AllFreeNovel
Share Us
What is happening? He can’t be stopping, can he? I mean, when I thought nothing could have beat the first kiss, he proved me wrong. The chemistry hadn’t dwindled. If anything, it was stronger than before. At least for me.
I slipped from his arms and stepped back. I was trying to process what had just happened, and I needed a little distance to do so. He wasn’t having it.
Robert reached out for my hand and pulled me closer. “Danielle, I probably am sending you mixed signals right now, and I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s okay,” I said, knowing that it wasn’t. I was almost fifty and he had me feeling like a kid again. Not just with my physical needs, but emotionally as well. I hadn’t been with anyone since my ex-husband, and he did a job on my self-confidence. Robert ending it so quickly didn’t help any.
“No, it’s not okay. It’s just that…I’m not sure how to explain it. But when I kiss you, something is…”
“Off?” I asked.
“Yes. No. Not off. Different.”
Not sure I like that any better.I was foolish to think that what I felt wasn’t just in me. At least I know now. Not that it makes me feel any better. Hell, I feel horrible.
I tugged my hand from his. “Robert, you don’t need to explain. It was just a kiss. That’s all. Now what do you say we grab our bowls and eat our dessert?”
He didn’t budge. “You’re not understanding what I’m trying to say. Hell, Danielle, I don’t know what I’m trying to say,” he said, his frustration showing as he ran his hand through his hair. “All I can say is that kissing you is different. It was back then and is now.”
“You’ve made that clear.” Don’t need to remind me over and over again.
“Since you seem to know what I’m feeling, would you care to share it with me?” he asked.
Smart ass.
“Okay, you want to hear my opinion?” He nodded. “I think two people can feel different things and it’d be fine. There’s no reason why we must dissect the meaning or feeling behind a simple kiss,” I said.
I already know what mine is. You make me feel like no one ever has.
“There is nothing simple about how I feel,” he stated. “I’m tired, and so are you. So I’ll table this topic for our next date. But trust me Danielle, I’ll be thinking about this kiss until then.”
So will I.
I handed him his bowl of pudding and we went out onto the deck. The rest of our night was spent talking about the restaurant.
“I can’t believe you told your staff that you’re going to pay their salary the entire time while you rebuild. That’s beyond generous. What did they say?” I asked.
“They were shocked, but overall, they were happy.”
“I’ve never heard of anyone doing such a thing before. It says a lot about who you are as an owner,” I said.
“It speaks more about who they are as employees. I try to surround myself with people who I can trust. I’ve never had to worry about the restaurant for a moment. They took care of each other. If someone needed time off, the others filled in and covered their shift. I wouldn’t even receive a call. And not once have I received a complaint from a customer. For the past three years, Bella’s has been voted number one in the state. I can’t take the credit. It’s all them - from the cooks to the dishwashers. I just get the credit as the owner,” he said.
You make me want to kiss you again.
“And it takes a good person to be able to recognize that,” and told him. “Not everyone would.”
“Sounds like you’ve had some personal experience with that,” he stated.
“I work for hospice, not directly with the patients, but with the caregivers. After a loved one passes, many of the caregivers are not given the credit for all they did. It’s very sad,” I said.
“I didn’t know that’s what you did. That’s a difficult job in itself,” he stated.
“I have learned over the years to take care of myself first. If I don’t, then I can’t take care of anyone else. I work three weeks, and then I take one week off. This is my week off,” I said.
He nodded. “Then let me help you enjoy it. What would you like to do on your time off?” he asked.
“I’m doing it right now. Having dessert under the stars. What could be better?” Maybe enjoying those delicious lips again. Or feeling your hands on me. Either would make my night perfect.
