LUCKY'S
Winn's dinner date with Isaac was only four days away. Two days in and she still couldn't stop thinking about him. The previous night they hadn't talked on the phone like they had two nights ago. Instead they merely texted each other. Somehow he had the ability to have the exact same effect on her over a text message than he had when they were speaking. He was funny and he was charming. And damn if she wasn't beginning to find him a little sexy, as well.
Two days before her date, on Thursday morning, Taylor showed up at her office with Starbucks. He was there early. She got to work exceptionally early to start the day and amazingly, he was right there along with her. She let him in the dark office and locked the door behind him. "What's all this?" She smiled at him as they walked to her desk.
"I, uh, noticed you've been coming in early lately. Just thought you could use a little pick-me-up."
"Well thank you. That's very sweet."
"So...what's been going on?" He asked her.
Winn sighed. She hated to unload on him, but he'd opened himself to it. And so she spilled. All of her pent up frustrations came spilling out like a barricade had just broken inside her or something. She told him about the customer base and how nobody respected their loans, she told him her frustrations with her staff and about all the bad habits she was having to break. She told him about how the budget was being way overspent,
about her exhaustion and the lack of respect within the office as a whole. She lamented over putting in so much work on her own time and feeling like it was for nothing. She told him how she'd never dealt with a more disrespectful customer base and a staff that was so indifferent. She felt bad for letting him hear it all, but it felt so good to just get it all out.
Taylor, however, had listened intently. He made eye contact, he nodded along, he never spoke or interrupted her. When she'd finally finished, he looked at her in silence. He sipped his coffee and then he said, "I think you need a break."
She gaped across the desk at him. "Speak for yourself," she retorted.
"I give myself breaks," he replied defensively.
"Oh yeah? When?"
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "That's not--we're not talking about me right now. I just--you can't do it all alone, you know? Even I have my brothers..."
"I just don't know what to do anymore. I think I've bit off more than I can chew."
He shook his head. "I don't think that's true."
"How would you know?"
He let out a nervous laugh. "Well. Okay. You're right, I know nothing about anything in here. But you seem to have a good head on your shoulders and I have faith that you can get it done. And so do your supervisors, otherwise you wouldn't be here right now. Right?"
Winn looked across the desk at Taylor. Into his sparkling blue eyes. Those gorgeous...sparkling blue eyes. How come she'd never noticed how blue they were before? Her heart pounded, touched by his kind words. And then she said in a half whisper, "You don't even know me."
"I know enough. I know you're brave for relocating to another state alone and taking on the undertaking that's apparently this office. I know you really possess more confidence in your abilities than you're exuding right now. I know you're strong and you're set in your ways. I know you're stubborn and that works for you. I know you have drive and ambition and that's why you are where you are today. You're a successful person, Winn. You just gotta remember that."
"You're a great guy," she found herself saying all of a sudden. "Why are you single?"
Now it was Taylor's turn to gape back at her across her desk. For a second she feared she'd gotten a little too nosy, but she didn't care anymore. If she wanted to know something, she was going to ask it. And the question was legitimate.
He cleared his throat as the blood rose to his cheeks. "Um--uh...how do you know I'm not?" He challenged weakly.
She narrowed her eyes and smirked skeptically. "Because no woman would tolerate the schedule you set for yourself and the fact that you just randomly show up at THIS woman's office with coffee several mornings per week."
"What? I'm allowed to have friends." Then he smiled shyly and glanced down at his coffee cup. "I, uh, dating isn't really high on my priority list, I guess. My work is my mistress, I guess." Then he looked up at her. "W-what about you?"
"Oh, I had quite the social life back home," she said, matter-of-factly. "Dating wasn't even an issue. I had all the time in the world, the office I worked in ran excellent numbers. But now...well, being in the position I'm in, I have no time for distractions."
A look of alarm crossed his face. "Oh. Um, I'm sorry. Am I being a distraction? I could go, I didn't realize--"
She laughed warmly and reached over and placed a friendly hand on his forearm--a move that she instantly regretted, but kept her composure anyway. "No. You're not a distraction, I promise. Well--not the bad kind anyway. Sometimes you're a sight for sore eyes." Holy shit. Where had that come from?
He smiled and blushed once again, glancing down at his coffee cup and back up at her. "Uh, thanks. Um, I don't really ever hear anything like that. Means a lot."
While she was feeling daring, and apparently rushed as time was quickly ticking away closer to the time her staff usually started showing up, she blurted gently, "I want to be your friend, Taylor."
He looked at her blankly. "I thought you already were?"
Now it was her turn to blush. The verbal diarrhea just kept on coming. "I'm going out with your brother Saturday night and I want you to be okay with it." Why? Why did she say that? WHY did she feel like she needed his approval? She was a grown woman, she could do what she wanted. But she looked across the desk at him in nervous expectation anyway.
"You're--Ike? You're going out with Ike?" His tone sounded more surprised than anything.
Winn nodded. "Yeah. We're going to dinner."
"Why?" He blurted suddenly in a condescending voice.
She was slightly taken aback by his tone. "Because he asked me," she retorted.
He looked back at her in silence. Finally, he said, "Look. I wanna be your friend, too. And as your friend, JUST as your friend, I feel like I gotta tell you that my brother--"
"Good morning!" Tina's voice rang out as she walked into the office. She stopped short as she turned on the overhead light, her eyes wide at the pair sitting at Winn's desk. "Oh. Am I interrupting?"
Winn and Taylor glanced at each other and then he smiled at Tina. "No. Not at all. I was just leaving."
As he stood, Tina's eyes darted from Winn to Taylor. "Oh. Well, okay then. I'm just gonna go put my lunch in the fridge and I'll be back to get started on calls..." She eyed the pair once more as she walked past them to the back room.
"So, uh, I'll catch you later," Taylor said as he turned to walk away.
Suddenly, Winn jumped from her seat. "Taylor!"
He stopped in his tracks and turned around. "Yeah?"
Winn felt herself blushing. "You, um, you never gave me your number. It's been almost a month since we met and, uh, I can't even contact you."
He furrowed his brow. "What? Yes, I did. And you never gave me anything besides your office number anyway."
She shook her head. "No. You didn't. Why do you think I never call or text you? I've asked you for it twice already and you have yet to give it to me. I mean, if you don't want me to have it, that's okay."
"You--you want my number? Seriously?"
"Well, yeah. You're my friend, right? Friends should be able to contact each other, shouldn't they? I mean, if Starbucks and Gypsy ever ran out of coffee all in the same day, shouldn't we be able to contact each other in such a state of emergency?"
For the first time that morning, Taylor laughed. And his laughter made her heart palpitate. She hated it but she couldn't help herself. Walking back toward her desk, he plucked a business card and a pen off the surface, scrawled his number out, and handed it back to her. "There. If there's ever a coffee shortage, give me a ring."
"Sure thing," she grinned.
"Have a good day," he said. "You're a rock star." And then he was out the door.
Winn watched him cross the street and then she sank back into her chair. She was so damn confused.
**********************
Saturday approached faster than she was ready for. Her brain had gone a mile a minute since Taylor last showed up in her office. She had spoken to Isaac Friday night to finalize their dinner plans and as soon as they'd hung up, Taylor entered her mind. She'd asked for his number but hadn't used it. She hadn't seen him since Thursday morning, either. She couldn't get his blue eyes and his smile off of her mind. But then when she heard Isaac's voice, chills instantly took over her body. Sweet lord, what was wrong with her?
