Page 5

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d wonder if I had a stalker.” An easy grin tipped her lips when she spotted me headed for her across the coffee shop.

Barely 7:55 on Thursday, and there I was, freshly showered with an armful of fresh-picked peach roses, all for her.

“If I were stalking you, you’d know it.” I passed her the blooms over the counter.

She giggled, soft and sweet and enough to send zaps of energy into the air between us.

“At least you’re the kind of stalker who lurks in your car and attacks my potential harassers.

” “Clearing my path, that’s all.” “Path of destruction?” She untied her apron, tucking it under her arm.

“Just gettin’ rid of all the foolish bastards who think they have a shot at a kind soul like yours.

” My words seemed to strike her, ending our easy banter in favor of a small cloud of emotion.

“Sorry. I probably started this all wrong.” I grinned sheepishly, holding the front door of the coffee shop wide so she could exit and then turn to lock it behind her.

“I’d love to take you out for something to eat and hear about your day.

” She arched one eyebrow, my words seeming to rattle her again, before a soft smile crept up her cheeks.

“Every thought in my head is yelling at me to say no to you, Arkin Broderick.” I swallowed the lump of anxiety leveraged in my throat.

“But—” she tucked her nose into the blooms and inhaled “—there’s something about you…

” She shook her head, bemused. “I just can’t force the word no from my lips when you’re standing across from me with that smile, fancy leather shoes and all.

” I rocked back and forth on my feet, a very new pair of dark-wash jeans covering my thighs and those Italian leather things.

I leaned in extra close, fingers moving a wisp of her hair from her cheek.

“Since you brought ’em up our last date, figured that meant you liked them.

” Her blush deepened a lush crimson shade, the color of a ripe fall fruit.

“Pretty quick to own that date word, huh?” She seemed uneasy again, and my mind was running away with me looking for ways to make her feel a little more comfortable with me.

I didn’t know why I was drawn to her like I was, why she’d constantly lingered on my mind since our first meeting, or why I had the persistent sense of protection when I was with her.

She was hesitant, like a newborn bird, and every part of me was aware that she needed tenderness from me before anything else.

“I’ll take what I can get with you.” I resisted pressing a kiss to her pillowy lips, pulling away and regaining some of that control that’d been wavering.

“I’m happy to take you to Reggio’s again, but if you’re up for a little adventure, I’ve got another plan.

” Her eyes moved from her car back to me, as if she was warring with herself.

“I have to work in the morning, early.” I nodded.

“Not a problem. Early bedtime tonight. Got it.” She finally nodded.

“Should I follow you?” “Well, the place I had in mind is a little more rugged than the Toyota can take.” She hesitated again, shifting back and forth on her feet.

“If you want, you can follow me all the way to the last paved road, park at the pull-off, and—” “No, no, that would be silly.” She brushed my words away.

“I already online searched you anyway, I trust you.” I barked a laugh, thinking how much things had changed since I’d last done this.

“Good, I think?” Her grin brightened, like she was going to force herself to enjoy this, before she tossed her apron in the back of her car and turned.

“Well, let’s get on with this date, Knight.

” I shook my head, amused that I never could tell what might come out of that mouth of hers.

“I’ve got a few extra sweatshirts in the back if it gets chilly.

” I helped her into my truck before taking off around to the other side.

I was totally winging this second date of ours, but for some reason I got the sense that a little peace was what she needed, not another noisy restaurant.

Or maybe that was just me, wanting to dig a little deeper under Daphne’s skin.

“Call me crazy”—I turned the key on my truck—“but I was thinking we can stop at the market on the edge of town and get some stuff for a picnic.” Surprise etched her features before she nodded. “That sounds perfect, actually.”

“It’s weird how comfortable I am around you.” She sipped more of the strawberry sparkling water out of her very fancy disposable champagne flute.

“I'm a talented guy.” I shrugged, thinking how well I’d pulled off this spontaneous date. The small clearing near a lake where I’d done some fishing as a kid proved to be a surprisingly romantic spot.

“Yeah, but really. Where did you come from, Arkin Broderick?” She sipped more of the drink.

“And why did it take you so long to get here?” I laughed.

“Where’s here, exactly?” “With me,” she said, shrugging.

“It’s like, just when I need you, there you are, flying in like a superhero to save my day.

” I nodded, thinking that was a pretty good approximation of how the last few meetings with her had been.

“My Spidey sense is on point.” “I work with so many people at the coffee shop, it’s a revolving door of personalities,” she whispered thoughtfully, eyes bouncing around the constellations above our head.

“I’ve gotten pretty good at reading people.

” “What’s your read on me, then?” I lay back at her side, arms behind my head.

Her profile was silhouetted against the creamy moonlight.

“Kind.” She turned, eyes meeting mine. “Proud.” She leaned back, mimicking my pose, shoulder to shoulder.

“Bossy.” Amusement tickled her voice. “Maybe a little dark.” “Dark, huh?” I considered her words, never realizing before now that maybe I was projecting a moody bastard sort of vibe without even realizing it.

“Remember I did an Internet search. I know about the arrest.” She gazed at the ground as she spoke, and my heart stood still.

My whole body stiffened. That arrest was years ago, after everything happened.

I was a hurt and angry kid, barely twenty-two.

I didn’t regret what I did—I never would.

Because of what I did, another girl didn’t get hurt.

“It’s okay. The bastard deserved it. Do you make it a habit of rescuing women?

” she asked while taking another sip of her drink.

Her eyes were on me intently, as if trying to get an answer without making me say a word.

“Someone I love got brutally raped and killed. It triggered something. I guess I'm working through it, and I guess that makes me too dark for some people.” I looked at her, trying to see if I was a monster in her eyes, but all I saw was the color of the ocean staring back at me, wild and beautiful. “Not for me,” she breathed, “because you’re also fun-loving.” She softened, her tone shifting from serious to teasing.

She was giving me an out, and I took it.

Our shoulders and hips brushed, her skin sizzling against mine even through the cotton of our clothes.

“And so protective.” “That’s probably a pretty accurate reading.

I’ll be sure to tip extra.” She rolled over, one hand buried in her waves of hair as she propped herself on her side to nail me with her intense eyes.

“If the company is good, no tip is required.” She grinned mischievously before popping up from her place on the brand-new picnic blanket, pushing her arms at both sides and twirling softly.

The wind picked up around us, and her smile widened.

The vision of her twirling under the stars like that was sweet enough to hold me over for the rest of my life.

A slow classic love song wafted out of the speakers of my truck, and without thinking, I rose to my feet, crossing the distance that separated us.

I was drawn to her like a firefly in darkness.

She turned, and our eyes locked as we neared each other.

I paused, just at the edge of her personal space, before she pressed her fingertips to my waist and leaned in.

My heart fell a half a dozen floors to my feet, her touch sending shots of fire through every nerve in my body.

Without a word, my hands entwined with hers.

She was so soft and quiet against my chest. With every moment, she crawled a little deeper into my chest, settling herself in all of my dark places with her light.

“News to both of us…” My lips connected with her forehead.

“You’re my first dance, Daphne.” She didn’t reply, letting the music and the wind wrap us up in our own warm little bubble.

I couldn’t help thinking how easy it would be to weave this woman into my life, wake to her precious smile every morning, and kiss her to sleep at night.

If picnics and slow dancing in the moonlight was life with Daphne, what in the hell had taken me so long?

After a few minutes, I finally spoke. “We should get you home. Work comes early.” The truth was, I’d give anything to stay right here with her, all night.

“Just one more song, Arkin?” I knew then, I was a goner.