Tom smiled. “I was just getting changed out of my fancy gear but I can get dressed again?”
“I’m very happy with the look you’re wearing right now.”
“As am I. I wish I hadn’t canceled going out so I could show you off.” Tom noticed that she carried a large reusable grocery bag. “You grabbed some dinner but I’m not sure I’m that hungry?”
“I might have something in here that will tempt you.”
“You tempt me.” Their eyes clashed and sparks flew. “Come on in.” Tom stood back to let her pass.
Kendra kept walking until she found the kitchen and deposited her bag on the table. Turning around, she watched him walk into the kitchen wearing those low riding jeans sitting tantalizingly on his hips. Had they made love only two days ago? His scrumptious body made her hands itch to touch him, but that would have to wait.
“There’s a box in my van,” she said, noting the answering longing in his eyes. “Please, will you get it?”
“Sure. No problem.” He gave her a curious look, but didn’t comment any further before leaving the kitchen again.
Kendra looked around. Although the kitchen was plain and desperately in need of remodeling, it was clean. The black and while linoleum floor was worn in places and the white countertops needed to be replaced. A small, round wooden table and four chairs stood in the center of the room.
Sitting her bag on the counter, Kendra took out a nice white tablecloth, crystal candle holders, and tall red candles. She put the cloth on the table and centered the candle holders on it.
Tom entered the kitchen with the box and sat it on the counter. He looked at the table and smiled. “What are you doing?”
Kendra said, “I’m bringing dinner to you since we’re not going out.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and grimaced. “I’m really sorry about that.”
Going to him, Kendra wrapped her arms around his waist and looked into his eyes. “It’s okay. I completely understand. If you don’t feel like dinner, we can simply talk.”
Tom laid a hand alongside her face and ran his thumb over her cheek. “No. It will be nice to watch you cook. Take my mind off things.”
“Well, I can’t say I cooked it.” She rose on tiptoe and gave him a brief kiss. “Okay. Time to eat.”
Tom let her go and watched as she started taking cartons out of the box. The scents of garlic and tomato sauce filled the kitchen and his stomach growled. “What is that? It smells good. Sounds like I’m hungry after all.”
“Me, too.” She opened an aluminum container and he moved closer. “I hope you like chicken parmesan. And we have salads, garlic bread, and cherry cheesecake for dessert.”
“Wow. You thought of everything.” He nudged her aside. “Let me do that before you get something on that pretty dress. You’ll never get the sauce out of it.”
Kendra appreciated his thoughtfulness. “Okay. I’ll fix our salads.”
“Well, you can fix a salad for you, but I’m not into rabbit food,” Tom said, getting plates and dessert dishes out of a cupboard.
Kendra teased thoughtfully. “You should learn from your son.”
Smiling, Tom answered. “I’m glad he likes healthy stuff but it’s just not my thing.” He scooped the dinners onto their plates. “Plus, with going to the gym, I need to carb load.”
Kendra playfully reached over and squeezed his bicep. “I’d say that you’re a very healthy specimen.”
“Thanks,” Tom grinned smugly. He placed the plates on the table and then got a pack of matches out of a drawer. Lighting the candles, he stood back a little. “Looks really pretty.”
“Yes, it does,” Kendra sighed softly.
Tom’s gaze swung from the table to Kendra, and then down at himself. “I’ll be right back.”
Kendra looked up from fixing her salad. “Okay.”
* * *
Tom went to his room and took the suit he’d been wearing earlier out of his closet. He changed as fast as possible. It was only right that he make the extra effort since Kendra had gone to so much trouble.
Picking up the dreaded tie, he attempted to tie it, but got too frustrated. Checking his appearance in his bureau mirror, he thought the suit looked fine without the tie and tossed it on his bed. He put on a pair of gold cufflinks that Sam had given him a few years ago and straightened the shirt cuffs.
He smoothed a hand down his front and walked back out to the kitchen. Kendra’s double take and sensual smile made his effort worth it.