Winn sat out on her porch on Saturday morning, wrapped in a blanket, enjoying her morning coffee as she gazed out at the lake beyond the trees. Every time she sat out there, without fail, she always thought of Taylor and his camera. The landscape out there just couldn't go un-photographed. She wondered again if he'd ever been out there. Surely he had.
But still. She gazed out at the lake in front of her as the red and golden trees reflected off the water. Or what was left of them, anyway. She hated that she'd moved right at peak season and missed the real flourish of fall colors. She couldn't keep her mind off of Taylor and his hobby.
It was as if her hands took on a mind of their own. It took her no time at all to pick up her phone, snap a picture, and sent it to Taylor. He had to see what she saw. She couldn't resist sharing it with him.
As she sipped her coffee, her text alert went off almost immediately. "Winn?" Taylor texted back. "Where are you?"
In spite of herself, she smiled into her phone. "Home."
"Are you in Texas?"
She had to giggle and shake her head. "No. Tulsa."
"That's where you live?"
"Yes."
"It's beautiful."
Her grin widened before her text alert went off again. "Can I call you? I'm driving," he texted.
Why did this excite her so much? Why wasn't she stressing over that night's date with Isaac right now? Why did this feel so wrong but so right all at the same time? Casually, she texted, "Sure."
Within seconds, her phone was ringing. She watched his name show up on her screen for a moment before she took a deep breath and answered. "Hey."
"Hey," he said cheerfully. "No work this Saturday, huh? Good thing I didn't stop for coffee."
She smiled. "Our seasonal Saturdays start next week. We're taking this last one off before we don't see the light of day for the next month. Where are you headed?"
"Where else?"
"Studio?"
"Yep. So, uh, that picture was awesome that you sent me."
"Thanks. I'm sitting on my porch right now. That's my view."
"Aren't you cold?"
"I'm wrapped in a blanket and I have hot coffee. I'm okay. I like the cold weather. I can't wait until it snows."
Taylor chuckled. "That's kinda awesome. Most women hate the cold."
"What about you? You like cold weather, too?" Winn instantly squeezed her eyes shut, feeling like an idiot. The weather? She's really focusing on the weather right now?
"It's, uh, it's not bad. It can be good for photography sometimes."
Her eyes lit up. Oh yeah! "Yeah, about that...so, listen, I'm no photographer. But I know you are. And one of these days, sometime soon before the leaves are totally gone, I'd like to capture some of this view on film. You know, maybe make a scrap book of my first big move or something nerdy like that."
"That's not nerdy. I think it sounds kinda cool."
"You think?"
"Yeah. Of course I do." He paused for a second. "You know, um, I'd love to help you out with that. I mean, I have the camera and all. If--if you want me to, that is."
Winn smiled. "I'd love that. It's, uh, kinda why I sorta started this conversation. I just--I sit out here every day and I think about you and your camera and it's a shame you haven't captured it, you know?"
"Um--you--you think about me and my camera while you're sitting outside?"
"Well, yeah. You're a photographer, right?"
Taylor cleared his throat over the phone. "Yeah. Yeah, I am. I am. Um, yeah, just say when and we'll, uh, we'll get together and take some pictures. Of--the lake. You know. Stuff like that."
"Are you free tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" He squeaked out. Then he cleared his throat.
"Yeah," she said. Then she sighed. "They've kinda been harping on me at work about getting some fresh air when I'm not in the office. And I figure...I mean if it's weird for you, I totally get it."
Taylor chuckled lightly. "You're really reading too much into this. Yes. Tomorrow I will come to your house and take pictures of your trees."
"And the lake."
"The lake, too."
"Maybe we can do lunch or something," she suggested.
"We'll play it by ear. Just let me know what time you want me there."
Suddenly, she wanted to scream out, 'Right now!' The urge was overwhelming and it confused her to no end. She decided that was her cue to end their conversation, letting him know that she would text him her address. She ended the call and looked back out onto the water. Was this a good idea?
*********************
As Winn stared in the mirror in hopeless despair at her hair, her text alert went off. As time for her dinner date with Isaac drew nearer and nearer, she grew more and more nervous. Long ago was her conversation with Taylor, though still in the back of her mind, and now she was focused on her date. The thought of Isaac's smile melted her and she was quickly excited and petrified all at the same time. "Text me your address," Isaac texted.
She looked at her phone, confused. She'd been under the impression that she was meeting him at the restaurant. "I thought we agreed on meeting?"
"Change in plans. I'm picking you up. Wear a dress."
She now widened her eyes and blinked at her phone. This was not what they had planned. They had planned a casual dinner in a bar and grill, jeans-appropriate. Now he's picking her up and taking her...somewhere nice? How was she supposed to feel about that?
Did she even own a dress?
Frantically, she texted him her address and made a mad dash straight to her closet. She wore plenty of skirts and jeans, but actual dresses? The kind you wear to dinner? Well, she didn't have much use for those lately.
At the back of the closet hung the only real "date" dress she had. She didn't really want to wear it, considering it was a couple years old and she'd last worn it out with her ex. On the other hand, she did LIKE the dress and nobody knew of its history, so...she determined that based on their last phone conversation, this one might be appropriate.
The dress was burgundy, the sheer sleeves cuffing just below her elbows. The loose, sheer sleeves and chest faded into the solid material and hung from her body just slightly before it hugged the thighs above her knees. The top was boat-necked with no cleavage to be shown. It was simple and it was comfortable and she questioned its appropriateness for the cold weather but she decided it was nothing a good coat couldn't fix. She'd been preferring boots and ankle boots lately, but instead she opted for nude pumps.
She looked in the mirror once more and frowned at herself. She was so pale against the dark-colored dress. Her own legs nearly blinded her. And she wasn't so sure about the shoes now...
Winn widened her eyes at herself when her doorbell rang. Was Isaac seriously already there? He had JUST texted her! Or maybe more time had passed than she thought. Her hair wasn't even finished!
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Normally driving the two-door Mustang GT excited Isaac. This was the car he drove when he felt like he needed to "set the mood" per se. The silver sleekness of its exterior made it the perfect date car. The women swooned over this car.
The women. Isaac gripped the wheel tighter as the knot at the pit of his stomach continued to nag him. Somehow, the thought of it being his usual "date" car suddenly made him feel cheap. Again, was it his age? Were his views on dating slowly changing? Or was it the girl? Was it Winn? Was it the fact that it wasn't the thrill of actually TRYING to impress her, but the fear that she wouldn't be impressed? Isaac had never had that fear before. His dates were always impressed.
When he showed up at her house, he was a little surprised. He wasn't sure what he expected. An apartment, maybe? A housing development? Surely not the tiny lake house he had driven through the woods to get to. The area seemed quiet and quaint. Too quiet for his taste. Was this what she liked?
However when Winn opened the door and he took one look at her, he suddenly couldn't give two shits about his surroundings. Apparently Work Winn and Date Winn were two completely different people and it was easy to see who his favorite was going to be. Suddenly the half dozen pink roses he produced from behind his back seemed terribly hokey and he wished he'd skipped on them, but the damage was done. To his relief, she grinned and invited him inside as she took them from his hand. "Isaac! You didn't have to do that. They're beautiful, thank you!"
