Free Love Therapy (Stanton Falls #2) by Kaci Hart Page A

few years, I don’t recall any of them
ever opening the door for me or getting my chair or anything like that  One guy even made me pay half of the bill.
 Wait, you are paying for this, right?”

 
    “We will have to see.
 I guess it depends on what you order.  How hungry are you again?”

 
    “Starving.  I mean
I could literally eat a cow.”

 
    “Dutch it is!”

 
    “If that’s the case, you
might not need to worry about buying the rest of those flowers buddy.”

 
    “Suddenly I am feeling
like I should just pay for the whole meal.”

 
    Donna laughed at his
quick change.

 
    “I figured you would see
it my way.”

 
    “You know I was joking,
right?  I wouldn’t dream of making you pay for any time I ask you out.”

 
    “Of course, silly.
 You’re a smart enough man to know the basics of a woman’s worth.”

 
    “Good.   I’m
glad that I exude some level of intelligence.”   

 
    “Nick, I hope that none
of our past conversations made you think I thought that about you.”

 
    “Absolutely not.
 So, movie or dinner first?”

 
    “I’m a movie first kind
of girl.  It will give me something to think about at dinner if you bore
me.”

 
    Nick feigned being hurt
by her comment and she giggled at him.  On the drive there, they made
light talk about a few things.  Before the night started, Donna was
concerned about how it was going to go but he had a way about him that put her
at ease.  She was sure that she was going to have a great time with him
that evening and she was extremely happy to have a chance to let loose.  

 
 
    ***

 
 
    Nick and Donna had
finished their movie and had made their way to a local Italian restaurant.
 Nick was surprised that she had chosen one of the latest science fiction
movies that were all the rage in Hollywood those days.  Most girls he had
dated in the past only wanted to see romantic comedies and the like.  

 
    “I’m still surprised
that you picked that movie.”

 
    “Well, I’m not a typical
girl you know.  I didn’t prefer all of the overly untrue ideas of romance
that’s often pushed on females these days.”

 
    “Wow.  That’s a
little cynical, don’t you think?”

 
    “Not at all.  For
example, I am having a wonderful time with you tonight.  Better than I
imagined and certainly better than I have had on a date with any man, ever.
 Even with that in mind, those movies coax women into thinking every relationship
is going to end with some man rushing to stop her from leaving.  He’ll
profess his unending love for her and she will give in to him.  They live
happily ever after.  The end.  But my experience in life is just that
it doesn’t really work that way.  Not for most of us at least.”  

 
    “We’ll just have to see
what I can do to change your opinion on that, wont we?”

 
    “I don’t think you can,
but I won’t stop you from trying.  I think it will be fun.”

 
    “Whatever.  You
just want to be wined and dined.”

 
    “Of course.  What
woman doesn’t want to be treated special?   I didn’t say I didn’t do
romance--I just said that it’s not really something that is too realistic these
days.  That’s why I haven’t been dating for a while.”
    “I don’t want to pry,
but what made you ...like this?  Let me start over because that sounds
horrible.  What I meant to ask is what made you have such a negative view
on relationships?”

 
    Donna hesitated and Nick
could tell he had hit a sore spot.

 
    “You know what.
 You don’t have to tell me.  Giving me the chance to change it is
more than enough.”

 
    “Thanks for your
understanding, but I don’t mind too much talking about it.  My father was
really abusive.  Not physically at all but very much so verbally.  My
mother would love him to her core and put up with anything he said or did.
 When I would turn on the television and see all the romantic comedies and
hear