Chapter 6

I thumbed through my closet, looking for an outfit for tonight's dinner. But where was he taking me? A girl needed to dress appropriately, especially when this was my first date in a long while.

I've imagined doing so many things to you. Give me the chance to show you.His words echoed in my head. The inner muscles of my thighs tightened as I envisioned what he wanted to do to me. I wanted those experienced hands all over me.

Stop it. This is only the first date.

Turning my attention back to the location, I texted him.

Eva: Where are we going tonight?

Kain: Time to Chill. Something casual. How does that sound?

Eva: Fine. I just needed to know what to wear.

Kain: You'll look wonderful no matter what you wear.

Eva: Easy for someone with a six-pack to say. Still working on mine.

Kain: I can help you.

I was certain he meant his gym, but my mind went to places that had nothing to do with abdominal machines.

Eva: I'll keep that in mind. See you soon!

Did I want him to help me? I wasn't sure if I was ready for a trainer yet. His body proved that he was effective and disciplined, so if I were serious about firming up, I could use his guidance. He probably had several pieces of core and abdominal equipment that weren't available at my small gym.

Did he have tattoos all over his body? And what did the art mean?

Staring at my closet, I chose a long light yellow dress with thin straps and a light jacket, pairing with a pair of brown flats I'd just gotten online. The ensemble was perfect for the April weather. I braided my long brown hair and added silver earrings.

Grandpa entered my bedroom. "You look beautiful."

I smiled. "Thank you." This was the perfect opportunity to get some answers. "Are you playing matchmaker, Grandpa?"

Eyes wide, he held up his hands like a caught criminal. "Hear me out, sweetheart. I like the boy. I liked how he chased after that thief to retrieve your purse. I liked the way he carried himself. He was courteous and friendly."

"Based purely on that, you asked a stranger to lunch? Do you do that often?"

"No, but I went on a hunch." He sat down on the edge of my bed and patted the spot beside him. When I joined him, he cupped my hand in his. "Truth is, I saw the way he looked at you. The way he focused on you. There was more than just an attraction there. I know I looked at your grandmother the same way. It was love at first sight for me." His wise eyes warmed. "I had a feeling you weren't ‘unfamiliar' to him. Or he to you."

He had tapped into her intuition after all. The whole situation made a little more sense now.

"We don't know each other," I said, not wanting to discuss our first encounter. I'd end up sitting in my bedroom for a while talking to Grandpa.

"That can take time. Right now, just have fun. You're still young. Go out and see who can make you feel loved and worthy. See what you like so that you can weed out what you don't like. If you're always hiding from the past, you're never going to move forward."

There was the truth. Grandpa knew about my recent relationship with Dennis.

"One flawed man doesn't mean all of them are flawed, Eva. I mean, we all have flaws, but there are levels. Dennis was a rotten apple. Kain appears like a decent and stable man with a plan for the future. It takes courage and responsibility to run several businesses and take care of that fine body." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Grandpa!" I shook my head in disbelief and amusement.

I couldn't believe I was having this conversation with him.

"What? I was young once. I know what you girls look at and wonder." He rubbed his round belly. "I don't have those Superman abs anymore, but other qualities make up for it. I want to make sure my favorite granddaughter finds the happiness she deserves."

"You mean your only granddaughter."

"My only and my favorite," he said. "Forgive yourself for any past mistakes, Eva. We all make them. Move on." He ran a hand down my back. "Give yourself a chance to be happy again. Don't let one jerk ruin it for everyone. You have so much love to give. Don't let it go to waste."

I didn't know why, but tears welled up in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. I had so much love and support around me. Why did I allow a dark past to hold me back? Grandpa was right. It was time for me to start over. Relationships were like floral arrangements; if I failed at one, I could make a new one—a better one.

Maybe I had a chance with Kain, and maybe I didn't. But I'd never know if I didn't take the first step.

Grandpa offered me a tissue. "Don't let tears ruin your makeup. Even if they were happy tears."

God, how did he know everything?

"Are you sure you're going to be okay home alone?"