He smiled as he stepped into her small living room as she walked through a wide doorway and into her kitchen. "I'm just gonna put these in some water and then I have to finish my hair. I'm sorry I'm not ready, you came earlier than I thought. I'll just be a couple minutes. Can I get you anything while you wait?"
'Coming early is not my specialty,' he thought to himself. Then he shook the perversion from his brain and answered out loud. "No, thanks. I'm fine. Take your time." He couldn't resist glancing down at her ass in that dress as she walked through the kitchen and into what he assumed as her bedroom. Man, how he longed to follow her in there. He was already having naughty thoughts and he'd only been there five minutes. This was going to be a long night.
Glancing around the room, he spied the sliding glass door in the living room that led out to the deck. Night was falling quickly and he could barely see the lake through the glass for his reflection now staring back at him. Checking the kitchen area for activity, he quickly checked out his reflection in the door. He straightened his blazer and made sure his necktie was straight. Was the tie too much? No. The tie was never too much.
He heard the clicking of her heels and he cleared his throat as she entered the room. Her hair didn't look much different as her red hair continued to flow down her back, but he figured whatever worked for her. He motioned out the door. "Uh, nice view you have here."
Winn smiled as she stood beside him and looked out the door with him. "Yeah. It is. I love it here. Tay's actually coming tomorrow to take some pictures of it."
Red flags immediately went off in his head and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. "He's coming here?"
"Yeah," she smiled innocently. "I wanted to capture it before all the leaves went away and I know he's a photographer, so...yanno, why not?"
He stared at her innocence and suddenly tried to stave off his apprehensiveness. So he responded with, "Yeah. Yeah, he is. And he's great at it, so, yeah. That's understandable, I'd have asked him, too."
She smiled at him again as she crossed the room and opened up a closet door. Between that smile and that ass, Isaac wasn't so sure how he'd survive the night. And what was more, he was the one going out with her tonight. Not Taylor. That had to count for something, right?
As she wrapped a long pea coat around her body, her smile continued to radiate across the room, her red hair glowing under the lamp light she was standing next to. "You ready?"
Pushing the thoughts out of his mind and choosing to focus entirely on her, he smiled back at her. "Absolutely. And--you look amazing by the way, I should have told you that earlier."
Winn blushed as she crossed the room toward him. "Well, thank you. You're looking rather dashing, yourself."
And with that, Isaac was putty in her hands. He wasn't sure he'd ever quite let his guard down and become putty before. This was new. He didn't like it.
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Upon sight of Isaac, Winn nearly melted into the floor. He looked amazing in his tie, the scent of whatever he was wearing was intoxicating and the roses were charming.
She took his arm as they stepped off her porch and walked down her small, narrow walkway. She made the same mental note that she did every day that having the concrete replaced was going to be a summer project for sure.
She smiled to herself at his car, but chose not to say anything. Her ex drove a Mustang. She hated being reminded of him lately, but he had been her first love and, well--she didn't dare tell Isaac that he was her first date since her ex--which had since been almost two years. She hadn't lied when she told Taylor that dating hadn't been an issue back home. It was the truth. Because she didn't date.
Being a perfect gentleman, Isaac opened the car door for her. Within minutes, they were driving down the road while he continuously fiddled with the heat in the car. The car. He talked a lot about the car. She wasn't really interested in the car. So she simply smiled and nodded as he went on. Hopefully he was as nervous as she was and that the nerves were doing the talking. Because if he was for real, it would be a long night.
They pulled up at Lucky's, a restaurant that Winn assumed was supposed to be upscale. That would explain her having to wear a dress. And Isaac's tie. And the way he opened the car door for her just to help her onto the pavement. Such a gentleman, he was. He would never know how much she truly appreciated that.
Her arm hooked in his once more, they fought the bitter cold as they made their way to the door. Upon entry, as Isaac unwrapped the scarf from around his neck, and began to remove his long coat, the host beamed at the two of them. "Hello, welcome to Lucky's. How can we make your dining experience our pleasure?"
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"Reservation. Under Hanson," Isaac replied.
The host smiled. "Yes. Of course, Mr. Hanson. We have your usual ready and waiting."
Completely mortified and completely busted, he glanced over at Winn, whose eyes had widened. Thinking of a way to save face in a hurry, he casually said to the host, "Um, no, I'm not THAT Hanson. You're thinking of Zac. I'm Isaac."
The host looked between the two of them. "Yes. Of course. My apologies. Right this way, please."
As Isaac allowed Winn to talk ahead of him, he managed to cut the host a look to kill before he led them to their table. The truth was, Isaac DID have a usual table there and they knew him on a first-name basis. Most of the staff was really good about keeping out of his business and conducting their own business as usual. This was beginning to sound more and more like the night all this would unravel.
As if feeling the need to save more of his face, he muttered to Winn on the way to the table, "I can't believe they confused me with Zac. We look nothing alike."
She whispered over her shoulder. "Why would they even think you're him in the first place?"
The next lie rolled right off his tongue as easily as the first one had. "This is his and Kate's usual date night spot. We had a change in plans today because he told me about this place and I thought tonight would be a good night to check it out."
He waited for her response as the host seated them, recited the specials, and then disappeared. Winn looked at him across the table for a moment. "If they come here so often, I'm not understanding how they could get you guys confused if...Isaac!"
His eyes widened. Shit. This was it. He was completely busted. All his years of dating, down the drain. All crashing down because of this one woman. Keeping composure was becoming harder than ever.
Then, to his surprise, the next words that flew out of her mouth opened the door wide open for him. "Did your brother sacrifice his date night just so you could have one?"
He was stunned for a moment. "What?"
Then she smiled. "Did he give you his reservation?"
Jesus, she was just feeding it to him. Relief washed over his body and he smiled back at her. "Yes. Yes, he did. I thought that was really nice of him. I, uh, didn't wanna say anything. Didn't want you to think I was some kinda chump who couldn't get a reservation or anything."
Winn smiled at him warmly, every smile doing more and more damage to the emotional wall he had worked so hard to build around himself over the years. "I wouldn't have thought that of you," she said. "I would have been fine with not being able to get a reservation. I'm a simple person. Doesn't take much to make me happy."
He smiled nervously as he opened the menu. "Good to know."
With that conversation out of the way, and comfort slowly making its way back in, Isaac was able to order drinks for them. He ordered for her, the restaurant's best chardonnay, in an effort to remind her that he remembered what she liked. He was met with another one of those amazing smiles and a warm, "Thank you." He had to be careful. This woman was dangerous.
When their drinks came, and it was time to order, Isaac was ready to do his usual and order for her. He always ordered for his date. It was always the same plate: Trembach Riesling Chicken with lemongrass broth, jasmine rice, green beans, and enoki mushrooms. The ladies
either always loved it or pretended that they did and he was fairly certain that the server was already writing it down before he even had a chance to speak. However, before Isaac could open his mouth, Winn had beat him to the punch and had miraculously ordered that very same plate. On her own. He didn't know how many more near-misses in the heart attack department he would be able to take that night.
