by Natalie Ann
“I guess you’ll just have to find out,” she said, grinning at him as she walked by and out the door of her apartment to his car.
When they walked into the bowling alley he was surprised to see a DJ setting up. “What’s going on?”
“Later tonight they have something called Rock ‘N’ Bowl. They turn the lights off, then have flashing colored lights and music. It’s like a big party with bowling.”
“And you didn’t want to stay that late?” he asked as they stood at the counter to get their shoes.
“That would be a bit too much for even me. Besides, I have a feeling the crowd doing that are a lot younger than us.”
He started to laugh. “I’m sure they are. This is better. Then we can go have an adult dinner somewhere.”
“Maybe bowling is all I had planned for the date,” she said, then told the attendant her shoe size. She hadn’t missed Drake saying size thirteen and almost gulped. She wondered if it was true what they said about the size of hands and feet... Best to not let her mind go there just now.
They got to a lane, saw two other people on the one next to them, but walked forward just the same. The two other people there were already halfway through their game. “I guess we are only using this lane,” he said.
“It’s busy here this time of day,” the girl said, picking up her ball. She looked to be in her twenties with jeans and an actual bowling shirt on with “Pin Crushers” embroidered on the back. “We’re practicing for a tournament, but the best they will do is put two on a lane, or six on a pair this time of day.”
“We aren’t very serious about bowling,” Drake said to the girls. “Just a date for us.”
“I can’t get my husband to take me on a date at all,” the other woman said. “Take advantage of it while you can.”
“Did you hear that, Kara? She said to take advantage of me.”
She grinned when the two women burst out laughing. The first one said, “Honey, you’d be nuts not to.”
There was some heat filling Kara’s face. She was trying to figure out a response. If she said she agreed with them, Drake might have more expectations for the night. If she brushed it off, then what would he think? “I think Drake knows whether I’m nuts or not by now,” was the best she could do. When he laughed, she figured it was good enough.
And when they were halfway through the first of their two games, Drake was kicking her butt. He’d gotten two spares and she’d barely been able to knock down six pins between two balls at each of her turns up.
“What am I doing wrong?” she asked. Why the heck did she choose to do this? Maybe because as a kid all the girls were going to the bowling alleys on dates. She felt she’d missed out on so much that it was her attempt at some fun from when she was a kid.
Now she was thinking there wasn’t so much fun in it at all.
Drake picked her ball up and had her put her three fingers in it, then he stood behind her, one hand on her hip and his other hand on her arm getting her to swing. “Just swing it back and forth. Try to keep your arm straight.”
“I’m doing that. It goes in the gutter to the right.”
“You need to try to aim it a little bit toward the center. But not so far it goes into the left gutter.”
“Gee, I would have never guessed that,” she said.
“You’re cute when you’re flustered,” he whispered in her ear and then kissed her neck. Guess he wasn’t taken back by her sarcasm that managed to slip out only around him. Her unbreakable control always threatened to shatter like glass on a tile floor in his presence and she couldn’t figure out why.
She refused to believe she was so weak that a simple attraction wiped away all that she’d fought so hard to make stable in her life.
He took a step back, giving her a chance to gather her wits, then she walked four steps up, swung the ball back and then forward and actually sent it down the center for once. It hit the pin right in front and knocked down nine.
She swung around and jumped a little in excitement and then was completely mortified by that move.
Drake didn’t seem to notice and walked up, lifted her a bit and gave her a big kiss on the lips. Yeah, that was what she missed in high school. Not that she’d ever been with someone like Drake back then.
That was then. This was now. How she was with him here was a mystery, but she was taking advantage of it like the woman they’d met told her to do.
***
Drake couldn’t believe how adorable Kara was bowling this afternoon. If anyone had asked him to guess what their date might be, he might have picked a movie. Maybe a hike. Something outdoors. Not bowling.
He couldn’t remember the last time he went bowling. Probably in high school? Maybe college with his brothers and friends and a bunch of girls.
It wasn’t at night and there wasn’t a DJ around, that was for sure.
They’d played their two games. He’d beaten her both times with his highly impressive—in her eyes, embarrassing in his—scores of 142 and 168. He supposed compared to her 82 and 105, they were good scores.
“Are you hungry?” he asked. It was a little after five and the place was starting to fill up here. He was actually glad they were done, as there were a lot of teens and college kids coming in the doors.
“I am. Where did you want to go?”
“Your choice,” he said to her. “This was your date.”
“How can it be my date when you didn’t even let me pay?” she asked.
He thought for sure there was going to be a little tug of war over his credit card when he handed it over to pay. She’d finally dropped her hand away when he shot her a glance...one that she matched and had him stepping back.
Good lord, he couldn’t remember the last time a woman fought him over paying. Or that he got annoyed twenty minutes into a date either.
What the hell was it that just seemed to bring the worst out of him at times?
“Are you going to try to yank my credit card out of my hand if I pay again?”
