Chapter Thirteen

Sabrina followed Deacon to the kitchen. “You said you’d explain the packages, ” she said, curious as to why the exquisite blonde had gone shopping for him. Sabrina had never met anyone as stunning as Brynna. If her boyfriend hadn’t been with her, Sabrina would probably have still been a little jealous. Deacon was all male, and he had to find the woman attractive. Hell, Sabrina did, and she didn’t swing that way.

Deacon glanced at her before pouring a cup of sugar into the tea container. “It’s embarrassing, but I figure you should get to know the real me. ” Instead of turning to look at her while speaking, he stirred the sugar into the steaming liquid. “I haven’t been on a date in a long time. I go to work and come home. If I do go anywhere, it’s usually to Rafael’s or one of the other male’s houses. I don’t exactly have anything to wear other than what you see here. ” He indicated his T-shirt and threadbare jeans. “So, I asked Brynna to go shopping with me, you know, to give an opinion on what would look okay for our date tomorrow. Then I got the call from Dante about someone stalking you, and Brynna offered to go shopping for me so I could watch after you. ”

Sabrina was touched he wanted to look nice for their date, but she didn’t need him spending lots of money on new clothes. “I’m not that shallow, ” she blurted before she thought better of it.

“I don’t think you are, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to look nice for you. You could do so much better than me, but I don’t want you to. That might sound selfish, but I’m deeply attracted to you, and I have a feeling we could be good together. I’m a simple male. That’s not to say I’m poor or don’t like nice things. It’s just that I’ve never had anyone I wanted to impress. ”

“You do impress me. And judging by your home and the new truck in the garage, I don’t doubt you do well for yourself. You’ve seen my house. I’m not materialistic. I may be a doctor, by I don’t live extravagantly. I’m not one to spend tons on clothes or shoes or new purses. I came from nothing, and I learned at an early age how to be frugal. As long as we had food on the table, my brothers and sister and I were happy. We had each other when our mom was working two jobs. ”

“I’m sorry you had it rough. I’m an only child, and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen my parents. ” Deacon finished the tea, adding a scoop of ice to help cool it off quicker.

“Do they live around here? ”

“No. Last I heard, they were in South Africa. ” Deacon didn’t elaborate on his parents, so she let the subject drop as he put the pitcher of tea in the refrigerator. After rummaging around, he gathered several items and placed them on the counter.

“What are you making? ” Sabrina was intrigued. She’d never had a man cook for her, and it was sexy watching Deacon move so effortlessly around his kitchen.

“Since we’re having Italian tomorrow, I thought I’d throw some fajitas together, if that’s okay. ”

“Sounds perfect. ” Sabrina didn’t know whether to help or just sit. “Do you want help? ”

“No, thanks. It’s easy, so why don’t you have a seat and tell me more about you? ”

“What do you want to know? ”

Deacon bent over, pulling an iron skillet from the cabinet. Sabrina admired the way his jeans fit his firm butt and thick thighs. When he stood up, he was smirking at her. Instead of being embarrassed, she shrugged. “You have a nice butt, ” she admitted.

Deacon’s mocha skin tinged a shade darker, and his eyes crinkled at the edges. “What do you like to do in your down time? ”

“I clean house, do the laundry, mow, and run the weed eater. ” The housework wasn’t necessarily the things she liked doing, but she didn’t mind the outside work. Her yard wasn’t that big, and she enjoyed being outside. She would be in heaven in Deacon’s backyard among all the plants, flowers, and trees.

“I know those things are necessary, but what do you do for fun? ” Deacon asked as he dropped strips of steak into the hot oil.

“Yard work is fun. At least for me. I lived in an apartment growing up and another one when I moved in with my grandmother. I love being outside, and there’s something peaceful about the yard work. It’s as if the universe gives us this wonderful thing, but it’s up to us to maintain it and help it grow and thrive. If you ever need help with your gardens, just let me know. ”

“That was beautiful. ” Deacon looked at Sabrina thoughtfully before turning back to the stove. “And I may just take you up on that. Now, tell me your guilty pleasure. ”

“What? ” Sabrina laughed. “Who says I have one? ” Of course, she had one, but did she really want him to know what it was?

“Everyone has that one thing they think people will laugh about if they know. ”

“If you’re going to laugh, why would I tell you? ”

“I’m not going to laugh, ” Deacon promised.