As she sipped her wine, she asked him a question. He wasn't sure if he was stunned by the question itself or the fact that she even had one. Normally, on these dates, he did all the talking. "Pardon me for being nosy," she said. "But why are you single?"
His eyes widened at her question. It was an interesting choice of question. The truth was, he didn't really know how to answer it. He couldn't help but begin to grow increasingly frustrated with himself, however. This wasn't how it worked. This was never how it worked. Isaac scheduled the dates. Isaac wined and dined the women. Isaac controlled the conversations and ultimately how the night would progress. Dating was Isaac's game. So why the hell didn't he feel like he was ON it?
As if reading his mind, yet another annoying intrusion, she narrowed her eyes deviously and smiled. "Be honest."
He cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter, smoothing out his jacket. "Well. I guess I just haven't found the right woman yet."
"Cliché answer," she replied sipping her wine and eyeing him. "Try again."
"What do you want from me?" He replied, narrowing his eyes back at her.
"Blood."
He was stunned and he didn't know how to follow up on that. Suddenly, she burst into laughter, genuine laughter, and then said to him, "I'm only joking! Wow, you should have seen your face. That was priceless."
Fun. Wow. She was having fun. She was--creating fun. He wasn't having to flirt or tell bad jokes to make her feel obligated to giggle. She did it herself. Without being coaxed. Had it really been that long since he'd been out with someone this real? Actually, yes. Yes, it had. And the memory pained him and he quickly shoved it out of his mind.
As she calmed her laughter, her face grew serious again. "Seriously, though. Why?"
He didn't want to. He didn't want to tell her. He didn't want to bring it up, he had wanted to long since forget it. He didn't know her yet, he wasn't sure he could trust her. After all, she was a fan. Or at least she started out as such. Why was he even thinking about it? He was a master of conversation. He could have said anything. He was good at that.
But something in her eyes caused him to--well, dammit, lying just didn't feel right with her. Didn't mean he wasn't going to--well, make sure things to his way, per se. But she just--she made him want to tell the truth. And at the moment, it was the only thing he could think of to say. So he went for it in spite of himself. "It's a choice," he said. "Maybe it's selfish, and not necessarily the right one considering the situation, but it's a choice. I date sometimes, but nothing too serious."
"So...you weren't kidding then. You really haven't found the right one."
"I did once," he blurted without even thinking about it. Why was he feeling so comfortable all of a sudden? "Years ago. She, uh, she was the one. And then she wasn't. And then I chose to stay single and now here we are."
"Amazing how you were able to speak right then and say absolutely nothing."
He sipped his bourbon as the ice clinked against the glass. "What else do you want me to say? You wanted the truth, you got it."
"I want to know what causes a man like you to not be snatched up after all these years."
"She marries your brother," he said bluntly as he drained his glass.
Winn's eyes widened for a moment before her face fell. "Oh. I'm, um, I'm sorry, I--I didn't mean to pry, I--I wasn't--"
"You weren't expecting it to be quite that heavy."
"I'm sorry."
He sighed and swirled the ice around in his glass. "Yeah, well, so am I. But on a positive note, your past makes you who you are and if it weren't for my past, I wouldn't be sitting here with you, staring into those gorgeous green eyes and about to sink my teeth into the best New York strip on this side of Oklahoma."
She leaned across the table. "I thought you've never been here?"
"I've been told the steak is excellent."
"You need to work on that."
"On what?"
"Your lying."
He straightened up in his seat and he blinked at her. "Okay. Fine. I've been here a couple of times. Big deal."
"Why did you lie?"
"Why don't we talk about you?"
"We've been over this, there's nothing to talk about."
"Why are YOU single?"
"I told you why I was single."
"You can do better than that."
Her eyes lit up over his shoulder. "Oh, look. Food's here."
For the next few minutes, they ate in silence. Surprisingly, it wasn't an awkward silence. The first few minutes of dinner always seemed awkward, but not this time. Isaac spent his first few bites lamenting to himself in his head. He hated how he was starting to come across. He knew he was only frustrated with himself and he didn't want her to feel like he was upset at her. To make himself feel better, he decided to do something he never did. He apologized. Sincerely. "Look," he said. "Conversation got a little heavy. You caught me off guard, it's a subject I don't normally talk about. And haven't in quite some time. I apologize if I've come across a little...harsh. First dates aren't supposed to...you know, they're supposed to be fun."
"I'm having fun," she offered, as she wiped her mouth with her napkin and placed it back in her lap.
"You are?"
"Yeah. Weren't you the one who said you liked learning what made people tick? Well, turns out, so do I. I mean, normally I would call it being nosy. But your terminology is much more eloquent. Doesn't make me feel so bad."
He gaped at her as she casually went back to her dinner. She just cut him down to size. Just like that. Without the slightest of effort. Never had he wanted to jump across a table and ravish a woman on the spot this badly in his entire life. And he'd been out with some sexy women in his time, but this--there was something about how her brain worked that turned him on much more than her body did.
He looked across the table at her and his heart suddenly sank. The feeling of competition was slowly rising in him all of a sudden as he recalled their conversation when he picked her up. "So...how do you know Taylor?" He asked her, trying to carefully choose his words.
"We're friends," she replied matter-of-factly.
"Mhmm," he observed. "Just--just friends?"
"Yep," she nodded. Then she narrowed her eyes at him. "Why? You're not one of those people who thinks people of the opposite sex can't be friends, are you? Because if you are you're wrong."
He shook his head. "No. No, I was just curious, that's all. How, uh, how long have you been friends?"
"He was one of the first people I met when I moved here. Well, besides my employees. It was so weird, he just--I dunno, showed up in my office one day. It was so random."
"Really..." he replied, mindlessly swirling what was left of his ice around in his bourbon glass, cursing the server for not bringing him another one yet. "And you're close? Friends, I mean. Close friends."
She shrugged one shoulder as she reached for her wine. "I don't know if you'd consider us 'close' friends. I mean, it's not like we talk every day or anything. We only just recently exchanged numbers the other day and we've known each other for a month now, at least."
"I see."
Suddenly, she straightened up in her seat and looked at him. "Wait, is that a problem? Does that bother you? I mean, I promise, we've never even been out together. Not even for coffee. We're just casual friends, that's it."
"No," he said in a desperate attempt to control the dynamic of the conversation. "No, it doesn't bother me at all. I was just curious, is all. I just I just wondered...you know, I mean, you're here..."
"I like you," she said simply.
"I like you, too," he said quietly.
"Good, then," she said, her demeanor cheery again. "Then that issue is resolved."
"Wasn't even an issue."
"Even better."
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There was an edge to the way Winn and Isaac interacted with each other. A sort of tension. Winn didn't know if he felt it or not, but she couldn't mistake it. She didn't know if it was nerves. She didn't know if his accusatory term was a defense mechanism. She didn't know if his story about a past love marrying his brother, obviously Kate and Zac, was even true but he gave her no reason to doubt him. Except for the fact that he'd lied about never having been to Lucky's before. She wasn't sure why he felt the need to lie about that. But the Zac and Kate thing--that was definitely the truth and it made her think of her own situation momentarily. Isaac was right, the conversation had grown heavy and she sure didn't want to make it any heavier by throwing her own sob story in there.
