Free Worth Waiting For by Vanessa Devereaux Page A

feel better since earlier in the day when she’d told him she couldn’t have
a baby. He’d reached out for her, ready to pull her in close, but she hadn’t
said another word and simply stepped over the side of the tub and hurried out
of the bathroom.
    He was sure he’d seen
a tear running down her cheek before she’d left him standing there, still erect
and aching for her attention. It could have been a drop of water from the
shower, but he was sure it was a real tear because she’d almost choked on the
words when she’d told him.
    He could understand
how she felt even though he was a man. Didn’t every woman—well, most—want a
baby? It was the most natural thing in the world, so he could understand her pain
and the tear…if that’s what it had really been.
    She hadn’t stayed
long enough for him to ask exactly what her problem was and why she couldn’t
conceive. Not that it was any of his business. They weren’t in a relationship.
They were two people who shared the mutual love of great sex.
    He looked over at her
again. She hadn’t said much since the incident in the shower. Maybe she was
embarrassed she’d told him. Nothing to be ashamed about. Not her fault she couldn’t get pregnant.
    And was it really the
reason her husband had opted to run off with another woman? He had to be crazy.
Sure, reproducing and keeping your DNA out there in the world was a big issue
for most guys, but for Christ’s sake, he’d married this woman for better or
worse. What was wrong with adoption? Brock’s best friend at school had been
adopted. Nicest and most intelligent guy he’d ever met.
    Kate looked across
the kitchen at him. He smiled. She smiled back. The lady was hurting inside,
and he was going to make her feel better.
    He’d take her out for
a meal to cheer her up. He laughed out loud as he thought on what he was going
to do for her and saw Kate and Henri glance over at him. Shit, they probably think I’m simple or something.
    He walked over to
Kate. “Will you have dinner with me tonight?”
    She stopped chopping
vegetables and looked at him.
    “I mean I’ll take you
out. I don’t have much money, but I’d like to treat you to a meal outside of
your own restaurant.”
    Kate didn’t say
anything but then Henri bumped her arm. “The lady accepts,” said Henri.
     
    ***
     
    It took quite a bit of
arm-twisting from all her workers to convince Kate to take the evening off and
dine with Brock. He hadn’t told her where they were going, so she wasn’t sure
what to wear, casual or dressy. In the end she’d opted for her blue floral
dress and white sandals. She’d put her hair up in a ponytail and secured it
with an artificial blue flower.
    Brock arrived right
on time. He’d finished cleaning up the kitchen in the restaurant and gone to
his boat to change. He was back at the restaurant at 8 p.m. sharp.
    He stood at the back
door looking more handsome than ever in black dress pants and a white shirt
with its top three buttons open, allowing his ample chest hair to peek out over
its edges. “You look beautiful,” he said as she closed the door on the way out.
    She followed him down
the path, and it became obvious they were crossing over the road onto the
cobblestone path that led to the boats. “Would I know this restaurant where
we’re going?” she asked.
    “No, it’s a new one.”
    Shit, not more competition, and so close to my place .
    She laughed with
relief as he stepped on board his own boat and offered her his hand. She
climbed up on deck with him. “So you’ve launched a restaurant to compete with
me?”
    “It’s only open for
tonight, and don’t worry because I didn’t do the cooking. Henri did.”
    “Ah, now I know what
he was up to when he kept hiding bowls under the counter whenever I walked by.”
Kate followed Brock down to the living quarters and noticed that a table had
been set with yes, her flatware, and a tablecloth from the restaurant. Two
candles, also hers, flickered in