“Oh yeah? Then tell me yours. ” There was no way his was as embarrassing as hers.

“I like to dance, ” Deacon said, again his face was turning that adorable shade of peach when he blushed.

“There’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone dances. ”

“Not like I do, ” he muttered. Sabrina loved to dance. She did it all the time. Whenever she was getting ready in the morning or waiting on her food to cook, Sabrina would turn on some music and dance around the house. Why not? Nobody could see her. So what if he didn’t dance well?

“Now this I have to hear. Are you that bad? Not everyone has good coordination. ” She didn’t add in the fact that he was so large it would surprise her if he was able to move smoothly.

“Oh, I have plenty of coordination. If you’re good, I may show you later. But now you have to tell me yours. ”

She could do this. Sabrina could admit what she liked to do in the privacy of her own home. If he judged her, then he wasn’t that man for her. “I watch cartoons. ” Sabrina shrugged, and continued, “We didn’t always have a TV growing up, but when we did, the four of us would snuggle up on the sofa and watch cartoons on Saturday morning. It was the only time I could watch television. I was usually too busy cooking or helping with homework and baths. It’s probably silly, but it makes me happy thinking about those few days we were all together not worrying about anything. ”

“I don’t think it’s silly. Other than cartoons, do you watch television? ”

“When I have time. During the week, I come home, fix something to eat, grab a glass of wine, and open a book. On the weekends, I’ll watch a movie if there’s a good one on. Mostly action films or superheroes. I’m not really the Hallmark channel type. ”

“That’s surprising. I guess I was assuming you were like most women who liked roses and chocolates. ”

“I love chocolate, but I hate roses. They remind me of the funeral home when my grandmother died. Other than dancing, what do you like to do? ” Sabrina wanted the focus off her. So, while Deacon cooked and then while they ate the best fajitas she’d ever tasted, they talked about anything and everything. All the simple questions you found out on a first date.

Sabrina helped Deacon clean up the kitchen, and she found herself daydreaming several times. Was this what it was like having a partner who took on the responsibilities with you? Not like Garrison, who expected to be waited on all the time. Sabrina could get used to having someone cook for her. She enjoyed cooking for someone else, but since it was just her at home, it was something she did as a necessity. Cooking for one person was hard, so she usually fixed something like spaghetti and froze what she didn’t eat. Reheated food wasn’t the best, but it kept from being wasteful or having to eat out so much.

“How about a tour? ” Deacon asked when they finished.

“I’d like that. ” Sabrina had only seen part of the first floor. Deacon’s home was larger than she thought, with room for plenty of kids. There were several bedrooms upstairs, a game room and office downstairs. “Do you want kids? ” she blurted.

Deacon hesitated outside the master bedroom. He had saved it for last, and instead of going in, he let her get a good look while he remained in the doorway. The bathroom was luxurious with a whirlpool tub large enough for the both of them as well as a shower that had no door, it was so spacious. When he didn’t answer her, Sabrina stuck her head out the bathroom door to make sure he was still there.

“I love kids. ” Deacon was rubbing the back of his neck, studying the floor.

“I’m sensing a but in there, ” she prodded.

“Let’s grab a drink and sit outside. ” Deacon held out his hand, and Sabrina walked to him. Instead of leading her down the stairs, Deacon pulled her into an embrace. “You look good in my bedroom, ” he whispered against her ear. Goosebumps rose on her flesh, and the need to make love intensified by a million. Throughout dinner, she’d had to physically make herself remain in her chair. Her hands itched to touch him. Her lips tingled in anticipation of kissing him. Her core throbbed with a longing she’d never encountered. Ever. What was it about Deacon that set her off yet set her at ease at the same time? She’d sworn off men who were so much larger than her, yet she knew in her soul this man would never hurt her.

Deacon pulled away from the embrace but entwined their fingers together as they made their way downstairs. “Would you like wine or something else? ”

“Wine, please. ” They’d stuck to tea with dinner, and now she was ready to relax.

“Red or white? Dry or sweet? I have a large selection. ”

“I prefer whites over reds and dry over sweet. ” That’s what she preferred, but she also wasn’t that picky. If it was wet and made from grapes, she’d drink it.