“Oh, my God. I almost didn’t recognize you for a minute,” she said as he strolled toward her. “I take back my earlier comment. You look amazing in these clothes. You clean up pretty good for a grease monkey.”
“Thanks. I just couldn’t sit here in jeans while you looked so damn beautiful.” He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he knew if he started he wouldn’t be able to stop at just a kiss.
“Well, I appreciate that very much. You look so handsome.” She played with his collar a little. “I’ve never seen you in a suit before.”
“I only wear one to weddings or funerals,” he said with a wry twist of his lips.
She laughed and stepped away. “I can believe that. Come on. Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
Tom held out a chair for Kendra, seated her, and then sat in the chair beside her. He caught her looking at him with an odd little smile on her lips. “What?”
“This is a different side to you. I like it.”
Tom lifted an eyebrow. “Maybe I’ll show my gentlemanly side a little more often.” And he slowly cupped her nape, his fingers gently stroking her soft skin.
The flirty look she sent him made his temperature rise. “I wouldn’t have a problem with that.”
She started cutting up her food, so sighing Tom did the same. However, he cast quick glances her way, surprised that he found watching her do such a mundane thing such a turn on. He returned his attention to his own meal and took a large bite.
“Mmm. This is great,” he mumbled through his overfull mouth. “Where did you get it?”
“Flora’s Kitchen.”
Tom frowned. “Never heard of it.”
Kendra said, “I’m not surprised. It’s a little Italian restaurant in my old neighborhood. Great food at reasonable prices.”
“You drove all the way over there?”
“I wanted food that might tempt you into eating,” Kendra spoke shyly.
“Well, I’m duly tempted. Flora makes some fine chicken parmesan,” Tom gratefully replied.
Kendra took a drink of her water before asking softly, “What happened between you and your dad?”
Her question caught Tom completely off guard. His hand tightened around his fork; with a refusal to answer driving through his mind. But he forced him-self to relax. Kendra had a right to know about his past, especially since he planned to persuade her to marry him one day.
“When I was seventeen, I got mixed up with the wrong crowd. I’m sure that doesn’t surprise you. Marcus probably told you,” he said.
With feigned shock, Kendra smirked, “No! He’s mentioned a bit about your past. But I could never imagine the surly young boy I met years ago got in trouble…”
Tom chuckled. “Smart ass. Anyhow, to cut a long story short; I got accused of mugging an elderly woman because I was in the vicinity. I didn’t do it. But the lady ID’d me since I looked a lot like the guy who snatched her purse. I ended up spending six months in juvey for something I didn’t do.
“Dad left me in there because he didn’t believe I was innocent. He’d gotten me out of vandalism charges and stuff like that, but that was the last straw for him.” Tom shook his head. “In all fairness it was almost nicer in juvey than living at home with dear old dad. He was always drunk and when he got mad, I became his punching bag.”
Kendra’s eyes welled with tears. “I’m so sorry, Tom. No kid deserves that. I don’t really know what to say. My parent’s kicking me out at twenty-one seems lame in comparison.
Dad thought he owned me, especially as he thought I’d beaten cancer because of him. I should spend the rest of my life thanking him. I was grateful to him for the best hospital care, but who won’t help their child just because I wouldn’t reveal the father of my baby? Dad knew Marcus would look after me, but he also thought I’d come crawling back.” She grimaced. “That didn’t work out as he planned, so now I think he doesn’t know how to fix it.”
“Kicking out a pregnant daughter with no money or support—I’d like to have a talk with your father one day,” said Tom shaking his head angrily.
She shrugged. “At least we know how not to treat our son. We have to listen, support and guide him. But we also have to make sure we don’t hurt him. Promise me that whatever happens in our relationship, we won’t let it affect how we both parent Connor?”
He watched her face but she betrayed nothing of what she was feeling. Did she think this relationship would fail? He put his fork down and reached across the table for her hand. “I would never let Connor suffer the way we suffered. That, I swear. But I’m not starting this relationship thinking it will fail. I’m hoping you’re not either.”
