by B. N. Hale
“Mother!” Marta exclaimed, her voice tinged with surprise.
“I’m not as old fashioned as you think, daughter.” Marta stood in shock as Maria embraced Kate. “And bring him to dinner,” she said. “I’d like to meet him.”
Laughing at Marta’s shock, Kate embraced the woman and then walked her to the door. Marta joined her on the threshold and watched her mother walk to her car. Only when she was gone did Marta speak.
“Reed hasn’t even met her, but he’s changing my mother.”
“I can’t believe she wants me to ask Reed out,” Kate said.
“She loves you like a daughter,” Marta said.
“She loves everyone like a daughter.”
“True,” Marta said with a laugh.
Kate glanced her way. “Does that mean you’re going to start this creative dating?”
“I just might,” she said in amusement. “I’m tired of waiting on guys who have no initiative.”
“You might chase them away,” Kate said. “I doubt all guys can handle such a modern woman.”
“Doesn’t matter,” she said. “If they can’t handle the evolution of dating, they aren’t worth pursuing.”
They shared a laugh and shut the door. Then Kate went to her room and struggled to finish her history paper. She managed to finish late and sat back with a sigh. For several minutes she stared at the screen of her laptop.
She was surprised to realize just how much her life now revolved around her dates with Reed. It was just their fifth date, but she thought about him every morning, during class, and when she got into her car. Everything was an idea for a future date, and everything harbored potential for the next invite. Reed was rapidly becoming the center of her world. But she couldn’t shake her nagging doubt.
Chapter 3
Reed arrived promptly at 6:30, his knock drawing Kate and her roommates to the door. Other girls and a handful of guys were in the living room. Ostensibly there for a movie night, they were really there to see Reed arrive.
The girls were curious while the guys were irritated. Kate overheard enough of the conversation to know the wistful talk by the girls did not sit well with the guys, who apparently felt the weight of their girlfriends’ rising expectations.
The knock at the door sent a hush through the room and Kate rose to answer. When she swung it open Reed’s eyes swept the room, a faint smile crossing his face as he spotted the girls gathered to see him. His black hair combed, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement, he was attractive and inviting.
“Movie night is better with sound,” he said.
One of the girls fumbled with the remote and turned the sound up, causing a round of giggles and laughter. The guys looked annoyed. The blondes were amused.
“You’ve met him,” Kate said. “Now enjoy your movie.”
More laughter ushered them outside and only ended when the door shut. “Sorry about our friends,” Kate said. “Your invitation drew a great deal of attention.”
“I don’t mind,” he replied. “But the guys didn’t seem too happy.”
“You’re making their girlfriends think they’re not doing enough,” she said.
“Are they?”
“Probably not,” she said wryly.
They climbed into the car and it groaned to life. As they pulled onto the street, Kate frowned as she noticed several faces peering through the window. It might have been jealousy, but she found the increased attention irritating.
“Have your dates ever garnered attention?” she asked.
“Sometimes,” he said. “But I try to avoid it.”
“Your stars certainly drew them in.”
“Stars are always magical,” he said. “And after your invite last week, I needed to show you how it’s done.”
She smiled at his teasing tone. “The invite was good, but we’ll see about the date.”
He flashed his easy smile, the expression that was rapidly becoming her favorite. Then he turned down the street that led to his house. Guessing the destination, she raised an eyebrow and pointed towards his house.
“Going home?”
“Your last date was flawless,” he said. “It’s only fair I return the favor.”
“And the theme is stars?”
“Like I said,” he replied, “they’re magical.”
She sniffed. “We’ll see.”
He smiled but did not respond. As he turned up his street she stole a look, wondering when her life had begun to revolve around him. His lack of communication between dates left her uncertain, but all the concern faded away when she was with him, and she marveled at the boldness that he elicited. He glanced her way and caught her looking.
“What?” he asked.
“I just look forward to our dates,” she said.
“Me too,” he said. “But how could I not?”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
He laughed. “Not many girls to say it to now.”
The words settled in as he pulled into the driveway and put the car in park. “I thought we weren’t exclusive,” she said.
“We aren’t,” he said. “But I haven’t had much time of late.”
He glanced her way and then changed the subject, but she noticed a seriousness to his blue eyes, as if he wanted to date her—and only her. The prospect thrilled her, forcing her to look away so he wouldn’t notice her smile. By the time he’d come around the car to open her door she’d managed to rein in her emotions.
“Hungry?” he asked.
“Starving,” she said.
“Good,” he said. “Dinner is this way.”
Instead of going to his house, he turned toward the neighbors and threaded his way between the houses to the backyard. She spotted the light first, but as they rounded the corner she blinked in surprise.
White Christmas lights extended between the house and the back fence, bathing the backyard in soft light. Instead of grass, most of the backyard was dominated by a large pool. The white Christmas lights reflected off the pool water, making it seem to dance and shift.
