When Sierra walked outside, Mike was already waiting. He lifted a hand in greeting, then smirked as he looked over from his car. She was certain he was glad he missed the estrogen-filled coffee klatch. Sienna kissed both her friends, then hopped into her car and pulled out with Mike following close behind.
Her heart was racing on the drive over to Bella’s. Coffee was one thing; lunch was another. Yesterday Sienna wore her uniform for going out in public—nondescript clothes, hat, and glasses. Today she was dressed up in what Sydney and Petal pulled together for her, with her hair down and her face made up like she was an ordinary woman.
She felt exposed.
Sienna didn’t do “ordinary woman.” She was either made up like the adult dancer she was, or she went incognito in the ball cap. This was a whole new look. She didn’t dress like this in her old life either, and at the moment, she had absolutely no idea how to act in her current getup.
Not to mention that she was going on a lunch date, which aside from the coffee she had with Carson yesterday, was also a first. The newness of everything had every nerve in her body tingling.
Sienna parked and got out of her car, then gave a quick nod to Mike before walking over to the restaurant. She usually got takeout from Bella’s for Asher and herself during the week. Dining in was definitely new to Sienna. No wonder she felt like her heart was going to jump right through her chest…how many firsts could a woman take in one day?
Carson was waiting for her in the little lobby. Sienna had to lower her gaze upon seeing him; he looked that good. Today he was wearing dark jeans, not tight or baggy, but just right for him, a cream-colored henley with the sleeves pushed up, and the same brown motorcycle boots peeked out from his jeans. His whole tattoo was exposed since his sleeves were rolled up so far. It was a series of ancient symbols along his forearm, such a contradiction to the serious PI she knew him to be.
In a move that took her breath away, he reached out and softly lifted her chin so they were eye to eye. “Hi.” The look he gave her was so warm, yet sizzling with promise, she couldn’t even answer back. When she didn’t respond, he said, “I already told them we were going to need a table for two. I was just waiting for you to come in so we could be seated together. Do you want to sit near the window or toward the back of the restaurant?”
Finally pulling herself together, Sienna breathed out, “The window actually sounds nice.”
“I see you have eyes on you again today. I just thought he’d prefer for you to be near the window. Wasn’t sure what you would want.”
“Well, yes,” she said, both pleased by Carson’s thoughtfulness, and at the same time taken aback by it. “I think it’s better for me to be in his sight line, but I’ve never dined in here and the window space looks nice, so that works. By the way, that’s Mike. He’s the head bouncer at the club. He’s also a friend and a bit overprotective of me.”
“Okay, no worries. A window table it is.”
With that, Carson led her into the restaurant with his hand lightly resting on her lower back. Unlike the day before, she didn’t flinch at his touch. Instead she wanted to sink back into it and take more.
Sienna didn’t understand how a man could be so strong, yet so gentle at the same time. She barely had any experience with men; the men she’d known before were either sheep or wolves, and Carson didn’t seem to fit neatly into either category.
As they arrived at the table, Sienna felt lonely and naked when Carson had to take his hand away, then mentally chided herself for her weakness. I survived twenty-eight years without a hand on my back; I can handle lunch in my seat like a big girl.
She took in the candles burning softly on the tables, the tiny flickers casting shadows around the room, the various rows of wine bottles lining the walls, and caught the scent of aromatic herbs drifting through the air. It was the most perfect setting for a first date.
Once they were seated, Carson said, “You look stunning. I mean, at the Tunnel everyone knows you’re gorgeous, but this right now…you’re a natural beauty.”
The breath whooshed out of her. “Thank you.”
“How was work last night?” he asked, looking nowhere else but straight at her. He gave her his full attention just like when he was at the Tunnel, as though nothing were more important to him than she was.
She stole one more quick look up at his eyes before looking at her place setting and studying the napkin. He couldn’t know how she wanted to forget last night happened. That damn guy with the cowboy hat. “It was pretty good, we had a lot of bachelor parties. None of them got out of hand, though.” She felt her nose twitch a little with the white lie.