“I’ll be right back. ” Deacon disappeared into the garage, and less than a minute later he returned with a chilled bottle in hand. “I don’t have a wine cellar, but I do have a room off the back of the garage. I think you’ll like this. It’s a Viognier. ” Deacon pulled down two wine glasses after releasing the cork. “Are you okay with drinking it now? I know we’re supposed to let it breathe. ”

“I’m not a wine snob or connoisseur. I’ve been known to drink mine from a box. Don’t judge, ” Sabrina added with an arch of her eyebrow.

Deacon laughed and set to pouring the wine. “I like how down to earth you are. It’s refreshing. ” He handed her a glass, took one for himself, and placed his hand at the small of her back, ushering her toward the back doors. When they were outside, the sun was making its way out of sight, casting gorgeous lines through the trees. He motioned for Sabrina to take a seat, so she sat down on one of the larger pieces. It was either a small sofa or an overgrown loveseat, but either way, she chose it in hopes he’d sit next to her. He did.

Deacon slid his arm across the back of the seat, letting his fingers brush softly over her arm. “You asked if I want kids, and the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. ” He paused to take a sip of wine. “I need to ask you something before we get too deep into those types of questions. ”

Sabrina eased closer, and Deacon’s hand continued its slow caress. “Go ahead. ”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date. Of those dates I did have, rarely did they turn into a second one, and that was of my own choosing. I never found anyone interesting enough to want to get to know. Until you. I really like you, but if you don’t feel the same…”

“I do. I’ll admit, I’ve shied away from larger men. I don’t want to talk about past experiences, but I will say my last boyfriend didn’t take it well when I broke things off. I haven’t been on many dates since, and none of those amounted to anything more than dinner. Having said that, I like you too. I feel safe with you, and not because you’ve been assigned to be my bodyguard. My heart feels safe with you. Maybe that’s too much too soon. I’m a practical woman, but I have learned to trust my instincts. I would like to see where this leads. ”

Deacon pressed his lips to the side of her head before letting his temple rest against her hair. “I love kids. I bought this house thinking I’d fill it up eventually. But as much as I love them, they scare me. As a parent, it’s your job to make sure they’re happy. Taken care of. Safe. I have the financial means to give them a good life. But the world is a dark place. It’s full of evil, and I’m not only talking about kidnappers and molesters and traffickers. I’m talking about other kids. We can’t shield them from everything life is going to throw at them. There’s something you need to know about me. ” Deacon moved away so he could turn and look at her. “I’m empathic. I feel emotions from others, and I feel them deeply. ”

Sabrina was shocked at his admission, and she searched his face for any sign he was joking. She knew in her heart he wasn’t. He had no reason to lie to her.

“One reason I live in the middle of the woods is to give my head a break. Being around so many inmates is tough, but for the most part, they’re resigned to their fate. We get a few who are constantly screaming their innocence, and I have to let my co-workers deal with them. The hospital is a hard place for me. The patients are sick or dying. The families are hopeful until they’re not. The only spaces in the building I feel at ease are the nursery and the morgue. Even the babies who are crying can have their needs met quickly. The morgue is self-explanatory. So, back to kids. I love kids, but I’m scared of the pain. I’m scared of not being able to meet their emotional needs and feel the backlash. Does that make sense? ”

“It does. And the fact that you’re so worried about their emotional support tells me you’d be a wonderful father. But I get what you’re saying. Not that we’re anywhere close to talking about a family, but just so you know, that’s not a deal breaker for me. Yes, I would like to have kids, but I’m not getting any younger. I’ll be thirty-seven in August. I know lots of women have babies in their forties, but I’m not sure I want to be closing in on retirement age and have a child just starting college. ”

Sabrina could feel Deacon’s relief at her words. Could see in his eyes the hope for a future with her. Maybe it had been a deal breaker for him. She took a sip of wine and leaned back into his side. “This is nice, ” she said. “You were right: it is peaceful here. My neighborhood isn’t loud, but there’s always some noise like a car door slamming. A dog barking. Sirens in the distance. ” Sabrina listened for any type of noise, and other than the rustling of the trees when a breeze blew and the hummingbirds arguing, there was nothing.

They sat in companionable silence, sipping wine and just being. But there was something she needed from him. “I want to see you dance. ”

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