Crossing the pool, several long beams supported a platform at the center, where a table and two chairs hovered over the water. A pair of lit candles further illuminated the white tablecloth, plates, and a bowl of bread at the center.
“This is incredible,” she breathed, making her way towards the table.
“Welcome to an island under the stars,” he said, sweeping his hand at the display. “I would say it’s deserted, but you’ll have to share it with me.”
She smiled as she placed an experimental foot on the path to the island. “I’ll make do.”
He laughed and followed her to pull out her seat. Made of plywood, the island was not ornate, but the dinner table was. Fine china and silver utensils were perfectly laid out, and the smell of warm bread implied it had just been placed. She reached for the bread and brought it to her nose, breathing deeply of the intoxicating scent.
“When did this come out of the oven?” she asked.
“A few minutes ago,” he replied. “My assistants departed just before we arrived.”
“And your neighbors just let you build an island on their pool?”
“He’s let me use his backyard before,” Reed said, “but this time he had a price—that he gets to use the island for a date with his wife tomorrow night.”
Her smile faded as she imagined Reed sitting across the table from a host of other girls. Reed looked up from pouring olive oil into a bowl and noticed her expression. Confusion washed across his features as he added parmesan and spices to the bowl. Then abruptly he smiled in understanding.
“I’ve never done anything like this, though,” he said. He gestured to the dangling lights and the island on which they sat. “Not for any other girl.”
She grunted in irritation. “Am I that easy to read?”
“Let’s just say you are a subject matter I enjoy studying.”
She laughed and dipped her bread into the bowl before takin
g a bite. She closed her eyes at the taste, which recalled dinner at a fine restaurant. It may have been with Jason, but she found him easier to dismiss than ever.
“This is incredible.”
“I’m not the best of chefs,” he replied. “But I have a handful of dishes that I can do to satisfaction. Fortunately, Jackson is better than I.”
“Doesn’t he eat cold cereal for dinner?”
“Every day,” Reed said. “But this time I managed to convince him to share his culinary skills.”
“What does he get in return?”
“I plan a date for him and Shelby.”
She laughed, imagining Jackson taking Shelby on a Reed inspired date. Over the last few weeks she’d talked with Reed’s roommate on several occasions, and he’d proved a willing accomplice in her endeavors. Kate had also spoken to Shelby, who was certainly willing to jump into the conspiracy.
“I see the Italian theme,” she said, gesturing to the olive oil and the bread.
“It’s a safe bet,” he replied. “Everyone likes Italian. Ready for the salad?”
She shook her head. “I’m happy with an infinite supply of the bread.”
He laughed and left the table. Making his way to his neighbor’s back door, he slipped inside, and a moment later returned with two plates of Caesar salad. Complete with croutons and tomatoes, it perfectly resembled restaurant fare, except it lacked . . .
“Parmesan?” he asked, lifting a grinder over her plate.
“Please,” she said with a smile.
He covered her salad with cheese until she stopped him and then added some to his own. Then he returned to his chair and began to eat. As they ate she pointed to the island, wanting to know if he’d spent too much.
“All borrowed,” he replied. “My neighbor is a builder, so he lets me use surplus wood as long as I return it relatively undamaged.”
“Did he help you build it?” she asked. “Or should I worry about it crumbling?” She feigned trepidation as she looked at the water.
“I had help,” Reed said.
“This is truly magical,” she said. “But what would you have done if it rained?”
“I have a backup,” Reed said. “But it’s not nearly as good.”
“Few things compare to an island under the stars,” she said.
“You took me to Hogwarts,” Reed said. “Least I could do was take you to Italy.”
She sat back in her chair. “I thought I had you beat,” she said.
“Just wait,” he said, his blue eyes dancing in the candlelight. “The night is young.”
Chapter 4
They progressed from salad to the main course, chicken fettuccini alfredo. It was delicious, but her attention remained on Reed. The privacy and enchantment of their makeshift island was like a scene from a movie, and she frequently had to pause to calm her fluttering heart.
A warm spring breeze floated across her skin, but she shivered at the intensity of the moment. Lights reflected off the pool, sparking, shimmering, and dancing across the table, highlighting Reed’s smile. With darkness surrounding the backyard they were alone in the world.
“Tell me something,” she said, finally pushing the plate away. “Did you ever plan creative dates for a girlfriend?”
He cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
She swept her hands to indicate the date. “You said you’d had two girlfriends, neither of which was serious. I want to know if you put this much effort into the relationship after you were already together.”
“I stopped shaving and showering,” he said. “It’s just so much work.”
She laughed. “Seriously. What did you do for your girlfriends?”
He leaned back in his chair and used the napkin to wipe his lips. “My girlfriends were prior to my dating, so not much, but not for lack of desire. One relationship lasted only a few months, while the other was even shorter.”
“Really?” she asked. “Who ended it?”
“One me and one her,” he said. “Let’s just say that expectations were not met.”
