Plus, the food was fantastic. For locals, it was the best place for burgers and beer.
To his credit, he didn’t question her choice when she led him into the sketchy-looking building. He did, however, stay close by her side and protectively place his hand at her lower back. She liked that. She liked it a lot.
Fortunately, the inside was nicer than the outside. Also nice: he didn’t remove his hand when they got inside.
Dark wood and low-level lighting gave the place a cozy feel. The high-backed, roomy booths also afforded some privacy.
Kate requested a table in the back. Chris waited until she was seated to slide in across from her. This courtesy was something she could quickly get used to.
“What do you recommend?” he asked.
“Honestly, everything here is good.”
He put his menu back in the wire holder. “Why don’t you order for both of us?”
“Challenge accepted.”
His eyes shone with approval when she ordered a plate of mango-habanero wings, two Angus burgers—a half-pounder for him and a quarter-pounder for her—a basket of thick-cut fries, and coleslaw. To drink, she went with a pitcher of locally brewed beer and one of ice water as well.
“How did I do?” she asked as the waitress walked away.
“A-plus.”
She smiled, but inside, she was fist-pumping. “You seem like the kind of guy who can appreciate a hearty meal.”
He grinned. “You’re not wrong.”
Their drinks arrived first. He poured beer into frosted mugs for each of them while she did the same with the water.
“Tell me about Kate,” he said.
“There’s not much to tell.”
“I doubt that.” He looked at her with penetrating dark blue eyes, giving her his undivided attention.
An old saying came to mind—still waters run deep. She was pretty sure she’d need scuba gear to explore those depths. Also, she was an excellent swimmer.
“I’m a local girl, born and bred. I’ve worked in my father’s store since I was a kid.” Even as the words came out of her mouth, she realized just how boring and uninteresting she was and attempted to spice things up with some self-effacing humor. Placing both hands under her chin, she batted her eyelashes and channeled her inner game-show hostess. “Kate likes cooking, DIY projects, and hiking local mountain trails. She tends to avoid any situation that requires wearing pantyhose or high heels. Her turnoffs are posers, liars, cheaters, and people who think salads are actual meals.”
His lips quirked.
She dropped her hands and returned to her regular voice. “See what I mean? Totally underwhelming.”
“I disagree.”
“Oh?”
“Do you want to know what I see?”
She didn’t think it was possible, but his eyes grew even more intense, and her heartbeat kicked up.
“I’m not sure. Do I?”
“I see a woman who is loyal and loving and cares about her family. One who takes in stray dogs and delivers meals to others on stormy nights. She’s confident and comfortable in her own skin. Beautiful and funny and refreshingly down-to-earth.”
She sucked in a breath. “That’s what you see?”
He nodded.
“Wow.” That might have been the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her.
She was going to have to be very careful, or this guy would charm the pants right off her. Not that she was wholly opposed to the idea. Holding on to pants in a situation like this was vastly overrated. He was very attractive in a rugged, masculine sort of way and growing more so by the minute.
She cleared her throat and swallowed the urge to say so. “Your turn.”
He shrugged and leaned back. “I grew up in a small town in the Midwest. Joined the Navy and got a degree.”
She waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. Their wings arrived, temporarily halting the conversation. In retrospect, she probably shouldn’t have ordered something so messy for a first date, but the wings were good enough to overlook the potential embarrassment factor. Besides, she wasn’t exactly the dainty, sip-and-nibble type. He should know up-front what he was getting himself into.
“What is your degree in?” she asked after making prudent use of the wet wipes that had come with their food.
“Architectural engineering.”
“Impressive.”
“Not really. I like drawing, and I’m good at math, so it seemed like a good idea.”
She was fascinated by the way he tried to downplay himself. His modesty was just as sexy as the rest of him.
“How did you become involved in the Sanctuary project?”
“I met Matt Winston on the teams.”
“SEAL teams?”
He nodded. “After my time was up, he called me, told me about his vision, and asked if I wanted in.”
She grinned. “And you said yes.”
“Without hesitation. Matt’s a good guy, and I couldn’t think of a better way to put my skills and education to use.”
Before she could stop herself, she asked the question that had been rattling around in her mind since the last time she saw him, “Why do they call you Mad Dog?”
He didn’t answer right away. She could practically see his wheels turning, deciding whether or not to tell her.
Then, his eyes locked on to hers, and he said very softly, “Because when something is important to me, I’ll go to any lengths to protect it.”
“Oh.”
“Does that scare you, Kate?”
“No,” she answered honestly. It probably should have, but it didn’t. In fact, she felt perilously close to swooning. At least, she thought that was what the light, tingly sensation was. It wasn’t something she’d ever experienced before.
“Good.”
Their meals arrived, and over burgers and beer, they got to know each other better. They took turns in asking each other questions and sharing, keeping the subjects light and not too personal. By the time they left the restaurant and drove back to her place, she found him even more attractive. Another first. Usually, when guys started talking, their appeal took a nosedive.
“I had a wonderful time tonight, Kate,” he said as he walked her to her door.
“I did, too.” So much so that she wasn’t ready for the night to end. “Would you like to come in and have some coffee?”
“I would, but I think it’s better if I don’t.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I like you, and I find you incredibly attractive. If I go in there with you now, I won’t come back out until morning.”
She inhaled sharply, her core and nipples tightening at his words. “You sound pretty sure of yourself, Mr. Sheppard.”
He grinned. “Hopeful. May I kiss you good night?”
“I’d be insulted if you didn’t.”
He lowered his head. She closed her eyes, her entire body vibrating in anticipation as she waited. And waited. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her face but no actual kiss. She opened her eyes to find him watching her, his lips poised just a hairbreadth away from hers.
“There you are,” he whispered and then closed the distance between them.
She’d been kissed before but never like that. Like, the moment his lips touched hers, the rest of the world ceased to exist. In the span of those precious seconds, she no longer felt the cold or heard the sounds around them. Every sense grew sharper, more acute, all focused solely on him. His taste. His scent. The way he held her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.