But she liked him. She hadn't lied to him when she told him she liked him. She also couldn't deny the feelings that tried to break through when the subject of Taylor came up, but she hadn't told Isaac anything that wasn't true. Taylor wasn't interested, she decided to try to accept it and keep her feelings platonic, and they were just friends. Nothing more, nothing less. But Isaac--she could see herself with him. Wow, she couldn't believe she'd just thought that.
As he walked her to her door, her porch light lighting their way, she couldn't help but glance over at him and smile. He looked great in his black coat with his white scarf hanging from his neck. There was something so dashing about basic black and white. As she unlocked her door, she opened it up and turned around. "Did you, um, did you want to come in for a second? It's really cold out here."
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I could come in for a second."
She smiled as he followed her inside the door and shut it behind them. He didn't step any further into the living room and she was glad for it. Even inviting him in afterward made her nervous enough as it was. She tried very hard not to lead him on or send him any wrong signals. By doing so, she didn't even take her coat off. "So, um, thank you for tonight," she said to him. "It was fun. And the food at the restaurant was amazing. Dressing up for dinner isn't usually my thing, but tonight was nice."
Isaac smiled at her, that smile that had easily melted millions of hearts. "Good. I'm glad. I was afraid that, uh..."
"You make your own fun," she said. "So we got a little heavy for the first date. Big deal."
"First date?"
"Well...I wouldn't...I wouldn't mind doing this again sometime. I mean, if you wanted to..."
He took a step toward her. Oh god, please no. "I had fun, too," he said quietly. She recognized his tone. The tone from the phone. The tone that had--had made her feel things. The tone that couldn't keep him off of her mind after that phone conversation. "Tonight was a little different for me," he continued. "I felt...raw. Stripped. Exposed. It was scary, but I kinda liked it."
She felt her breathing begin to stagger and she was quickly at a loss for words. "It was, um, it was interesting."
Another step brought him even closer. She could smell his faint cologne, the cold from his coat. "You're interesting," he replied. "Everything about you interests me. I have this...incessant need to know more. I can't seem to get enough of you."
Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard. "Um, you don't--I mean, we haven't known each other for--I mean, it's only been a few days..."
"I couldn't get enough the moment I saw you," he said.
He leaned in. Oh, no. It was happening. This was it. No. This wasn't it. She couldn't allow it to happen. She couldn't--he stepped even closer and she could feel his breath on her face. His hands found her waist and she had never been more glad for her thick coat. He gently pulled her closer and then she said, "Isaac--"
He smiled. "Call me Ike."
"Ike, I don't--I don't kiss on the first date."
This stopped him in his tracks and relief washed over her. He blinked at her. "Seriously?"
"I know," she said. "It's stupid. I have--I have old-fashioned morals and stuff, I don't know. I don't ask men out, I don't kiss on the first date, I believe in old-time chivalry--"
"You believe in the man doing all the work."
"Well, I mean, it sounds harsh when you put it that way..."
"What if the man wants to kiss you?"
"Um, I would--well I would hope that the man would respect me."
"So you believe in old-time chivalry and old-fashioned customs, but you, as a woman, still want to call the shots," he observed, a hint of seduction in his voice. "See, now, that amuses me."
"I think you have it mixed up."
"I don't think I do."
"Can I tell you a secret?" She blurted in desperation.
Suddenly, his entire expression changed. "Uh, yeah. Yeah, of course."
She stepped away from him and sighed, glancing down at her hands as she finally peeled her gloves off. "Um, the--um--the truth is, this is the first date I've been on in two years."
She glanced up at him for a second, afraid to see his reaction. She knew it would only be a matter of seconds before that sent him running. She was prepared for it. He blinked at her for a moment before he narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Seriously?"
God, she was mortified. She should have never invited him in in the first place. She simply nodded in response.
"Um--mind if I ask why?"
She shrugged and then she took a breath as her eyes darted around. "I guess we're more similar than we thought. I, um, I was with a guy--for three years--back home. He drove a Mustang," she said with a slight laugh. "We were engaged. He was my entire world, he was everything to me. I'd never been so in love in my entire life. I, uh, I got off work early one day. Came home to surprise him, except that I came home to a surprise of my own. Walked in on him in our bed with my best friend. It was the most devastating day of my life. And, um, I haven't--I haven't been out since."
Isaac was silent. She had a hard time looking him in the eye. Not because she wasn't saying anything that wasn't true. But because it was obvious that he had expected something different out of her. There was no mistake they'd had the connection for it. But she knew for sure she'd disappointed him and now she was disappointed in herself for ruining their evening. She swallowed and glanced at her hands again. "I'm, um, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin our date, I just--I didn't want to lead you on, you know?"
"I'm not asking you for a commitment," he finally said. "I don't want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I'm the last one who wants to put you in that position. And--and I'm sorry that things worked out the way they did. I truly am. But, Winn, if I can be honest--two years is a long time. You can't shut yourself away forever."
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Don't apologize," he said gently. "I'm just having a hard time comprehending how you say you have all these...rules and beliefs and such when the truth is, you haven't even put yourself in a situation to utilize them."
"Ike--"
"So how do you know?"
"What?"
He took another step toward her, once again invading her space. "How do you know if that's how you really feel about things? If you don't put yourself in those situations?"
Her breathing quickened again. Her nerves tore her up and her palms started to feel clammy. "What are you trying to say?" She whispered.
"Let me kiss you." He pulled her close again and looked into her eyes. "I'll stop if you tell me to."
"Um--"
"But I don't think you will."
"Ike--"
"Please."
And then she allowed him to kiss her. It felt so odd. She hadn't kissed a man in--she didn't even want to think about it. He pressed his lips gently against hers as her hands gripped the arms of his coat. Slowly, he stopped and opened his eyes, catching her off guard for a moment. "Is that okay?" He asked.
She nodded. She couldn't help but nod. She couldn't help but be honest. And, honestly, she liked it. Innocent as the kiss was, she liked it. Her heart raced a mile a minute and she couldn't take her eyes off of him.
"Can I do it again?" He asked.
Once more, she nodded, and his lips met hers again. This time she was a little more responsive, inviting the chills that ran through her body. Carefully and slowly, he parted her lips and let his tongue find hers. In that instant, she melted into him. She slid her arms around his neck and, in response, he pulled her tighter against him. Something in his kiss seemed to send fire straight down to her toes and she kissed him back eagerly, finding herself only wanting more. She whimpered softly as her breathing grew heavier. Was he just this good of a kisser or had she just been this deprived?
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Very quickly, Isaac was losing all sense of meaning. There was a passion in her innocence that he couldn't seem to tear himself away from. Underneath him, Winn had begun unbuttoning her coat. Momentarily, he'd forgotten that they were both still bundled up from the cold. When her coat hit the floor and his hands felt the material of her dress and the shape of her body underneath it, he nearly lost his mind.
He was shocked when Winn's eyes snapped open and she stopped kissing him. "Stay," she breathed.
"What?"
"Stay," she repeated. "Don't leave."
Holy shit. He had to admit, the fact that they weren't in bed already was a record for him. But this time--well, dammit, this woman was so completely different he almost didn't even know who he was. He didn't know how to conduct himself. He almost didn't know himself anymore. It was apparent that he was finally growing a conscience because he replied by shaking his head, "Winn, I can't."