“If you’re going to pay again, then we can get fast food and eat it at my house,” she said firmly.
Look at that. She didn’t want him to spend his money. “You know. I can be frugal and I know you don’t believe that, but I’m not getting fast food.”
“Then let me buy, or it’s burgers and fries,” she said, crossing her arms as she stood in front of his car in the parking lot.
“Fine,” he said. “You can pick it and you can pay. Don’t get used to it though.”
“Why?” she asked. “I don’t understand it. In this day and age, and this early into dating, people should share the costs.”
“Not many women think like you.”
“We know that,” she said and got in his car, then listed off a pub that he’d been to before.
“Are you sure you want to go there? It’s nothing fancy.”
“Does it look like either one of us is dressed to go out anywhere really nice? Besides, I like casual. Unless of course you want champagne and caviar tonight?”
“You really do have a good sense of humor,” he said, running his hand on her thigh in the car.
“I was being a wise guy,” she said back, grinning at him.
“And you’re adorable when you do that too.”
When dinner was done and they were back at her place, he did the same thing he had last time. “Got a cup of coffee for me? I just think we should talk for a minute.”
“Of course. I’m not sure I like the look on your face though. Is there not going to be a third date?” she asked casually. Almost too casual, making him wonder if she really cared one way or another. Talk about a blow to his ego.
“Would it matter if we didn’t?”
“It has nothing to do with mattering. We had an agreement. One date and if it worked, two more. You picked the first. I picked the second. But maybe my choice wasn’t that great.”
He shut her apartment door behind them, then bent down to pet Tyson as the cat rubbed a
gainst his legs. “The date was great. It was fun. More fun than I’ve had in a long time. That isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about, but I guess if you don’t want another date, then I’d like to know that and the rest of my conversation has no meaning.”
“Now I’m confused,” she said as she got the coffee ready. Funny how they were talking about not going out again like an old couple might talk about the weather after a long day at work.
“Do you want a third date with me?” he asked her point blank.
“Like you said, we have an agreement.”
It wasn’t an answer, but she was smiling at him and he took that opportunity to reach for her and pull her into his arms, plastering his lips to her mouth, his hips to hers and holding her tight.
Oh yeah. Her arms went around his neck, her mouth opened easily and sought him out. That was the answer he wanted. The answer he needed.
And after a few minutes of making out like some of those teens they’d passed on their way into the bowling alley were most likely going to do, he had to force himself to push back or he wouldn’t be able to stop until he picked her up and brought her to her room.
“Was that the answer you wanted?” she asked him coyly.
“Think you’re so smart,” he said.
“So tell me what you wanted to talk about.”
“My cousin Cade is getting married next weekend.”
“You told me that. You’re all off on Friday,” she said. “No third date for us.”
“Not next weekend, no. But the thing is, you know I’m bringing someone else. I just want to make sure you’re okay with that.”
She stopped and stared at him. “You told me this already. I’m completely fine. There is no reason for anyone to know we went on two dates. Go with your friend. She is a friend, right?”
“Yeah. We’ve got separate rooms. We really do.”
“Okay. I guess that part I was wondering about.”
“Then I’m glad I brought it up. I’ve never slept with her. It didn’t work out with us after a few dates. She’s just someone that I call when I need a date with no strings attached.”
She walked forward and put her hand on his cheek. “Sometimes you confuse me.”
“How so?”
“Most men wouldn’t admit what you did. They might not even tell me about the date, but to say there are separate rooms and you never slept together. Why tell me?”
“Because I plan on sleeping with you and I don’t want any secrets between us that might stop that from happening.”
He didn’t miss the shiver that ran through her, causing her body to shake, then a grin to form on her lips. “Guess you can’t get any blunter than that.”
“You can if you tell me no.”
Her silence was answer enough for him.
Nothing But Drama
Drake looked up before his twin even turned the corner into his office. He’d always known when Noah was near, though they didn’t speak of those things often.
Of course in his family no one needed to. It was common enough that they all felt things for their siblings.
“What’s up?”
“Not much,” Noah said, walking in and sitting down. “I thought maybe we could drive together tomorrow.”
“Why?” he asked. Normally when they had dates they all took their own cars. Especially since none of the women knew the other and it could get awkward for the two-hour drive.
“It will give me a buffer with Marie and I thought your date and Marie could chat in the back. What’s her name again?”
“Sue. And why do you need a buffer with Marie? I’m fine with Sue. I can talk to anyone about anything.”
“You can and you often do. I play nice enough with the parents at school that my diplomatic gene is used and abused.”
“And you need to be that way around Marie? I thought things were going well,” Drake asked, even though he had a feeling they might not have been for a few weeks. Noah didn’t talk much about it, which was the first clue.
“They’re fine. That’s the problem. They are just fine. I’m not feeling it and I feel like shit even saying that. She’s a nice enough person. She’s cute. We have a lot in common, but she just isn’t...”
