Page 30 of The Heart You Kept

Tonight was our date.

We’ve had dinner and danced; Mr. Doe has wined me and dined me and I can’t imagine a more perfect night. We’re still at the restaurant and it’s 10 p.m. but I don’t want to go back to the hotel because then it will be our last night and when I wake up he will be leaving.

And I know it’s coming…and I know I can’t stop it.

But god, how I want to.

I stare at my reflection. Go out there and do what you came here to do.

“You can do this,” I whisper as I give myself a pep talk.

The door opens as someone walks in and I force a smile and walk back out into the restaurant.

Mr. Doe’s eyes hold mine as I walk toward him, he gives me a slow sexy smile as his eyes drop down to my toes and back up to my face.

“Miss me?” I smile as I take a seat opposite him.

He sips his drink and gives me the look.

“You know….” I smirk. “You shouldn’t look at people like that.”

“Like what…?” He swirls his red wine around in his glass as his eyes hold mine.

“Like you want to do unspeakable things to them.”

Electricity sparks through the air.

“There are no people here.” In slow motion he lifts his glass to his lips and takes a sip. “Only you.”

And I feel it, like an undercurrent, the pull toward him is so strong.

“Then you should take only me home and do all the unspeakable things.”

“I intend to.” He raises his eyebrow; our eyes are locked and damn…how is he so freaking hot?

He stands and takes my hand and leads me out of the restaurant, my mouth falls open in wonder as I look up at the sky. “Look, it’s snowing.”

“I ordered it just for you.” Mr. Doe smiles down at me.

“Thank you.” I giggle.

Wouldn’t surprise me at all if he had that power.

I slide my arm under his overcoat and he puts his arm around me as we walk down the sidewalk toward the car. The hotel security guards are with us again and were loitering around out the front of the hotel while we had dinner.

The Establishment sure does offer great security, no wonder it’s so expensive.

One of the security men opens the back door of the black SUV and we climb into the car. Mr. Doe holds my hand in his lap and turns his attention out the window.

He seems lost in his own thoughts and I wonder if he is dreading saying goodbye tomorrow half as much as I am.

As we drive into the snowy night I know I have to count my blessings; no matter what happens in the future, I’m grateful for the time that we have had together…even if it is limited.

It’s been a beautiful day and that was a wonderful dinner date. Probably the best I’ve ever been on.

My mind wanders to the night we are about to have. I have no idea what is about to unfold and I’m nervous and excited, perhaps even a little terrified.

Let’s do this.