"Yes, you can. You don't have anywhere to be tomorrow, do you?"
"I don't, I just--" he sighed, already hating himself for what he was about to say next. "I want to. I do. It just wouldn't seem right. I don't want to take a chance on you waking up in the morning and regretting tonight's actions."
She shook her head. "I wouldn't--"
He took that moment to be a little crude and lighten the mood. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I know you wouldn't."
She smiled back at him, blushing.
He continued, "But I still don't want to risk it." He kissed her again, a gentle peck on the lips and told her, "I'll call you tomorrow. I promise. And we'll plan to go out again. Okay?"
She nodded. "Okay."
"Goodnight, Winn."
"Goodnight," she whispered back.
And with that, Isaac walked out her front door, accosted by the harsh cold once more.
He was pissed off. Angry with himself. This date had gone so completely wrong. How could something have been so wrong but so right all at the same time? It was insanity. He probably broke every single one of his own rules. Let her see sides of him he didn't like to expose. Dammit, he respected her. He didn't want to respect her. He wanted to grant her wish and take her to bed like she'd asked him to. He could have done it. It would have been easy. And normally, that was okay. Taking a woman to bed and taking advantage of her was practically what he did best. Since his relationship with Kate had ended, it was easy to lose respect for women. He almost didn't know how to have respect anymore. They all left you for something better anyway, right? Why not just enjoy it while you could and save yourself the rejection?
But Winn was--Winn was Winn. He'd only known her a few short days and it didn't take long for him to figure out that she could very well be the beginning of his ending. And he wasn't sure he liked the way that felt.
Winn's dinner date with Isaac was only four days away. Two days in and she still couldn't stop thinking about him. The previous night they hadn't talked on the phone like they had two nights ago. Instead they merely texted each other. Somehow he had the ability to have the exact same effect on her over a text message than he had when they were speaking. He was funny and he was charming. And damn if she wasn't beginning to find him a little sexy, as well.
Two days before her date, on Thursday morning, Taylor showed up at her office with Starbucks. He was there early. She got to work exceptionally early to start the day and amazingly, he was right there along with her. She let him in the dark office and locked the door behind him. "What's all this?" She smiled at him as they walked to her desk.
"I, uh, noticed you've been coming in early lately. Just thought you could use a little pick-me-up."
"Well thank you. That's very sweet."
"So...what's been going on?" He asked her.
Winn sighed. She hated to unload on him, but he'd opened himself to it. And so she spilled. All of her pent up frustrations came spilling out like a barricade had just broken inside her or something. She told him about the customer base and how nobody respected their loans, she told him her frustrations with her staff and about all the bad habits she was having to break. She told him about how the budget was being way overspent,
about her exhaustion and the lack of respect within the office as a whole. She lamented over putting in so much work on her own time and feeling like it was for nothing. She told him how she'd never dealt with a more disrespectful customer base and a staff that was so indifferent. She felt bad for letting him hear it all, but it felt so good to just get it all out.
Taylor, however, had listened intently. He made eye contact, he nodded along, he never spoke or interrupted her. When she'd finally finished, he looked at her in silence. He sipped his coffee and then he said, "I think you need a break."
She gaped across the desk at him. "Speak for yourself," she retorted.
"I give myself breaks," he replied defensively.
"Oh yeah? When?"
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "That's not--we're not talking about me right now. I just--you can't do it all alone, you know? Even I have my brothers..."
"I just don't know what to do anymore. I think I've bit off more than I can chew."
He shook his head. "I don't think that's true."
"How would you know?"
He let out a nervous laugh. "Well. Okay. You're right, I know nothing about anything in here. But you seem to have a good head on your shoulders and I have faith that you can get it done. And so do your supervisors, otherwise you wouldn't be here right now. Right?"
Winn looked across the desk at Taylor. Into his sparkling blue eyes. Those gorgeous...sparkling blue eyes. How come she'd never noticed how blue they were before? Her heart pounded, touched by his kind words. And then she said in a half whisper, "You don't even know me."
"I know enough. I know you're brave for relocating to another state alone and taking on the undertaking that's apparently this office. I know you really possess more confidence in your abilities than you're exuding right now. I know you're strong and you're set in your ways. I know you're stubborn and that works for you. I know you have drive and ambition and that's why you are where you are today. You're a successful person, Winn. You just gotta remember that."
"You're a great guy," she found herself saying all of a sudden. "Why are you single?"
Now it was Taylor's turn to gape back at her across her desk. For a second she feared she'd gotten a little too nosy, but she didn't care anymore. If she wanted to know something, she was going to ask it. And the question was legitimate.
He cleared his throat as the blood rose to his cheeks. "Um--uh...how do you know I'm not?" He challenged weakly.
She narrowed her eyes and smirked skeptically. "Because no woman would tolerate the schedule you set for yourself and the fact that you just randomly show up at THIS woman's office with coffee several mornings per week."
"What? I'm allowed to have friends." Then he smiled shyly and glanced down at his coffee cup. "I, uh, dating isn't really high on my priority list, I guess. My work is my mistress, I guess." Then he looked up at her. "W-what about you?"
"Oh, I had quite the social life back home," she said, matter-of-factly. "Dating wasn't even an issue. I had all the time in the world, the office I worked in ran excellent numbers. But now...well, being in the position I'm in, I have no time for distractions."
A look of alarm crossed his face. "Oh. Um, I'm sorry. Am I being a distraction? I could go, I didn't realize--"
She laughed warmly and reached over and placed a friendly hand on his forearm--a move that she instantly regretted, but kept her composure anyway. "No. You're not a distraction, I promise. Well--not the bad kind anyway. Sometimes you're a sight for sore eyes." Holy shit. Where had that come from?
He smiled and blushed once again, glancing down at his coffee cup and back up at her. "Uh, thanks. Um, I don't really ever hear anything like that. Means a lot."
While she was feeling daring, and apparently rushed as time was quickly ticking away closer to the time her staff usually started showing up, she blurted gently, "I want to be your friend, Taylor."
He looked at her blankly. "I thought you already were?"
Now it was her turn to blush. The verbal diarrhea just kept on coming. "I'm going out with your brother Saturday night and I want you to be okay with it." Why? Why did she say that? WHY did she feel like she needed his approval? She was a grown woman, she could do what she wanted. But she looked across the desk at him in nervous expectation anyway.
"You're--Ike? You're going out with Ike?" His tone sounded more surprised than anything.
Winn nodded. "Yeah. We're going to dinner."
"Why?" He blurted suddenly in a condescending voice.
She was slightly taken aback by his tone. "Because he asked me," she retorted.
He looked back at her in silence. Finally, he said, "Look. I wanna be your friend, too. And as your friend, JUST as your friend, I feel like I gotta tell you that my brother--"
"Good morning!" Tina's voice rang out as she walked into the office. She stopped short as she turned on the overhead light, her eyes wide at the pair sitting at Winn's desk. "Oh. Am I interrupting?"
Winn and Taylor glanced at each other and then he smiled at Tina. "No. Not at all. I was just leaving."
As he stood, Tina's eyes darted from Winn to Taylor. "Oh. Well, okay then. I'm just gonna go put my lunch in the fridge and I'll be back to get started on calls..." She eyed the pair once more as she walked past them to the back room.