He felt her reassuring squeeze before she withdrew her hand. “Good point. How did you get to be a mechanic? Someone must have helped you because I doubt your father did.”
Tom half-smiled at her quick return to their original discussion. “You’re right. Living with dear old Dad was no picnic, but there was one bright spot from being in juvey. There was this balsy lady named Clem who taught auto mechanics. She took a shine to me and started teaching me about fixing cars. And that was that. I knew right then tinkering with cars was what I wanted to do.”
“I started studying books, watching videos, and working on any car I could get my hands on to gain experience. Once I got out, Sam had me take my GED and sent me to auto mechanic school. That’s where I started working on racing cars and streetcars. My teachers rode my ass hard, but only because they saw that I had real talent.”
Kendra said proudly, “And that’s why Marcus hired you. He’s always said you were the best in the business.”
“I used to hang at the local amateur racing track to help with the cars. That’s where I met Marcus. We became best friends right away. We just ‘clicked’, you know? He’s right; we’re like brothers, which is why the way he acted today really upset me.”
“Me, too.” Kendra sighed. “This is why I never revealed who Connor’s father was. I knew the pregnancy would tear you two apart. Gosh, just the idea of us dating has him all riled up. I’m dreading what might happen when he learns about Connor.”
“You of all people should know Marcus’s all full of piss and wind. He’ll come around once he sees how committed I am to you and Connor.”
Kendra shrugged her shoulders. “Let’s not talk about him, okay? Let’s enjoy our night. Tell me about your Dad’s condition.”
Tom looked down absently at the table. “Okay. He’s pretty ill. His body is rejecting the liver transplant. So Sam wants me tested to see if I’m a match. If I am a match, I’m supposed to give a piece of my liver to the man who made my life hell.” Lifting his head to look in her eyes, Tom whispered, “Sam’s right, though. At least he stuck around. Mom left when I was twelve.”
Kendra’s heart hurt for him as she replied quietly, “I still can’t believe that she left you both behind. Have you never wanted to find her and ask why?”
He swallowed against his gut burning desire to confess to her he was too scared to. What if she said it was because that she left, did he really want to know that? “I thought if she wanted me, she’d find me. I’m not chasing after a ghost.”
Even he could hear his pain in those words.
“I can relate. Parents aren’t supposed to cut their children out of their lives. I know how much that hurts,” exclaimed Kendra, nodding sternly.
“I know you do,” Tom said. “I still can’t believe you wouldn’t tell anyone that I was Connor’s dad. That was brave and also stupid.”
Kendra twirled some spaghetti around her fork. “There were several reasons I stayed silent. As I said before, I was afraid that if Marcus knew about us, it would mess up his racing career and then also your business. But most of all, I was afraid it would mean I’d never see you again.”
“What?” Tom uttered, his heart beating like a drum in shock.
Kendra couldn’t look at him, as she twined her sweat-dampened hands together in her lap. “Since you never answered my emails, I assumed you wanted nothing to do with me and Connor. If you and Marcus had stopped being friends, I’d never have had the chance to confront you. You might’ve skipped town and never looked back.” She shrugged hesitantly. “It happens.” She raised her eyes to his. “And I wanted you to be the first to know that Connor was yours. Okay, well, Stella knew, but only because I needed someone to talk to about it all.”
Tom released his breath harshly after hearing the pain in Kendra’s voice, and though he had no right to be mad that Stella knew about Connor before him, he couldn’t help feeling angry, anyway. He’d missed out on so much of Connor’s life already. He gave a wobbly smile and said, “I’m glad she was there to help you. You needed someone.” He pounded a fist on the table. “Damn it! I should’ve read—”
“Tom, stop!” Kendra interjected sharply. “We can’t go back and undo it all. We just have to move forward. Both of us need to stop feeling guilty about it. It’s not doing us any good and it won’t do Connor any good, either.”
Tom acknowledged the wisdom in her words, quietly saying, “You’re right. I am trying. I just feel robbed because I’ve missed so much.”
