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Chapter3

Ihadn’t beenon a first date of any kind in months.I was too busy and quite frankly at this point in my life, a guy needed to be worth my time to go to the effort of putting myself out there.First dates were tricky.Did you dress up or down?Have a drink or stay stone coldsober?Kiss?

I was hoping one day that men wouldn’t seem so damn confusing.I wasn’t expecting that day to come on vacation with a guy I never planned on seeingagain.

As I got dressed for dinner I just knew tonight would be fun.I got the feeling Colt wouldn’t care one way or the other what I wore.I didn’t find myself fixating on details.I wasn’tnervous.

If anything, I was excited and that was a really nice changeofpace.

The sun had dipped toward the horizon as I walked across the grass lawn that surrounded the gazebo.The evening breeze caught the skirt of my sundress and set it swirling around my bare legs.I could just make out the shadow of a tall cowboy leaning against theoppositearch.

My heart fluttered with anticipation as I drew up in frontofhim.

“Hello, gorgeous,” he murmured, leaning down to drop a soft kiss on my cheek.“You look beautiful.”He was sweet but guarded as hegreetedme.

“Thank you.You look very nice as well.”His hair was still damp from a shower and brushed back from his face.He wore grey trousers made from a very light material and a white linen shirt.It accentuated his tan and it looked really good on him.There wasnohat.

Shame.

What would I have done two years ago if I’d been on this date?The old, more carefree Lily would have probably already made a suggestive comment and slipped her arm around his.And while there was definitely something to be said for how upfront I used to be, in this moment I was grateful for experience.The signals I kept getting from Colt told me he was more serious and maybe even a little out of practice when it came to dating.And wary.Definitelywary.

He reminded me of some of the people I loved most in the world, and how each one of them required time and patience to lower their guard around new people.They didn’t trust and there was a reason for that.Someone, somewhere, had taught them that trust was something that had to be earned.I respected that even if I didn’t operate the same way, and I was happy to ease Colt in carefully if it meant getting to know the manunderneath.

Because I had a feeling that man was very much worthknowing.

“Are you ready or would you like to get a drinkfirst?”

I smiled because he was really very sweet.“I’m comfortable with you, if that’s what you’reasking.”

“I was.I always like to make sure my dates know they can end them atanytime.”

“Duly noted.”I clasped my hands behind my back and rose up on my toes to plant a kiss on his soft, freshly shaven cheek.“And just so you know, you can dothesame.”

He offered me his elbow.“I feel saferalready.”

I slipped my hands around his elbow and nestled closer to his side.He was warm and solid.The kind of guy who made you feel safer just by being around him, which was odd considering I’d never particularly looked to a man to make me feel safe, and yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was exactly what I felt as I walked beside Colt into the Starboardrestaurant.

“Good evening.”The hostess smiled at us both in turn.“Two of youtonight,Colt?”

He gave an easy, friendly smile.“It is.Please don’t look tooshocked.”

She grabbed two menus and shook her head.“You have to be the nicest patron we’ve ever had.And I’msureMiss...”

“Annie,” he saidsimply.

“Annie would agree that you make it easy to be around you.”She stopped at a small table in front of the giant glass windows that looked out over the beach.“He’s been cracking up the whole staffallweek.”

Colt hurried over and held my chair, which I thought was incredibly nice, even if it was unnecessary, but he seemed to have an ingrained set of manners that operated almost oninstinct.

“Thank you,” I said asIsat.

He guided my chair expertly, his fingers just barely brushing my arms as he stood up.“You’rewelcome.”

“The fish of the day is Mahi Mahi and our vegetable is squash.Gerald will be serving you again tonight.”She handed Colt his menu andturnedaway.

“You really know how to work a room,” I laughed.“Everyone here is takenwithyou.”

He shifted on his chair, avoiding my gaze as he snapped open his menu.“I like to get to knowpeople.”