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“Nah, I think you meant have,” I teased.
“Seriously though, I feel bad. I don’t want you to think I invaded your privacy. Especially after witnessing those guys harassing you outside.”
I reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Don’t feel bad. I’m aware that people are interested in celebrities, and I’d sound like an asshole if I complained about people wanting to know about me. There are parts of my life I guard fiercely, but I’m not going to get mad because you know where I grew up and stuff like that.”
“It kind of changes the dynamic of a first date, though, doesn’t it?”
“I can’t say I mind. This date has been the best I’ve been on by far.”
She bit her bottom lip and averted her gaze. She had no idea what that did to me. I’d invited her to dinner to get to know her better and apologize for being a dick on the beach earlier. It wasn’t a ploy to get her to sleep with me. But the more time I spent with her, I wanted nothing more than to spread her out on my bed and devour her.
Chapter 7
Kayla
Had Blaine really said our date was the best one he’d been on? I found it hard to believe a man like him, who was drop-dead gorgeous, could choose any woman he wanted and take them anywhere in the world, would think our dinner was noteworthy. But it was definitely the best date I’d been on by far.
I wasn’t even embarrassed that I’d told him about my crush. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’d been mortified when I first blurted it out, but he didn’t freak out or look at me differently, which put me at ease. I only mentioned it because it had been awkward not asking him the same questions about where he lived and grew up. My options had been to confess or come across like a snobby bitch who wasn’t interested in learning more about him.
“Does your family still live in Glendora?” he asked around a bite of fish.
I shook my head. “My parents moved to Arizona a couple of years ago, and I don’t have any siblings. My aunt and her husband are the only family I have here in California. What about you? Are your parents still in the area?”
“Yeah, my mom lives with me. She never enjoyed living on her own, so I bought a house with space she could make all her own.” He chuckled. “That probably makes me sound like a mama’s boy, doesn’t it?”
“Not at all. I think it’s sweet.”
“I don’t think anyone has ever referred to me as sweet. What kind of fan are you?” He winked. “You should know I’m a total badass with a bad attitude.”
His voice took on a joking tone, but there was a hint of vulnerability in his words. He may have embraced his public persona, but I’d seen a different side of him in the short time we’d spent together. “Yeah, because only guys with bad attitudes stop to ensure a crying woman is okay.”
“Touché.”
“So, it’s just you and your mom?”
“No, my sister and nephew live close by as well.”
I took a sip of my wine. “How old is your nephew?”
“Malcom is ten. He’s the coolest kid ever.” His eyes lit up when he talked about his nephew, proving yet again he might possibly be a nice guy in a bad boy's body.
As we finished our dinner, Blaine topped off my wine glass and suggested we move back to the loveseat. “It’s getting a little cold. Let me go grab a blanket.”
A minute later, he returned and handed me the softest chenille blanket I’d ever felt. There were definite perks to staying in the luxurious suites the resort had to offer as opposed to my standard guest room.
Blaine sat beside me under the blanket and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I scooted a little closer to him and snuggled into his side. I couldn’t think of a time I felt more at peace than that moment sitting next to him as the sky darkened and listening to the waves.
I took a sip of my wine. “Tell me something about yourself that no one else knows.”
“Uh…” He was quiet for a second, and I worried I may have pushed too far. He’d already said he guarded his privacy. Just because we’d had a nice time during dinner didn’t mean he would suddenly spill all of his secrets. He traced a finger up and down my arm. “I’ve never been in love before.”
My head snapped up, our eyes meeting. “Really?” I knew he was thirty-five, and I couldn’t imagine anyone who’d likely been dating for twenty years or so hadn’t been in love at least once. “What about Claudia Ferdinand? Weren’t you dating for a while?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, we dated for a bit, but I wasn’t in love. Pretty sure she wasn’t either. I’ve always said I wasn’t going to settle down, and up to this point, I haven’t found a woman who has made me want to change my mind.”
His words caused a flutter in my belly, giving me a moment of hopefulness that I could be that woman. But I wasn’t naïve. We were just two people temporarily enjoying each other’s company while away from home.
“What about you?” he asked.
