West Coast Soulmates

Chapter 9

Chapter Six

Dylan

After a kiss at midnight, we blew the horns her mother had passed out and popped the confetti poppers and said our goodbyes.

Then it was into the car and figuring out what came next.

“Hungry?” I asked.

“I thought you wanted to go back to your place.”

“I do, count on it, but I figured you might be up for some real food. I know I am.”

She grinned. “We did work up an appetite earlier. Where do you want to go?”

“Mel’s is open and not too far from my building.”

“Mel’s what?”

“You really don’t get around Hollywood much, do you?” he teased.

A shrug. “No reason.”

“Mel’s Drive-in, near Hollywood and Highland.” A public spot, but I wanted her to know I was interested in more than great s*x.

“Oh. Won’t that be really crowded?”

“It usually is. But the food is good.”

“Okay. Do you go there a lot? I don’t spend much time around crowds.”

“Yeah. I think you’ll like it. It’s fun.” The restaurant was open twenty-four-seven and the band frequented it often, minus Jake, and more recently, Bob. Mikey and Aaron and I could go for burgers and still not get mobbed. “Trust me.”

“I write sci-fi. Famous last words.”

I laughed. “Just drive, honey.”

With any luck, getting there before 1:00AM would be in our favor. The bars didn’t kick people out until at least two, so there should be some empty seats at 12:30.

I wanted a booth in the back so we could chat.

The trip from the hills into downtown gave me time to observe and admire her. When we got close, I directed her to the restaurant, and thankfully, we found parking.

Jennifer poured over the menu after we were seated. “What’s good here?”

“Anything. Good, hearty, American diner food. Though I’d suggest some protein.”

“Why?”

“You’ll need fuel later tonight.”

Her cheeks warmed again. “Oh. I’m not used to this.”

“What, food?”

“Flirting. Dating. It’s been a long time.”

“How long were you married?”

“Seven years. Right after college.”

“So…that makes you thirty now?”

“Yep. As of February. Thirty and single…isn’t that some kind of cliché?” She rolled her eyes at herself.

“Does it matter? I think you’re gorgeous, and interesting, and brave—”

“Brave?”

“Of course. Something tragic happened to you, but you didn’t let it defeat you.”

She rewarded me with a soft smile. “Thank you. So…since we’re trading details, how old are you?”

“Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine in a few months.”

“Oh.”

“Surprised?”

She gave a little shrug. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it, your age. What you might be. You know.”

It was cute when she babbled.

I had the sense, since she wrote for a living, that she wasn’t usually lost for words, and it tickled me I flustered her like this.

A waitress came for the orders. I asked for my usual, but Jen wasn’t ready except for requesting an espresso milkshake.

“Order anything you want, okay?” he said. “Don’t have to do the chick thing of eating salad at restaurants around me.”

“I never did that.”

“Good.” I pulled her closer. “Been too long since I kissed you.” So I did.

She hummed in approval. I kept it public-appropriate, but it was hard. Her lips were made for kissing, plump and pink and responsive.

“Those girls keep looking over here and whispering.”

Uh-oh. “What girls?”

Uh-ohJen nodded her head toward the other side of the room. “That table over there. Do you know them?”

I glanced over out the side of one eye. “Nope.”

“Well, they sure seem to know you,” she said with a frown.

I turned her face back to me. “Hey. I’m here with you.”

you“I’m not jealous. It’s just weird, like they think you’re a celebrity or something.”

“Funny.” And crappy timing.

I wanted to tell Jen about my job when we were alone.

“Maybe they’ve seen you play.”

“Perhaps. Choose something to eat. The waitress is coming back.”

Please don’t let those chicks want an autograph.

Please don’t let those chicks want an autographI could distract Jen, but only if I wasn’t exposed.

She ordered a burger, too. When the food arrived, it pleased me when she bit straight into the sandwich. Some women would cut it into smaller pieces, but she didn’t care about the possible mess. I’d had enough high maintenance with Julia to last a lifetime.

When the bill came, I was ready to pay before Jen could reach for her purse.

“You didn’t have to do that. I asked you out tonight,” she said.

“But I suggested dinner. Consider it in exchange for prevailing upon your hospitality Christmas Eve. Besides, I treat a lady like a lady.”

She grinned. “Well, thanks. But for future reference you don’t have to pay for everything.”

I pounced on that word. “There will be a future to reference?”

“Well…yeah. I’d like there to be.”

I grinned. “Just checking.”

She slapped my arm. “If I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t have called.”

“I know. Though if you didn’t call, I’d have had to look you up.”

“Would you?”

“Definitely. You’ve been on my mind all week.”

She blushed. “The s*x was pretty amazing.”

Oh, honey… “It is, but that wouldn’t have been enough to make me want to see you again. I like you, too.”

Oh, honey“Good.” She kissed me. “Ready to go?”

“Absolutely.”

Clothes were hitting the floor once the apartment door closed. I’d never felt so much need for a woman before. So far, I couldn’t keep my hands off her for long. We had s*x against the wall, in too much of a hurry to make it all the way to the bedroom.

“You’re staying the night.”

“Okay,” she said. I carried her to the bed and laid her down. “Sleepy.”

A nap sounded like a good idea. Moving the covers, I spotted her missing earring and put it on my nightstand before cuddling up behind her.