She smiled, recalling that he was still a virgin, and his girlfriend may not have liked that. She’d hoped that talking about his girlfriends would bring up Aura, but either by intent or accident he didn’t mention her.
“I’m surprised they aren’t stalking you.”
“How do you know they aren’t?” he asked with a smile.
“You’re cute,” she said, “but without your superpower you’re just a normal guy.”
“So you admit I’m cute?” he asked. “I’m flattered.”
“I don’t recall saying that,” she said, stifling a smile.
“Too late,” he replied. “The words are cemented in memory.”
“I also said you were normal.”
“I don’t recall that.”
They shared a laugh and then she leaned in. “When I was little, my parents used to go on a date once a month. They would go to a restaurant and leave me and my brothers with a babysitter. We were terrible and none of the babysitters lasted long.”
“But they still went?”
She nodded. “They used to talk about date night like it was the most important thing in the world, like without it our family would crumble, but over time their dates gradually became infrequent. Then they stopped entirely. Looking back I wonder if I was witnessing the gradual decline of their marriage.”
“What do you think caused the decline?” he asked.
“My mom always denies it, but I think it was us,” she said, looking at him but seeing her parents arguing. “They gave so much attention to me and my brothers, there wasn’t much left for each other. Then one day they sat us down and said he was moving out. I was angry but also relieved.”
“You were relieved they were splitting up?”
“They’d been arguing for a long time,” she said. “And I remember avoiding the house to avoid them. When he moved out it came to an end, and they stopped trying to force something that was gone. Then things got better.”
“You said you hated that they split,” he said.
“I hated having a divided family,” she said. “And even though they were happier, my brothers and I despised going between the two houses, and the feeling of being torn. I blamed my mom for a long time.”
“You shouldn’t,” he said, “at least not entirely. Relationships require constant work to maintain, and couples that don’t put in the time see it wither and die.”
“How would you know?” she asked, smiling to take any sting from the comment. “You’ve never had a serious relationship.”
“Perhaps,” he allowed. “But it seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it? What you make a priority thrives, what you neglect, dies.”
“I don’t think they meant to neglect each other.”
“They probably didn’t notice it happening,” he said. “But you said yourself they paid a lot of attention to you and your brothers. I suspect if they had focused more on each other, they might still be together.”
She looked away, realizing that although he didn’t have the experience, his words sounded true. Her thoughts turned to Jason and she wondered what a life with him would have been like. It wouldn’t have been earth shattering, but they would have stayed together, if only because he loved her. Their dates may have been mediocre, but he’d sought time with her whenever possible, and he’d been devoted.
She frowned as she recalled Reed’s major. “Are you using psychology on me?”
“I would never do that,” he said, and then smiled. “Maybe a little.”
“That’s not really fair,” she said. “You have psychology and what do I have? Engineering.”
“You could tell me if the island will support us.”
She stomped her foot on the boards and watched the water ripple away, bending the lights reflected on the surface. The sight brought a smile to her face as she once again felt the enchantment of their date.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I do
n’t hold a grudge against my mom anymore.”
“Good,” he said. “Because she’s proud of you.”
Kate raised an eyebrow. “Now how would you know that?”
“I talked to her this last week,” he admitted. “I had a question only she could answer, and Marta gave me the number.”
Kate studied Reed with new eyes. “I knew we were recruiting allies, but I didn’t realize our families were free game.”
“I thought you’d be mad.”
“That the guy I’m not dating called my mother?” she asked with a smile. “Why would I be mad? I bet she was thrilled.”
“She did seem excited,” he mused.
“I bet she was surprised.”
“That too.”
She laughed, imagining her mother getting a call from a guy she would immediately assume was her boyfriend. No doubt she’d grilled him like a steak on the barbeque, but Kate was surprised she hadn’t called. Apparently anticipating her question, Reed smiled.
“I asked her not to call you until after tonight.”
“Then I should block out most of the day tomorrow,” Kate said ruefully. “She’ll want every detail, and there’s a lot to share.”
“It’s only been five dates,” he said.
“Five dates with you is the equivalent of a hundred with a normal guy.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said, flashing his easy smile.
Kate privately decided that his smile was also unfair. She was certain he knew its impact, and used it to great effect against her. Not that she minded. Then he glanced at his watch and rose to his feet.
“Dessert is later,” he said, clearing the table. “Ready for the activity?”
“I don’t really want to go,” she said, rising to help.
“We aren’t going,” he said, his blue eyes sparkling. “The activity is right here.”
She glanced at the pool. “The water’s too cold to go swimming, and I didn’t bring a suit.”
“We aren’t going swimming,” he said.
Rebuffing her attempts at answers, he cleared the table and chairs, and then took down the table. Then he retreated to his garage and returned a moment later with a roll of padding and a few quilts, which he laid out on the island. She laughed as he assembled what could only be described as a mattress.