I giggle at that. “He’s adorably clueless, and I’ll be a little sad when he realizes that how we live isn’t the norm.”
Rhodes shrugs. “So, tell me how you live then?”
Now this I can do. Leaning my arm against the door, I look over to the driver’s seat. “Long story short, and probably not a fun first-date talking point, but I live my life with no regrets and I’ve already said I’m nothing but honest.”
“And believe me, I appreciate that.”
“Right. Okay. So, the Cliff Notes version is that Flynn and I had a come-to-Jesus moment when we were overseas and we decided that after being married for twelve years, having a mortgage and an amazing son together, we were better friends than lovers and better parents than husband and wife.” I study Rhodes’s expression, curious—but no longer worried—about how he’ll react.
“Wow.”
My head jerks back. “Really?” I ask, earning a quirked brow.
“Yeah. That’s really responsible and self-aware.” He glances my way. “If I wasn’t already impressed with the two of you and how you interact, I am now.”
“Who are you, Rhodes Anderson?” I ask, my voice filled with awe.
His brow furrows, his lips twisting into a cute half-smile. “What you see is what you get with me.”
“Just when I think I’ve got a read on you, you go and blow me away. Are you the knight in shining armor who came to my rescue when I was mugged or the guy who chases a homeless kid down and lets him go with a bed and meal arranged at a local shelter. Or, the cool single dad who gets set up with the woman he’s been watching online and barely blinks? And don’t even get me started on the awesomeness that is your son.”
“Honestly, what you see is what you get. I’m a firefighter, a dad, and I guess your everyday average Joe,” he replies.
“There’s nothing average about you. Believe me. Rhodes?”
“Yeah?”
“As long as you know that I’m looking forward to discovering everything else about you. I think I might make it my new mission.”
“Have at it, baby. At least then we’d be even.”
Rhodes pulls into the parking lot of the Showtime Entertainment Complex. I’d heard about this place when it first opened and always wanted to go.
Rhodes laces his fingers with mine as we walk inside the venue, spotting Marco and Renee standing to the side waiting for us.
Marco’s eyes drop to our joined hands, a grin covering his face by the time we reach them. “Hey, you two.”
“Hey,” Rhodes replies, looking around. “This place is mind-blowing.”
“Yeah. We came here a few months ago and had a blast.” Renee looks between the two of us. “And what better place to come for a double date?”
Marco turns his warm gaze on his girlfriend. “Right. Let’s go. Our booking starts in ten minutes, which is enough time to get drinks and find our table.”
“We’ll follow you guys.” The other couple move ahead of us and I step forward, stopping when Rhodes turns my way. I meet his eyes with curiosity.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, of course. Why do you ask?”
“For a first date that hasn’t even started yet, you’ve had a lot to think about.”
I melt inside, and I let it all hang out, not hiding the fact I like his thoughtfulness, again asking myself how this man is single. “I’m good, honey.”
He lifts his brow. “Would you tell me if you weren’t?”
“Oh, yeah. Something to know about me—I’m a talker.”
“Maybe Flynn can give me some pointers,” he muses.
I struggle not to laugh as I roll my eyes. “And he’s got ex-husband jokes.”
“He’s a bigger man than I would be.”
“Oh really?
“Yep. If it was me meeting the guy wanting to date my wife—knowing what a catch she is—I’d totally be a jerk.”
My lips twitch, trying to imagine a scenario in which Rhodes Anderson would ever be an asshole. “Is that so?”
“Hell, I want to be a possessive jerk now to the three guys I’ve already caught checking out your ass.”
I lean in, tipping my face to his and smirking at him. “What I wanna know is why the guy I want to be ogling me isn’t doing that instead of watching others do it?”
His brows lift, his eyes flashing with surprise. I like keeping him on his toes. Sometimes my frank honesty can be refreshing, sometimes not so much. I’m happy in this instance, Rhodes gets me.
Rhodes quickly recovers and closes the remaining distance between us until our chests are almost touching. His spare hand is now resting on my hip, the heat of his touch making a tremble course through my body.
“How about we make a deal, just for tonight?”
“Okay . . .” I murmur. I might get into trouble here, but I find myself willing to do anything he might ask of me.
“Let’s live in the moment? No pressure. No expectations. Just you, me, Marco, and Renee, hanging out with friends and enjoying ourselves. Drinks, food, and good old-fashioned fun where I will—more than likely—beat the pants off you at whatever game we play.”
“Is that so? You think you can beat me?”
His eyes turn molten. “Depends what we’re playing . . .”
And damn if that doesn’t warm me from the inside.
“C’mon, love birds. You coming or what?” Marco calls out.
Rhodes rubs his hands together. “Oh yeah, this is gonna be fun.”
“Well, after you teased me back at my house, I say you might be right. It’s only fair.” I shoot him an amused glance and let him go before walking away with an extra spring in my step and swaying my hips knowing he’s watching.
The rumbling growl coming from the man behind me makes me smile.
A chirpy, mid-twenties, hipster-looking dude approaches the four of us with a huge grin on his face. “Hey, ladies and gents. My name is Trent, and I’ll be your trusty, talented, and sometimes funny ax coach for the next hour or so.” Trent goes over the safety precautions before launching into