Kendra smiled with her eyes bright and whispered, “But now you can make up for lost time.”
Tom smiled lovingly back. “Damn straight. By the way, I told Sam about Connor when he was here earlier tonight. Don’t worry, he won’t tell anyone.”
Fear gripped Kendra. “Are you sure? If Marcus finds out from someone other than me and you… it won’t be pretty.”
“I know and I won’t tell anyone else, but Sam’s my brother and I trust him,” Tom responded calmly. “Besides, you have one person you can talk to about it, so I should get one person to confide in, too.”
“You’re right. It’s only fair,” Kendra said.
Tom laid his silverware down and wiped his mouth. “Kendra, there’s only one reason I don’t tell people I’m Connor’s dad.”
“What’s that?”
“I need to prove to myself that I’m worthy to be his father before other people know. I need to know that I can be the dad he deserves,” Tom replied solemnly.
“What you really mean is that you need to prove to yourself that you’re not like your father,” Kendra snapped straight back at him.
How was she always able to see past his words and know what was truly in his mind? Kendra seemed to understand Tom so clearly it was scary. “Exactly. I was beginning to resemble him,” he said. “But when Dad got sick, it really made me think about things. About the things I wanted from my life. I always thought a family was not my scene. But when you told me I was a father… it was as if my world lit up. I just knew I would be a good father and that I wanted to have children.”
Kendra nodded and said, “I know what you mean. Mortality seems to make you test what is important to you. When I was at my sickest and thought I would die, I swore to myself that if I made it, I would make my dreams come true. And I would do it on my own terms.”
The thought of her dying distressed Tom, and he had to swallow hard to keep tears at bay. He cleared his throat, but his voice still came out slightly thick. “I know you can do anything you set your mind too. You were so brave and gusty during your illness. I admired you then and I admire you now. You kept going even though the odds were against you. I don’t think you realize how incredible you are.”
His compliments made her blush. “Stop it. I’m not incredible. I’m just determined.”
Tom continued softly, “Strong
, talented, and sexy as hell.”
“Stop it,” she replied, giggling like a teenager. “You’re embarrassing me.”
He grinned, got up from the table and held out his hand to her. “Dance with me?” he asked suggestively.
“There isn’t any music,” Kendra answered with quiet longing.
“There will be.”
Curious about what he was up to, Kendra slipped her hand into his and allowed him to lead her to the living room. A Bose sound system was on a stand next to a big flat screen TV by the bay window.
Suddenly Tom said, “Wait here and close your eyes.”
“I feel silly standing here with my eyes closed. What are you up to?”
“Just do it, okay?”
Kendra played along and closed her eyes.
Hurrying out to the kitchen, Tom retrieved the candles from the table and took them into the living room. He sat them on the fireplace mantle and ran back out to the kitchen where he hastily rummaged around in the cupboards.
“Yes!” he cried upon finding what he was after. He dashed back to the living room, grinning like an idiot. This was the first time he’d ever done something romantic for a woman, and he wanted it to be special. Lighting the tiny tea lights, he carefully placed the glowing candles all over the room. Left by their last owners; he silently thanked them for their gift.
Grabbing his cellphone from the coffee table, Tom brought up Pandora on the screen. Searching his playlists, he chose one with romantic songs, one playlist he rarely used. Scrolling through it, he stopped at the song his mother had played when she’d taught him to dance. It was one of the few happy memories from his childhood he had of her.
Quickly sitting his phone on the dock of the Bose system, Tom hit the play button, and adjusted the volume slightly as Unforgettable by Nat King Cole floated in the air. Turning to Kendra, he murmured, “You can open your eyes now.”
Chapter Seventeen
Kendra had been listening avidly to Tom’s movements, but upon opening her eyes she gasped. All she saw were tiny dancing lights that cast the room in shimmering shadows, creating a cozy, intimate space.
Reckless Curves: Bad Boy Autos (Drive Me Wild Book 1) Page 14