Page 7 of Love’s Patient Journey (The Relinquished #2)

R yan made reservations for him and Jenna at one of the nicest steak houses in the area.

He wanted everything to be perfect. He was so damn happy that his brother and Karlie had offered to take Zac for the night, giving him and Jenna time to be alone.

He loved Zac, but he wanted some time to get reacquainted with Jenna.

He needed to make sure that she knew what she was signing on for with him.

He didn’t want to scare her off, but he wanted her to know, upfront, how demanding he could be.

He wanted her, but on his terms. He was afraid that after he told Jenna how he liked things in the bedroom, she’d run the other way as fast as she could.

After leaving Zac with Drew and Karlie, he went to the grocery store with Jenna, helping her get her weekly shopping finished.

Most of her grocery money went to diapers and food for Zac.

She didn’t buy that much, but what little food she did pick up seemed to be kid themed.

Ryan knew that she was a good mother, but he didn’t realize how much she sacrificed for her son.

She didn’t even have a nice outfit for a night out.

God, that made him want to take care of her even more.

He felt this unfamiliar need to make sure she and Zac had what they needed.

When she was shopping, he noticed her picking up items, looking for the price, and putting them back.

He took mental notes of everything that she put back.

He would make sure that she got those things but didn’t want to overstep just yet.

Tonight, he planned on letting her know exactly what he wanted and needed from her.

After that, if she agreed, he’d make sure she had things she needed and wanted.

After Jenna’s shopping was done, he left her to run back to his parents’ house to get ready for their date.

He stopped at the florist that his mom always used to pick up a bouquet for Jenna.

He’d dressed casually, noting that Jenna had borrowed a sexy little jean skirt from her sister.

He couldn’t wait to see her and her cute little curves in the skirt.

When she answered her door, he just about hit his knees when he saw how good she looked.

God, the woman filled out that skirt just right.

Her legs seemed to go on for miles, right down to her cute little, red-painted toes.

She hadn’t put on her shoes yet, and he loved the way she looked barefoot and waiting for him.

She paired the skirt with a sexy scoop neck tank that hugged her breasts, which he imagined would be a perfect fit for his hands. She made his mouth water.

“These are for you, honey.” His voice sounded hoarse. He needed to get himself together, but his need for Jenna had him all twisted up inside.

“Aww, thanks! You didn’t need to go all out, Ryan.

Dinner out is more than I could ask for.

I haven’t been out in forever.” She took the flowers and headed back to her little kitchen.

Her home was so comfortable and cozy. He felt her presence in every room.

He even loved Zac’s toys lying all over the family room floor. He loved how lived in her home felt.

“Sorry, it’s such a mess. I didn’t have time to clean up today.

” She apologized while putting the flowers into some water in a mason jar.

“Zac likes to pull out all his toys as soon as we walk into the house. It’s just easier to leave them out, most of the time.

Well, unless you step on one of his little cars in the middle of the night, then it’s not so nice.

” She bent to rub the arch of her foot, and Ryan wanted to do it for her.

“Yeah, wait until the kid gets into Legos. I’ve stepped on a few of those in my day; they leave a mark.

He’ll learn to clean up after himself after he does that a few times.

” Ryan moved closer to her as she finished up her flower arrangement.

He wanted her so badly, he was already hard after just seeing her in that miniskirt.

But she deserved a night out. Still, he couldn’t help himself; he pulled her into his arms and sealed his lips over hers.

She reacted to him so easily. She opened her mouth, allowing his tongue in, and he moaned into her mouth.

Jenna ran her hands down his back, cupping his ass in his Levi’s.

“Honey,” he growled, “You keep doing that and we won’t make it to dinner, and I want to take you out.”

She smiled up at him, “Okay. I’ll try to keep my hands to myself; she flexed her fingers on his ass, squeezing one last time. I’ll get my shoes so we can go.”

“Tease,” he pulled her in for a quick kiss. She giggled and sashayed away, making him groan. Yeah, she knew exactly what she was doing to him, which was good because he knew exactly what he wanted to do to her.

∞

The restaurant was wonderful. Ryan had somehow made a reservation for the hottest steakhouse in town.

She was wondering if he knew someone who worked there because she had heard that the waiting list to get in was over a month long.

He even requested a little table for two, in the back corner, giving them almost total privacy.

It was the most romantic date that she had ever had.

He pulled out her chair for her, playing the gentleman, and helped her get settled. “Wow, Ryan! This place is so nice. I was fine with pizza and a movie at home.”

He sat down in the chair across from her, sliding his chair closer to her.

“I know,” he smiled at her, taking her hand in his, “But I wanted to take you out tonight, honey.” She could feel her cheeks heat and knew that she was bright pink again.

He was just so sweet and caring, thinking about what she’d like.

Their waiter interrupted, taking their drink orders. When he left, Ryan got so quiet, she was worried that she’d done something wrong. “You okay?” she whispered, squeezing his hand.

“Yeah,” his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“I’m just a little worried about tonight.

” He grimaced at his statement. The waiter brought their drinks and was ready for their orders.

Jenna hadn’t even looked at her menu. Ryan ordered for both of them, and she wasn’t quite sure how she felt about him doing that for her.

Although she had to admit, a steak did sound pretty good and probably would have been her choice.

Still, she didn’t like him taking away her freedom to make that decision.

Now it was her turn to be silent. He reached under the table and put his hand on her knee, squeezing lightly, to get her attention.

“That’s better, princess. I need you to look at me because I have some things to say, and I need to know how you feel.

” Jenna could only nod at Ryan. He chuckled, leaning forward to kiss her pouty lips.

“Baby, when you pout like that, I want to eat you up.” He nibbled her bottom lip a little more.

When he finally sat back, worry was etched on his face once more.

“I wish you would just tell me what you are worried about. You said it was about tonight?” Jenna felt overly warm with his hand on her knee and from the kisses he just teased her with.

She sipped her water, happy that she didn’t order anything with alcohol in it.

She was pretty sure she would need every one of her faculties tonight to keep up with Ryan.

Ryan seemed nervous and fidgety, almost reminding her of Zac when he’d done something wrong.

“First, let me just say that you look amazing tonight. That mini skirt has me all tied up in knots.” He barked out a laugh at his own words.

“Sorry, I’ve never had a conversation like this with a woman.

Usually, the women I go out with already know what I want.

They know the score, and we don’t have to talk about—things. ”

“What things do we need to talk about, Ryan?” She sounded a little stern, even to her ears.

“What I need from you,” he blurted out. “I um, I have specific desires, let’s say when it comes to sex.

” Jenna choked on her next sip of water.

He seriously wanted to talk about sex before they even had dinner?

Maybe this wasn’t a good idea, but coming up with an excuse to leave felt impossible. She needed a few minutes to herself.

“I need to use the powder room,” Jenna whispered, looking down at the table. She stood and grabbed her purse. Ryan stood too.

“Jenna—please just hear me out,” he pleaded as she started for the ladies’ room.

She couldn’t get away from him fast enough, feeling like she couldn’t breathe.

How could she have been so stupid? She was right earlier, thinking that he only wanted her for a quick hook-up and then he’d leave her again.

He was even talking about “other women” and what they wanted.

She didn’t want that with him, or with anyone, for that matter.

She wanted a partner, a husband, a father for her son.

She longed to have someone by her side to help her make some of the crappy decisions that life threw at her and to sleep by her side at night.

She missed the intimacy of being married, having someone there with her.

Well, someone who wasn’t two and who didn’t need a diaper change.