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“So why does it matter?” She popped another bite and leaned a little closer.

I shrugged. “Dunno exactly. I guess…” I rubbed my chin, scratching at the prickle of growth. “I guess I want more. This stage has been fun. I’ve really enjoyed actually getting to know the Dr. Kate James before I even kissed her, but now that I have, I suppose I’m anxious to move on.”

“And what are we moving on to?” At first I thought she was genuinely confused, but then a little bit of a smile broke out on her face and I realized she was teasing me right back.

“The only game I like to play is baseball. Relationship games are my personal version of hell.” It was a huge reason Amanda and I were together as long as we were. She was one of the most blunt and honest people I ever met. I always knew where I stood with her. It made being together easy. Easy meant we stayed together when we really should have gone our separate ways. We weren’t in love. We were comfortable. “I don’t mind keeping things quiet. I don’t mind a little sneaking around…but only as long as it’s for privacy. I like you Kate. I want to date you. And I want to be clear and honest.”

She set her fork down and pushed her late dinner away, giving me her full, gorgeous attention. “There is a huge difference between privacy and pretending. I like my privacy. Dating someone with such a public life does scare me a little. But the last thing I want is to play games. I never would have said it was my personal version of hell, but I want nothing to do with it.”

That was a relief. “Well, then to be perfectly clear, how does Rosie affect you?” If she wanted to have a quiet fling that kept the rest of my personal life separate, that was fine, but I needed to know it now.

Her whole face softened. Something tugged in my chest when she did that. “Isaac, are you asking me if I’m put off by you being a father?”

“Yes?”

“I’m not. I like kids. I adore my niece. I don’t have any experience being a parent, but I’m a fantastic aunt.”

“That’s a start. Just…be honest with me. Even if you think I won’t like it.”

“I promise.”

I had this urge sometimes. A desire, really. Once I decided on something, I wanted it all. Immediately. Without any of the messy stuff it took to get there. A lot of my life I was gifted with that actually being an option. I was naturally good at baseball. Where some had to work extra hours to hone and refine their swing, their run, their throw, I just got it. It put me at the top of the lists for colleges, then the draft. My time in the minors was short compared to most. And then the dream was reality. Sure it took years, but in the grand scheme of careers, it was served up to me on a platter.

Even fatherhood. We found out we were pregnant. It shook me, obviously. I had to think and come to terms with what it meant, but once I decided I was ready to be the sole parent, it’s all I wanted.

Sometimes the urge came for simple things. The truck I decided I wanted after Clint Bolton let me borrow his when mine was having a repair done. By the time the shop called to let me know it was fixed, I already had a quote on a new truck. I drove the newly fixed one there, traded it, and had my new prize, all in the course of a day.

I did it with a lot of frivolous things, actually. Phones, watches, clothes, the boat I wasn’t currently using. I tried not to be as impulsive when I bought the house, but once I saw it, I knew it was perfect and ended up paying more than I should have.

I felt that same urge when I was around Kate. I knew from our first conversation that she was different. And now, after weeks of getting to know her, I didn’t want to wait any longer. I wanted it all.

But I didn’t want to scare her off.

“So we keep things professional when we’re at work and the rest of the time?” I let the question hang so she could answer it without my influence. Because my vote was that she move in with me, be mine forever, and that’s it. Whatever came with that part. Rash, yes, but that was me. When I knew something, I knew it.

She threaded her fingers between mine. “The rest of the time we act like a couple? Are we a couple, Isaac?”

I was so far past this part in my head that I forgot there was a point where you had to say this stuff out loud. “Oh, we’re a couple, Kate.”

She moved in a way that made her look like she was melting even when she wasn’t in my arms, and I liked it almost as much. “So, Doc and Captain by day and Kate and Isaac by night.”

I slid as close to her as I could get in public and kissed the hell out of her to seal the deal.

Mark cleared his throat. “Uh, just wanted to let you know the kitchen is closing. It’s just you and Drunk Jim left, so no rush on anything.”

“Thanks, Mark,” we said in unison and kept right on kissing.

“Why couldn’t we have met a few weeks earlier?” I groaned. “I don’t want to go home yet, but I also need to be a good manager, but I also just want to kiss you.” And keep touching her. When we touched I was calm instead of a frenetic ball of energy.

She rested her forehead against mine with a sigh. “I don’t want to go home either. Ugh, you’re right! It’s so complicated! If you were anyone else I’d say take me home, we’ll figure the rest out.”

I shot to my feet, ignoring the if you were anyone else part entirely. She said what I was thinking, which meant we were on the same page and letting shit that did not matter get in the way. “Then come home with me.”

She looked up, blinking. “But…don’t you have a full house?”

“With my own room and my own entrance. Come on, Doc. Neither of us want this night to end.”

“I’m Kate right now.” Her eyes twinkled as she teased me.