Mission For Love (Love By Design 6)

I watched his big hands flex over the speckled top of the table. My brain went to the place of remembering them on my skin, pressing his fingers in hard to hold me, yet gentle enough to not bruise. David Easton was my conundrum. The push and pull between us was more than just magnets, it was wild, scorching hot, and all-consuming once I’d waded through my denial. And denial–she was a cut throat witch.

“Sure.” I sipped my milkshake focusing my energy on sucking the cold thick ice cream through the straw.

David’s eyes rounded like saucers as he cleared his throat and looked down at the table.

“Why did you leave.”

This guy didn’t pull punches, did he?

“I wanted to go into the school year prepared, and for me, that meant not being in a relationship. I have more classes this year and both girls cross country and track teams to coach.”

The silence between us stretched out. Several times I thought the waitress would come back to interrupt us, but she stayed away pouring coffee at the counter.

David flipping his menu over.

“I can respect that, but disappearing made me feel like I did something wrong.” There was an angry flick of his wrist of the menu, and I didn’t blame him for being mad.

“It’s not you.” I started to say until he held his hand up.

“Please, not that excuse.” He paused again and then started. There was that push and pull I had come to expect. “I actually felt used.”

“Used?” I snorted. That was a new one. Typically I felt like I’d been the used party. Used for my past, used for my connections, used all around which was why I avoided sex like the plague up until David.

“Yeah, because it didn’t have to be about sex, although that was great. I did want to get to know you. The other was a surprise I’ll admit, but in no way a deal breaker.” The look on his face spoke volumes. He wasn’t being mean. He was being real and that witch named Denial knew how to rub it in.

“Wow.” He made me speechless.

“Honey, I don’t what kind of guys you date before.”

I interrupted him. “Let’s see, the last one dumped me because I had cancer, and decided losing my leg to save my life was more important than a failed chemo treatment. Dating has been rough.”

David shook his head. The waitress finally came over to interrupt us and take our orders. Salad with grilled salmon for me, and the Salisbury steak, no mushrooms for David.

“I’m struggling here and I need your help to understand.”

“He

lp with…”

Salads were brought to the table with overly long pours of ice water and my irritation grew in equal measure to the condensation on the glasses. What didn’t he get?

“I’m not the guy that goes for the girl like this. Yeah, I used to be the one who thrived on one night stands, but you ruined me. Don’t you get that?”

“No. What I get is that your ego is bruised because I left, not the other way around.”

“Oh come on, Kiara. Throw me a bone here.” He picked up his fork and stabbed a tomato forcing it to squirt on the plate and my anger popped along with it.

“I’d throw you a leg, but you know, I’m fresh out.” I shrugged pissed off and all kinds of feelings I didn’t like. How dare he.

“Alright, so our sordid histories are off the table. Got it loud and clear. What do you want talk about instead. I didn’t invite you to dinner to fight about irrational ideas around priorities and self-denial.”

“Not quite the apology either.” I leaned back in my seat. I was traversing down a road I didn’t like. I wasn’t fighting fairly and I knew it, but he was getting under my skin and I didn’t like that he cemented himself there so quickly and surely.

“Kiara, why can’t we go back to Saturday night.” He stuck his hand out across the table in a faux introduction. “Hi, I’m David. I live above a pub with my brother, and I got a job at the high school. I used to serve in the military. It was both terrifying and the best experience of my life. I like coffee and apples, and I love my parents. Would you like to date outside of school?”

“What?” I laughed uncomfortably feeling like he put me on blast in the kindest way.

“Come on. Your turn.” He waved his outstretched hand and begrudgingly, I put mine out for him to take.