"So, uh, I'll catch you later," Taylor said as he turned to walk away.
Suddenly, Winn jumped from her seat. "Taylor!"
He stopped in his tracks and turned around. "Yeah?"
Winn felt herself blushing. "You, um, you never gave me your number. It's been almost a month since we met and, uh, I can't even contact you."
He furrowed his brow. "What? Yes, I did. And you never gave me anything besides your office number anyway."
She shook her head. "No. You didn't. Why do you think I never call or text you? I've asked you for it twice already and you have yet to give it to me. I mean, if you don't want me to have it, that's okay."
"You--you want my number? Seriously?"
"Well, yeah. You're my friend, right? Friends should be able to contact each other, shouldn't they? I mean, if Starbucks and Gypsy ever ran out of coffee all in the same day, shouldn't we be able to contact each other in such a state of emergency?"
For the first time that morning, Taylor laughed. And his laughter made her heart palpitate. She hated it but she couldn't help herself. Walking back toward her desk, he plucked a business card and a pen off the surface, scrawled his number out, and handed it back to her. "There. If there's ever a coffee shortage, give me a ring."
"Sure thing," she grinned.
"Have a good day," he said. "You're a rock star." And then he was out the door.
Winn watched him cross the street and then she sank back into her chair. She was so damn confused.
**********************
Saturday approached faster than she was ready for. Her brain had gone a mile a minute since Taylor last showed up in her office. She had spoken to Isaac Friday night to finalize their dinner plans and as soon as they'd hung up, Taylor entered her mind. She'd asked for his number but hadn't used it. She hadn't seen him since Thursday morning, either. She couldn't get his blue eyes and his smile off of her mind. But then when she heard Isaac's voice, chills instantly took over her body. Sweet lord, what was wrong with her?
Winn sat out on her porch on Saturday morning, wrapped in a blanket, enjoying her morning coffee as she gazed out at the lake beyond the trees. Every time she sat out there, without fail, she always thought of Taylor and his camera. The landscape out there just couldn't go un-photographed. She wondered again if he'd ever been out there. Surely he had.
But still. She gazed out at the lake in front of her as the red and golden trees reflected off the water. Or what was left of them, anyway. She hated that she'd moved right at peak season and missed the real flourish of fall colors. She couldn't keep her mind off of Taylor and his hobby.
It was as if her hands took on a mind of their own. It took her no time at all to pick up her phone, snap a picture, and sent it to Taylor. He had to see what she saw. She couldn't resist sharing it with him.
As she sipped her coffee, her text alert went off almost immediately. "Winn?" Taylor texted back. "Where are you?"
In spite of herself, she smiled into her phone. "Home."
"Are you in Texas?"
She had to giggle and shake her head. "No. Tulsa."
"That's where you live?"
"Yes."
"It's beautiful."
Her grin widened before her text alert went off again. "Can I call you? I'm driving," he texted.
Why did this excite her so much? Why wasn't she stressing over that night's date with Isaac right now? Why did this feel so wrong but so right all at the same time? Casually, she texted, "Sure."
Within seconds, her phone was ringing. She watched his name show up on her screen for a moment before she took a deep breath and answered. "Hey."
"Hey," he said cheerfully. "No work this Saturday, huh? Good thing I didn't stop for coffee."
She smiled. "Our seasonal Saturdays start next week. We're taking this last one off before we don't see the light of day for the next month. Where are you headed?"
"Where else?"
"Studio?"
"Yep. So, uh, that picture was awesome that you sent me."
"Thanks. I'm sitting on my porch right now. That's my view."
"Aren't you cold?"
"I'm wrapped in a blanket and I have hot coffee. I'm okay. I like the cold weather. I can't wait until it snows."
Taylor chuckled. "That's kinda awesome. Most women hate the cold."
"What about you? You like cold weather, too?" Winn instantly squeezed her eyes shut, feeling like an idiot. The weather? She's really focusing on the weather right now?
"It's, uh, it's not bad. It can be good for photography sometimes."
Her eyes lit up. Oh yeah! "Yeah, about that...so, listen, I'm no photographer. But I know you are. And one of these days, sometime soon before the leaves are totally gone, I'd like to capture some of this view on film. You know, maybe make a scrap book of my first big move or something nerdy like that."
"That's not nerdy. I think it sounds kinda cool."
"You think?"
"Yeah. Of course I do." He paused for a second. "You know, um, I'd love to help you out with that. I mean, I have the camera and all. If--if you want me to, that is."
Winn smiled. "I'd love that. It's, uh, kinda why I sorta started this conversation. I just--I sit out here every day and I think about you and your camera and it's a shame you haven't captured it, you know?"
"Um--you--you think about me and my camera while you're sitting outside?"
"Well, yeah. You're a photographer, right?"
Taylor cleared his throat over the phone. "Yeah. Yeah, I am. I am. Um, yeah, just say when and we'll, uh, we'll get together and take some pictures. Of--the lake. You know. Stuff like that."
"Are you free tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" He squeaked out. Then he cleared his throat.
"Yeah," she said. Then she sighed. "They've kinda been harping on me at work about getting some fresh air when I'm not in the office. And I figure...I mean if it's weird for you, I totally get it."
Taylor chuckled lightly. "You're really reading too much into this. Yes. Tomorrow I will come to your house and take pictures of your trees."
"And the lake."
"The lake, too."
"Maybe we can do lunch or something," she suggested.
"We'll play it by ear. Just let me know what time you want me there."
Suddenly, she wanted to scream out, 'Right now!' The urge was overwhelming and it confused her to no end. She decided that was her cue to end their conversation, letting him know that she would text him her address. She ended the call and looked back out onto the water. Was this a good idea?
*********************
As Winn stared in the mirror in hopeless despair at her hair, her text alert went off. As time for her dinner date with Isaac drew nearer and nearer, she grew more and more nervous. Long ago was her conversation with Taylor, though still in the back of her mind, and now she was focused on her date. The thought of Isaac's smile melted her and she was quickly excited and petrified all at the same time. "Text me your address," Isaac texted.
She looked at her phone, confused. She'd been under the impression that she was meeting him at the restaurant. "I thought we agreed on meeting?"
"Change in plans. I'm picking you up. Wear a dress."
She now widened her eyes and blinked at her phone. This was not what they had planned. They had planned a casual dinner in a bar and grill, jeans-appropriate. Now he's picking her up and taking her...somewhere nice? How was she supposed to feel about that?
Did she even own a dress?
Frantically, she texted him her address and made a mad dash straight to her closet. She wore plenty of skirts and jeans, but actual dresses? The kind you wear to dinner? Well, she didn't have much use for those lately.
At the back of the closet hung the only real "date" dress she had. She didn't really want to wear it, considering it was a couple years old and she'd last worn it out with her ex. On the other hand, she did LIKE the dress and nobody knew of its history, so...she determined that based on their last phone conversation, this one might be appropriate.
The dress was burgundy, the sheer sleeves cuffing just below her elbows. The loose, sheer sleeves and chest faded into the solid material and hung from her body just slightly before it hugged the thighs above her knees. The top was boat-necked with no cleavage to be shown. It was simple and it was comfortable and she questioned its appropriateness for the cold weather but she decided it was nothing a good coat couldn't fix. She'd been preferring boots and ankle boots lately, but instead she opted for nude pumps.
