain in his voice, and it sends a ripple of sadness through my heart. It makes me wonder what could have happened to him over there to have made him seem so afraid of children. But it at least eases my mind somewhat in that I’m reasonably sure he doesn’t have some deep-seated loathing of children. He’s scared of them, and in my experience, the best way to get somebody over their fear is to help them face, then overcome it.
I look over at him and give him a devilish smirk. “Good thing I like ’em a little crazy, too.”
His explosion of laughter seems as much as a releasing of his tension as it is that he finds me funny. But it certainly cuts the thickness from the air, and I think both of us are breathing a little easier. At least, I know I am. It’s crazy to think it, but the idea of this being over before we started actually hit me pretty hard. When I told him that we should probably stop before we start, it felt like a kick to the gut. It made me sad.
It’s nuts given that I don’t actually know this guy, but there is something about him that connects with me. It’s not just that he’s a gorgeous man who I’m sure can rock my world in bed, it’s that I see something in him that’s surprising to me. With all of his innuendos, double entendres, and sexually charged remarks, he tries to posture as this smarmy cad who’s just looking for a piece of ass.
And I’m not saying he’s not looking to get laid. But I’m positive that’s not the only thing he’s looking for. I’m positive that I’m the one who would have to make the first move or give him some signal that I’m open to having sex with him. When he looks at me, even when he’s making some sexual innuendo, I can see it’s all a game to him. He enjoys the chase as much as I do. He enjoys seeing how far he can push things, and how much I’m willing to give. But I also know he’s not willing to cross the lines I impose.
He’s not the sort of guy who just uses women then discards them, unless that was all they were looking for and that’s what they had arranged. When I look at him, I see the depth of his kindness, compassion, and respect. And I see that he knows where the boundaries are. He may position himself as some over-the-top Casanova, and though he’s definitely charming as hell, I have a feeling I’d have to talk him into having sex with me. It’s actually kind of sweet.
“So, where are we going?” I ask.
“We’re going to a place called the Fish Bucket. Best seafood in California as far as I’m concerned,” he replies, then whips his head around and looks at me. “I mean, you do like seafood, right?”
“No, I hate it.”
“Oh. Well, good thing I have another place—”
He bites his words off when I burst out laughing. Max looks at me with a wry grin, knowing I’d just gotten him. The truth is, I love seafood. I just wanted to tweak him a little bit just because it’s fun.
“You are an asshole,” he says.
“Sometimes,” I reply.
“Yeah, fine. Laugh it up. I’m not going to be falling for your shit again.”
“I never knew you were so gullible.”
“Shut up,” he fires back with a laugh.
We banter back and forth, taking turns making each other laugh all the way to the restaurant. And by the time we get there, my cheeks and my sides are hurting from laughing as much as we did. I can honestly say that I’ve not laughed so hard or so much in longer than I can even remember.
The valet opens the door and lets me out as Max takes a ticket, then comes around the truck to where I’m standing. He looks me up and down as if seeing me for the first time and whistles low, which touches off a furious blush in my cheeks.
“Wow. You look fantastic,” he says.
“And you’re just now noticing?”
“At least I noticed,” he replies.
“I suppose that’s true. I’ll give you half credit for noticing.”
“Hey, cut me some slack. It’s been a while since I’ve been out on a date. And since I believe in genuine equality between the sexes, if we’re being fair, you didn’t seem to notice that I’d prettied myself up for you either,” he says.
He holds his arms out wide and turns in a circle, showing himself off to me. At least I have an excuse for not noticing… I’ve been nervous as hell since he picked me up. But now that I’m feeling a little more relaxed, I notice him. And I’m enjoying the way his black jeans cling to what looks like a very tight ass, and his black button-down shirt accentuates the lean, taut muscles of his body. His beard his neatly trimmed, and even his hair is swept back and nicely styled.
