Free Almost Matched (Almost Bad Boys) by A.O. Peart Page A

our date number four.”  
    “Hmm. I see.” I nod, pretending to consider. “That sounds like a plan.”
    “Glad you see it that way.” Colin inclines his head. One corner of his mouth lifts up just a notch. Oh-uoh, there it is—that little, sexy smile that makes me melt inside. How does he do that to me?  
    “Let’s find a good place to eat.” He takes my hand in his.  
    “Wild Ginger possibly?” I suggest.
    “Not a bad choice,” he agrees.  
    We walk to the restaurant and get a table almost immediately. Lucky us. The place smells wonderful, as always, and I realize I’m ravenous. Too many items on the menu appeal to my taste today, so I quickly choose the curry seabass with mango salad and a glass of Pinot Noir. Colin decides on the cinnamon and spice anise duck with a sweet plum sauce and pairs it with a glass of a heavier Cabernet.  
    I start feeling anxious. Are we moving too fast? Am I making yet another mistake? The last thing I want is to get hurt again. I like Colin. I really do like him a lot, but I hope he doesn’t take my earlier joking with him about the third date as a “go ahead” to move things faster.  
    As if reading my mind he takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles. He says, “I hope by now you know my somehow raw sense of humor. When I said I want to rush through the next date to get to the fourth one, it wasn’t because all I want from you is sex. I’m truly attracted to you. I want to get to know you, and I want you to feel comfortable and secure with me. I would never do anything to jeopardize that.”
    I look at Colin. He’s so beautiful—not just handsome, but beautiful, with his blue eyes and long eye lashes, with his black-as-coal hair, carelessly tousled, with his wide shoulders and strong body. His lips are soft and sensual, and his cheekbones are high. And he wants to be mine; just mine! I know I want this. I want us to be together; to be happy. So why there is always something weird nagging at the corner of my mind? I realize that I am paranoid by all my past bad experiences with guys, but I can’t keep that wall around me. I need to let Colin in; I must take this chance.  
    I squeeze his hand and say, “I really like you too. I want to try… but I’m…” Argh. And there it is—that awful fear of getting hurt again. Stop that, Natalie! I inwardly chastise myself and continue, trying to keep my voice from trembling. I fail. I sound scared and so freakin’ unsure of myself when I tell him, “It’s not that I don’t want to get things going. And I understand you are just trying to make things fun and easy for me. I really like it. But just bear with me. Let me take small steps, so we do this right.”
    He clutches both of my hands in his. Our elbows are on the table, and we are facing each other. I rest my forehead against our gripped hands. My fingers are cold, but his are warm against my skin. I welcome the soothing sensation of that warmth. It makes me feel wanted and cherished. His warm skin…  
    I lift my head and look at him. A tiny smile adorns his lips, and his eyes sparkle in the candlelight. He nods and lets my hands go. Momentarily I feel at loss, but he quickly reaches for me and pulls my face toward his.  
    When our foreheads touch, I hear him say very quietly, “I understand. And I will do exactly how you want me to do this. Take a lead, Natalie. I want you to trust me as much as I want to always trust you.”
    I put my hands on both sides of his face and kiss him passionately. He inhales sharply and deepens the kiss. Everything inside me twists and spirals, and my heart start to hammer in my chest. I want this man so badly, but I must be cautious. I feel that I can trust him; that all he just said is true; but old habits die hard, so I cannot push myself too fast past my boundaries. We will do this my way, and I’m at ease that he understands and agrees.  
    The waiter brings our wine, and we pull away from the kiss. Colin kisses my