He waved a hand. "I'll be fine. A little rest will do my heart good. We did a lot of walking yesterday. I'll find a game to keep me glued to the television. Don't worry about me. There are plenty of leftovers in the fridge, and I have your phone number. I'll call if I need you."

Satisfied that Grandpa was all set for the evening, I met Kain downstairs so he didn't need to find parking in this residential area that required a permit to park. A white Range Rover pulled up, and he exited his car and open the door for me.

When was the last time that happened to me? He really didn't have to. I didn't care about that kind of etiquette. Still, it was a nice and respectful gesture. I glanced up at the window of my apartment. Sure enough, Grandpa was peeking through the curtains, trying to hide from view. But I could tell from the slight angle of the curtains.

Time to Chill in Coolidge Corner was crowded with young professionals, college students, and families from around the area. It was only a block away from Etched Street. I'd been to it once before with friends after my breakup. We celebrated my freedom from Dennis's deception. But this time was different. This time I was returning with a man who saw something in me. A man who didn't give up because he wanted me. Tonight I celebrated hope and new beginnings.

Chatter and noise filled the restaurant as we sat by the large window panels that opened, allowing us to people watch on the sidewalk. The spring blew in, bringing with it a sense of hope.

Our waitress arrived, took our orders, and left.

"So you want firm abs?" he asked.

"Don't we all?"

"Stop by my gym next Monday around six. The flooring guys should be done with the renovations by then. I got in a couple of new core machines you can try."

"Thanks. That sounds great. Grandpa will be heading back to Vermont on Sunday."

"Is he driving?"

"No. He wanted to drive from Vermont to here, but I refused, so I paid for a livery service."

"That's very thoughtful of you."

The waitress brought out my Long Island Iced Tea, Kain's Dark and Stormy, a plate of grilled shrimp, and glazed chicken wings. "Your entrees will be right out."

"Thank you." After the waitress left, I met Kain's eyes. "I don't know why, but Grandpa seems to like you."

"What's not to like?" He pursed his lips and expanded his arms.

"That's not what I meant, but he noticed your muscular body."

Laugh lines bracketed his lips, deepening the adorable dimple. "I guess he was checking out what's good for his granddaughter. He has a good eye."

"How are you still single with your charm?"

"I wondered that when you said ‘no' to me. But your rejection gave me time to reevaluate how I see myself and how others see me. I guess I'm really not that amazing. You didn't think so."

"I was being careful. Men like you could hurt women like me easily."

Curiosity sparked in his eyes. "Elaborate."

"Why?"

"Because I want to know everything about you. Who hurt you?" He looked at me even more intently.

Was I ready to share my past with him?

A strange feeling nudged at me, and I glanced toward the window. My heart dropped at the sight of Dennis standing with two of his friends. He'd grown his brown hair pat his chin. He stood staring at me, and the creepy smirk told me he had too much to drink. Nausea crawled up my throat.

"Is everything okay?" Kain searched my face.

I twisted my lips. This wasn't how I wanted to share my past with him. Dennis crept closer, but then one of his friends hollered something and he joined them and took off.

Kain placed a hand over mine. "Who was that?"

"My ex-boyfriend, Dennis, the guy who lied to me." Shame pricked my skin. "I dated him while he was still married. I felt like such a fool."

Kain saw more than I explained. "But that's not why your hand trembled, is it?"

A memory of how Dennis had acted when he got drunk flashed before me. "He turned into a monster when he was drunk. He pushed me around and tried to strangle me. I escaped before it got worse."

"He what?" Anger edged in Kain's voice.

"Grandpa doesn't know about that part. Nobody does . . . except you. He only knew about him being married." I didn't know why, but I felt comfortable telling Kain. Maybe it was his caring eyes, or maybe it was the way he still held my hand. "I was ashamed that I didn't see the truth sooner. Ashamed that I let my guard down. I was raised better than that."

"It's not your fault that he's an asshole. Don't blame yourself." His jaw tensed. "My father was an asshole and he abused my mother horribly. He broke her figuratively and literally. When I found her . . ." He paused and inhaled a breath. "He didn't deserve to live."

I reached across the table for his hand. "I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. Where's your father now?"