“Making your blood pound?” Drake asked.
“I want to bust on you about sounding like a woman asking me that, but the truth is, yeah. That’s it. Not enough chemistry. Everything is just...okay. Who the hell wants to settle for okay?”
“Not me,” Drake said. “So why not end things?”
“I’m trying to figure out how. Like I said, she’s nice enough. I thought maybe spending the weekend at the wedding and seeing how nuts our family could be would turn her off. She’s quiet and all. She doesn’t like drama either.”
Drake started to laugh. “There is nothing but drama in our family.”
“Exactly,” Noah said. “Maybe the family gathering will do my dirty work for me.”
“Or you can man up and tell her yourself,” he said.
“Which I’ll do after the weekend. You know me. I wouldn’t drag someone along too much.”
“How long have you been dating?”
“Less than two months.”
“And you’ve felt no heat at all for her?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t say none. You know what it’s like when you are first dating someone. How you can’t wait to get your hands on them. But after the first few times it’s like we were planning and organizing our schedules. Come on.”
Noah was the least of them that liked to organize his time. He was like that in his job and didn’t want to be in his personal life. Everyone knew that about him. Everyone but his girlfriend, it seemed.
“What time do you want me to get you?” he asked.
“Whenever works for you. Just let me know.”
“What?” he asked. “You aren’t going to argue about who is driving?”
“Nah. Your car is more comfortable. Plus Marie might think it’s ostentatious.”
“You drive a BMW,” Drake pointed out.
“One that cost half what your Audi did. Believe me, she’s made comments about my car.”
“What does she drive?” he asked.
“A Prius hybrid.”
“Okay. Sorry. That’s funny. Do you even fit in it?”
“No,” Noah said. “She’s environmentally conscious and all too. That’s fine to a point, but don’t lecture—” Noah stopped talking and swiveled his head around when he caught Drake’s eyes lift and make eye contact with Kara as she walked by. “What’s that all about?”
“What?” Drake asked.
“Please. You had enough heat coming out of your eyes just now looking at Kara walking by. If I had even a fraction of that for Marie we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“She annoys me,” he said, knowing it was still the truth. Even during their damn date Kara had to argue with him over who was paying.
“Yep. She has been. I’ve seen it a few times when I’ve been here. But this is completely different and you know it. There’s a fine line between love and hate.”
“Please,” he said. “That’s a bit much.”
“Is it? Ask her out?”
“What?” Drake asked, wondering how he was going to get through this. There would be no lying to his brother. He’d know.
“Shut my door.”
“Oh man, this is going to get good.” When the door was shut, Noah said, “Give me the details. You’ve had your hands on her, haven’t you?”
“Not like you think.”
“But you want to. Come on. I can tell. This is me you’re talking to.”
“Shit yeah. Just bidding my time. Soon.”
“So you are dating?” Noah asked. “Damn. Why haven’t you said anything?”
“Because no one can know. And it’s only two dates. We both seem to bring the worst out of each other. One day I threw a gauntlet down and said it’s because she was attracted to me.”
Noah
laughed. “She bought that? I thought she was smarter than that.”
Drake narrowed his eyes. Usually his siblings were the only ones to receive that look from him. Lately Kara had gotten it a lot. “It’s the truth. We both agreed. We’ve been on two dates.”
“So why not bring her to the wedding instead of Sue?”
“Because no one can know. I have no idea how it’s going to go. We are testing the waters. We work together. I don’t want Dad or Uncle Grant on my case about it.”
“I don’t think they will be. If things didn’t work out, you wouldn’t treat her differently. Do you think she’d treat you differently?”
“No. We talked about it all. I even told her I was bringing a date this weekend. I didn’t want her to find out and then be annoyed with me over something else.”
“Sorry, but I find this hilarious in a way. You’re never annoyed and yet it seems everything she does brings that trait out of you.”
“It does. But when I get my hands on her...”
“I get it,” Noah said, sighing. “That damn heat.”
***
When Saturday afternoon arrived at Cade’s wedding, Drake was wishing the day to move on so he could get in the car and go home. They were here one more night and he was wondering if he could convince Noah to leave later today rather than spend the night. Probably not. Though Marie seemed to be pursing her lips a lot last night and today with their family all together and being their normal loud selves.
“Having a good time?” he asked Sue.
“It’s a wedding, Drake. No one has a good time at a wedding unless they are the bride and groom.”
Another reason the two of them didn’t work. Sue just couldn’t let loose enough. She was pleasant and laid back like him. Could carry on any conversation, but she was just...mundane.
He’d thought Kara was like that at first but was learning differently.
Sure, she was dull and boring in her appearance at work. But she wasn’t when they went out.
Neither was her personality once he got to know her better.
“You’re probably right. We could leave tonight and get back late if you want. If Noah wants to leave.” He figured he’d test the waters with Sue first.