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Her lips curled wryly. “I know, but Izzy can be pretty high energy and she also isn’t a fan of fish. When we do go anywhere for dinner, it’s usually to Mum and Dad’s. Mum is such a good cook that I don’t feel like I’m missing out.” Realizing how this could be misconstrued, she added, “Not that I’m not pleased to be here tonight. We don’t have seafood often, and I’m excited to try something new.”
Michael scanned his own menu, a furrow on his brow. “When you suggested this place, I thought it must be a family favorite.”
“Nope, nothing like that. It’s just close to home.”
He glanced up. “You don’t mind being seen with me by people you know?”
She laughed. “If you think I’d be worried about gossip because we’re out for dinner, you’re off base. People have been gossiping about us since the Winter Wonderland Fair.”
“They have?” He looked so adorably baffled she couldn’t resist reaching over to give his hand a squeeze.
“Yep. This is a small town. It doesn’t take much to set mouths flapping.”
“Speaking of.” He jerked his chin toward a table behind her, and she turned just in time to see Betty wink.
“What was that about?” she asked, feeling like she’d missed an inside joke.
“When I first moved to town, Betty and Nell wanted to know what type of person I was attracted to so they could add me to their sweepstake,” he explained, humor dancing in his eyes.
“Oh.” The image of the two old ladies cornering Michael to ask about his sexual preferences brought a laugh from her. “What did you tell them?”
He grinned, and warmth puddled in Bex’s stomach. “That it’d be more fun for them if they had to figure it out themselves.”
“Go, you.”
Those blue eyes crinkled at the corners, and she wanted to touch a finger to each little line and frame his face with her hands.
“They did suggest I might like the pretty woman who runs the gym.”
Her pulse leapt. “Oh, really? What did you say to that?”
He winced. “If I’m honest, as soon as I figured out it was you, I wondered whether there were any other gyms in town.”
Bex let go of his hand and swatted his arm. “You’re terrible. Although, you know, if you’d never come in, you’d never really have gotten to know Izzy.”
“I have no regrets.”
She wondered if the same could be said for her. Certainly life would be simpler if Michael had stayed in the dark for a while longer, but he’d have learned the truth eventually, and she hated the thought of missing out on their brunches together, and never having the chance to kiss him while Izzy was looking the other way.
No, she decided. She wouldn’t change a thing.
During dinner, conversation came easily. They shared stories of their lives in recent years. He told her about making the decision to leave his well-paid job as principal of a private boy’s school in Auckland to move to smaller towns and help fill gaps where needed. In return, she shared the details of her early days with Izzy. Moving home, purchasing the gym, meeting Kat—who quickly became her best friend—and picking up odd jobs here and there. She told him how grateful she was for the support she’d received from everyone in town, but most especially her parents, and the friendship she’d forged with Shane after his wife ran off.
Words spilled from her, confessions she’d never shared with anyone, and he accepted them all and offered up his own in exchange. She learned he’d dated a woman named Penelope for a couple of years, and not seen anyone seriously since. She didn’t ask about his family, not wanting to remind him of Wesley, and he didn’t volunteer any information either.
After they finished dessert—chocolate mousse for Bex and panna cotta for Michael—her heart was as full as her stomach. He drove her home and walked her to the entrance. The security light flicked on overhead, illuminating the patch of sidewalk where they stood.
“Thank you for dinner,” she said. “I had a lovely time.”
“So did I.” He bent to kiss her cheek, his lips firm and warm in the chilly night. “Does that mean you’ll come out with me again?”
She smiled mischievously. “Are you asking?”
“Yes.”
Stretching onto her toes, she pecked him on the lips. “Then yes, I’d love to go on another date with you.”
“Good.” This time, he initiated the kiss, his hands settling on her hips and drawing her close. She deepened it, sliding her tongue between his lips, and he groaned, a puff of steam escaping into the cold air. Bex wriggled impossibly closer, tasting sweetness on his tongue, and wishing their kiss could go on forever. It was slow and thorough, stirring a rush of emotions that hadn’t reared their heads since… Oh, long before Izzy was born.
