Page 56 of The Plus One

“Starving.” Ace pulled out my chair before sitting across from me. A server poured our drinks and disappeared. I lifted my glass. “To our first real date.”

Ace raised his. “First of many.”

“You’re confident.”

“I know what I want.”

His eyes held mine as our glasses touched. We ate while talking about everything except Markel and the wedding.

Ace told me more about his nieces and showed me pictures of them in matching shirts he’d bought because they begged him to dress like them.

Seeing him with those little girls did something to me. I could only imagine how he would be if he was ever to be a father.

I told him about the time Sierra convinced me to take a pole-dancing class and nearly broke her wrist trying to show off. By the time we finished eating, my stomach hurt from laughing. “Okay,” I admitted. “This was a good surprise.”

“I rented a whole island for you, Kema. I just wanted you to enjoy yourself.”

The simplicity of his answer silenced me. Nobody had ever gone this far just to spend time with me. Everything Ace did on this island was because he wanted to.

Ace reached across the table and took my hand. “What you thinking about?”

“That you’re setting the bar dangerously high.”

“Good. That means date number two has to be better...”

“Who said I’m going on another date with you?”

“You didn’t have to.”

I snickered, “you got a big ego.”

“Nah.” His thumb moved across my knuckles. “I just know this ain’t the last time I’m taking you somewhere.”

I didn’t argue with him. After breakfast, we changed and went swimming. Ace jumped into the water first while I stayed on the deck. “Kema, get in.”

“I already jumped off one cliff for you. You’re asking for too much.”

“You put on a swimsuit to sit on the deck?”

“Yes. It’s called fashion.”

Ace climbed the steps. I backed away. “Don’t.”

He kept coming. “Ace, I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

I tried to run, but he caught me around the waist and lifted me over his shoulder. “Ace! Put me down!”

“You should’ve listened.”

“If you throw me in, I’m taking you with me.”

“That’s the plan.”

He jumped before I could say anything else. We hit the water together. When I came up, I pushed wet hair from my face and splashed him. “You play too much.”

“You love it.”