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“Saw too much drinking in the military and it made me aware that people act stupid when they’re drunk.”
“I completely understand,” she said.
Occasionally, he had an alcoholic drink, but most of the time, he drank water. Plus, he wanted to be functional tonight if they had sex. And he did not want his PTSD to act up. That would be so embarrassing with a stranger.
“Shall we find our table,” he asked. “I made reservations.”
She smiled and he took her hand to help her slide off the bar stool.
“Have you eaten here before?”
“Yes,” he said. “I stop here occasionally when I have to go into Dallas.”
This was where he spent the night when he was going to return from the VA hospital. Oftentimes, he needed some time to process what the doctor told him about his condition. Plus, he didn’t like to drive late at night. Too many deer on the road.
“Your table is ready,” the maître d’ told them as he led them through the restaurant.
Most of the crowd was gone and there were only a few people remaining. He placed his hand on the small of her back as he guided her through the tables. It felt so good to touch a woman. To smell her sweet scent. To feel her soft skin.
And yet, he had lied to her this afternoon. He’d not given her his real name because of the notoriety of the Burnetts in the area. All he needed was for her to realize where he lived and seek him out.
It was better that tonight, no matter what happened, to be just about tonight and nothing else. There was no future in this relationship. No chance of anything past morning.
When they reached the table, he pulled out the chair for her.
“Thank you,” she said, sitting.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” their waiter asked, walking up to the table.
“No, thanks,” she said, and Tanner shook his head.
“I’d like a glass of sweet ice tea,” she said and he nodded.
“Me too.”
After the waiter walked off, they picked up their menus.
“What is good here?” she asked.
“Everything. I like to get their grilled steak,” he said.
“Then that’s what I’ll have as well,” she said, putting the menu down and smiling at him.
Those sparkly sapphire eyes had his heart pounding in his chest at the thought they could be sharing the night together. Her sweet full lips were a temptation he couldn’t wait to kiss.
Reaching across the table, he took her hand. “It’s been a long time since I was attracted to a woman.”
She smiled. “So you’re normally attracted to men?”
He threw back his head and laughed. “No. I’m just kind of picky regarding women.”
“Good, I’m picky as well. The last time a man asked me to dinner was seven years ago.”
Stunned, he stared at her.
“That’s a long time.”
“Yes, well, it was my husband,” she said.
