Heath (Wild Boys After Dark, #2)(18)

They were asked to leave their shoes at the door of the restaurant. Ally had never been to Hangawi, though she’d heard of the Korean vegetarian restaurant. It was an interesting choice for a first date. The tables were low to the ground, and there wasn’t a chair in sight. They sat on pillows on the floor, and instead of sitting across from her, Heath sat beside her. The first hour of their first date was already ten times more intimate than any date she’d ever been on.

“I hope this is okay.” Heath reached for her hand.

“Perfect. I’ve never been here, and I’ve been curious about it.”

“I haven’t been here before either, but I figured if I was stepping out of my comfort zone, I might as well go all the way.” The side of his mouth quirked up. “No pun intended.” He leaned forward and kissed her like it was the most natural thing in the world. Other than her racing heart, it was.

“Out of your comfort zone? What do you mean?”

His eyes went serious, and he took a drink before answering. “Ally, I work hard and my life is complicated. I have familial obligations that I take seriously, and because of those things, I’ve just never bothered with dating.”

“‘Familial obligations’? Like, divorced with a child or two? Or…married?” She held her breath while she waited for him to answer. She was not going to get involved with a married man.

He shook his head and brushed her hair from her shoulder. “You do this cute thing when you’re worried. You draw your brows together and nibble on your lower lip.”

“Way to avoid the question.” She readied herself to leave. “If you’re married, I don’t want—”

“Ally, I’m not married. I told you I don’t lie, and cheating is lying. I spend a lot of time with my family. My mother and brothers. It’s complicated.”

“Oh, sorry. I thought...Complicated how?”

He pressed his lips to the point where her brows drew together. “Sorry. Sidetracked.”

She smiled. He was complicated. He was a fierce lover, but he was revealing a gentler side that she wanted to get to know better.

“My mother is blind, and my brothers and I take turns going over to spend time with her, take her on errands, out to dinner, you know, things like that.”

She reached for his hand, feeling all of her muscles go soft. “That’s so sweet of you, but how is that complicated?”

“It’s just busy. We have dinner there Sunday nights, too, and that time with my family is important to me. Between my work schedule and my family, I don’t have much time for doting on someone.”

“I think it’s wonderful that you cherish the time you have with your family and you’re dedicated to your patients, but did you really just use the word ‘doting’?” She smiled.

“What’s wrong with ‘doting’?” His eyes went serious again.

“Nothing.” She laughed. “It’s not something guys usually say.” She leaned in close and whispered, “Especially guys who talk dirty.”

“Well, see? I am complicated.” He leaned in even closer and said, “And I’d like to dote on you in several dirty ways.” He kissed her cheek as the waiter brought their food.

They shared their meals, and conversation came easily. Ally noticed that she was the focus of Heath’s attention throughout the meal, despite the attractive women seated at what seemed like every other table. After he paid for their meal, he hailed a cab and they headed for a secret destination.

“Tell me about your family, Ally. Are you from New York?”

“I’m supposed to think and speak coherently when you’ve told me you’re whisking me off to a secret destination?”

He shrugged. “Testing your ability to multitask.”

“I like you, Heath Wild.” She drew in a deep breath.

“The feeling’s mutual.” He touched her chin.

While her insides did a happy dance, she answered his question. “I grew up just outside of the city, where my parents still live. I went to SUNY Cortland. It was cheap, so it wasn’t a hardship on my parents, and my sister had gone there, so it felt safe.”

“You have a sister?”

“Yes. Amanda. Mandy. She’s a year older than me. We’re really close. In fact, she lives around the corner from me and works near the hospital as a paralegal.”

“That’s nice. How often do you see your folks?” he asked as the cab pulled over in front of the Central Park Zoo.

“Um. Heath? You know the zoo is closed, right?”

He paid the cabdriver and came around to open her door. “It’s closed to the public, yes. But I pulled a few strings. Talk to me, Ally. Tell me about your folks as we walk.”

He took her hand and guided her around the main gate. He was taking her to the zoo? At night? This was so romantic that she was having a hard time keeping her focus.

“My parents?”

“Your parents,” he urged.

“My dad is an accountant, and my mom stayed home with us when we were little, but now she works part-time at the library and volunteers just about everywhere she can.”

Heath led her to a gate where a tall blond man who looked to be in his late thirties was waiting for them.

“Heath, good to see you again.” The man shook Heath’s hand and smiled at Ally. He had a friendly smile, the kind that said he clearly understood that this was a special evening for them. “You must be Allyson. I’m George. Nice to meet you.”