"Dead." His eyes hardened.

It was strange how this moment had brought us closer. It was supposed to be a simple dinner. But this date had turned into something more. I told my secrets to a guy on our first date. Was that normal? Regardless, sharing that secret liberated me.

His expression softened, and he tightened his grip on my hand. "It is not your fault that your ex is a violent alcoholic and a liar."

In that moment I believed him. The sincerity of his words cut through me. Meeting Kain was exactly what I needed to propel myself forward. Not only did he lure out my desire to date again, but he also inspired me to see things clearly.

"I kicked him in the balls before I escaped his apartment and called the cops. His family had connections, and he didn't stay in jail for long." I lifted a shoulder, recalling my disappointment in the justice system. "I remember the look on his face when my foot landed on his crotch. That was pure luck though."

Kain grinned. "I'll teach you some self-defense moves. The next time any man lays a hand on you without your permission, you'll know how to defend yourself. I mean it." His gray eyes held mine captive.

A muscle twitched in his jaw. "You wear your emotions on your face." With my free hand, I brushed the spot where his muscle ticked and trailed down to the dimple that had captured me from the beginning.

He squeezed my hand. "Then you should know how I feel about you. I've wanted this date for so long. It was all I thought about. I wanted to come into your flower shop every day just for a chance to talk to you. But I didn't want to seem like a stalker."

Was it wrong of me to find his admission adorable? Not the stalking part, but the portion about wanting me that badly.

"I'll take you up on that self-defense course. Are you going to be my teacher?"

"I'm the only one allowed to show you all the moves, babe."

Laughter burst from me.

He stared at me for a long moment.

"What is it?" I retracted a hand and patted my face in case I had another smear of food on me.

"I love it when you laugh. That's all I want to hear from you, all I want to see on your face from now on." Then he leaned in and kissed me. The gentle kiss packed more power than I expected. That simple kiss sealed the deal for me. He pulled back and scanned my face. "Scratch that. I also want to see desire on your irresistible face. Desire for me."

After we finished dinner, my body still hummed and my heart still erratic from the potent kiss. The sensations continued as we shared a brownie with two scoops of ice cream.

How did Kain steal my heart in only a few hours at dinner? It took exceptional skill, ease, and charisma to seduce my heart into falling into his hands. He was a masterful criminal. I laughed at the thought.

"What's so funny?"

I told him about Grandpa stealing Grandma's heart, and she'd called him a criminal for it.

"Ooh . . . I get it now. To be honest, I was worried when he invited me over for lunch. I overheard him muttering about finding the ‘perfect criminal.' I had no idea what he meant. Those words coming from a grandfather concerned me."

Joy sparked in my heart. I could almost see the event unfold in my head. A big bulky man standing next to a wise old man muttering illegal thoughts.

"And you still went to lunch after that scary clue? You should have stayed away. It would've been safer for you."

He shrugged, and sarcasm splashed on his face. "I had a perfect heart to steal. The best way to commit a crime is to be at the center of it."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're more dangerous than you put on. You know I had doubts about us."

"Get rid of them. Now."

"So demanding. Don't you want to know what they were?"

"It doesn't matter because you're mine."

I rolled my eyes. "You're twenty years older than me, Kain."

"But I don't look it." Arrogance gleamed in his eyes.

I laughed. "You look like you're in your mid-thirties. So handsome." I patted his cheek. "Still, I wondered if we would get along. You've seen more of the world than I have. I feared we might not carry on an interesting conversation. I thought after one date, you might want some?—"

He kissed me and drew back. "Stop talking like that. I want you. No one else. We're having a fabulous conversation. I wouldn't care if you were twenty years younger or twenty years older. You make my heart race, and you turn me on. All I want to do is keep you safe. That's what matters to me."

"Oh." I didn't know what else to say.

"Dinner again tomorrow? I'll show you how dangerous I can be in the kitchen. Pass the invitation along to your grandfather as well. But I already know what he's going to say."

I admired self-confidence in people. But in Kain, it glowed like the sun.

Elation soared in me. "I'll bring dessert this time."