She looked in the mirror once more and frowned at herself. She was so pale against the dark-colored dress. Her own legs nearly blinded her. And she wasn't so sure about the shoes now...
Winn widened her eyes at herself when her doorbell rang. Was Isaac seriously already there? He had JUST texted her! Or maybe more time had passed than she thought. Her hair wasn't even finished!
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Normally driving the two-door Mustang GT excited Isaac. This was the car he drove when he felt like he needed to "set the mood" per se. The silver sleekness of its exterior made it the perfect date car. The women swooned over this car.
The women. Isaac gripped the wheel tighter as the knot at the pit of his stomach continued to nag him. Somehow, the thought of it being his usual "date" car suddenly made him feel cheap. Again, was it his age? Were his views on dating slowly changing? Or was it the girl? Was it Winn? Was it the fact that it wasn't the thrill of actually TRYING to impress her, but the fear that she wouldn't be impressed? Isaac had never had that fear before. His dates were always impressed.
When he showed up at her house, he was a little surprised. He wasn't sure what he expected. An apartment, maybe? A housing development? Surely not the tiny lake house he had driven through the woods to get to. The area seemed quiet and quaint. Too quiet for his taste. Was this what she liked?
However when Winn opened the door and he took one look at her, he suddenly couldn't give two shits about his surroundings. Apparently Work Winn and Date Winn were two completely different people and it was easy to see who his favorite was going to be. Suddenly the half dozen pink roses he produced from behind his back seemed terribly hokey and he wished he'd skipped on them, but the damage was done. To his relief, she grinned and invited him inside as she took them from his hand. "Isaac! You didn't have to do that. They're beautiful, thank you!"
He smiled as he stepped into her small living room as she walked through a wide doorway and into her kitchen. "I'm just gonna put these in some water and then I have to finish my hair. I'm sorry I'm not ready, you came earlier than I thought. I'll just be a couple minutes. Can I get you anything while you wait?"
'Coming early is not my specialty,' he thought to himself. Then he shook the perversion from his brain and answered out loud. "No, thanks. I'm fine. Take your time." He couldn't resist glancing down at her ass in that dress as she walked through the kitchen and into what he assumed as her bedroom. Man, how he longed to follow her in there. He was already having naughty thoughts and he'd only been there five minutes. This was going to be a long night.
Glancing around the room, he spied the sliding glass door in the living room that led out to the deck. Night was falling quickly and he could barely see the lake through the glass for his reflection now staring back at him. Checking the kitchen area for activity, he quickly checked out his reflection in the door. He straightened his blazer and made sure his necktie was straight. Was the tie too much? No. The tie was never too much.
He heard the clicking of her heels and he cleared his throat as she entered the room. Her hair didn't look much different as her red hair continued to flow down her back, but he figured whatever worked for her. He motioned out the door. "Uh, nice view you have here."
Winn smiled as she stood beside him and looked out the door with him. "Yeah. It is. I love it here. Tay's actually coming tomorrow to take some pictures of it."
Red flags immediately went off in his head and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. "He's coming here?"
"Yeah," she smiled innocently. "I wanted to capture it before all the leaves went away and I know he's a photographer, so...yanno, why not?"
He stared at her innocence and suddenly tried to stave off his apprehensiveness. So he responded with, "Yeah. Yeah, he is. And he's great at it, so, yeah. That's understandable, I'd have asked him, too."
She smiled at him again as she crossed the room and opened up a closet door. Between that smile and that ass, Isaac wasn't so sure how he'd survive the night. And what was more, he was the one going out with her tonight. Not Taylor. That had to count for something, right?
As she wrapped a long pea coat around her body, her smile continued to radiate across the room, her red hair glowing under the lamp light she was standing next to. "You ready?"
Pushing the thoughts out of his mind and choosing to focus entirely on her, he smiled back at her. "Absolutely. And--you look amazing by the way, I should have told you that earlier."
Winn blushed as she crossed the room toward him. "Well, thank you. You're looking rather dashing, yourself."
And with that, Isaac was putty in her hands. He wasn't sure he'd ever quite let his guard down and become putty before. This was new. He didn't like it.
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Upon sight of Isaac, Winn nearly melted into the floor. He looked amazing in his tie, the scent of whatever he was wearing was intoxicating and the roses were charming.
She took his arm as they stepped off her porch and walked down her small, narrow walkway. She made the same mental note that she did every day that having the concrete replaced was going to be a summer project for sure.
She smiled to herself at his car, but chose not to say anything. Her ex drove a Mustang. She hated being reminded of him lately, but he had been her first love and, well--she didn't dare tell Isaac that he was her first date since her ex--which had since been almost two years. She hadn't lied when she told Taylor that dating hadn't been an issue back home. It was the truth. Because she didn't date.
Being a perfect gentleman, Isaac opened the car door for her. Within minutes, they were driving down the road while he continuously fiddled with the heat in the car. The car. He talked a lot about the car. She wasn't really interested in the car. So she simply smiled and nodded as he went on. Hopefully he was as nervous as she was and that the nerves were doing the talking. Because if he was for real, it would be a long night.
They pulled up at Lucky's, a restaurant that Winn assumed was supposed to be upscale. That would explain her having to wear a dress. And Isaac's tie. And the way he opened the car door for her just to help her onto the pavement. Such a gentleman, he was. He would never know how much she truly appreciated that.
Her arm hooked in his once more, they fought the bitter cold as they made their way to the door. Upon entry, as Isaac unwrapped the scarf from around his neck, and began to remove his long coat, the host beamed at the two of them. "Hello, welcome to Lucky's. How can we make your dining experience our pleasure?"
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"Reservation. Under Hanson," Isaac replied.
The host smiled. "Yes. Of course, Mr. Hanson. We have your usual ready and waiting."
Completely mortified and completely busted, he glanced over at Winn, whose eyes had widened. Thinking of a way to save face in a hurry, he casually said to the host, "Um, no, I'm not THAT Hanson. You're thinking of Zac. I'm Isaac."
The host looked between the two of them. "Yes. Of course. My apologies. Right this way, please."
As Isaac allowed Winn to talk ahead of him, he managed to cut the host a look to kill before he led them to their table. The truth was, Isaac DID have a usual table there and they knew him on a first-name basis. Most of the staff was really good about keeping out of his business and conducting their own business as usual. This was beginning to sound more and more like the night all this would unravel.
As if feeling the need to save more of his face, he muttered to Winn on the way to the table, "I can't believe they confused me with Zac. We look nothing alike."
She whispered over her shoulder. "Why would they even think you're him in the first place?"
The next lie rolled right off his tongue as easily as the first one had. "This is his and Kate's usual date night spot. We had a change in plans today because he told me about this place and I thought tonight would be a good night to check it out."
He waited for her response as the host seated them, recited the specials, and then disappeared. Winn looked at him across the table for a moment. "If they come here so often, I'm not understanding how they could get you guys confused if...Isaac!"
His eyes widened. Shit. This was it. He was completely busted. All his years of dating, down the drain. All crashing down because of this one woman. Keeping composure was becoming harder than ever.
Then, to his surprise, the next words that flew out of her mouth opened the door wide open for him. "Did your brother sacrifice his date night just so you could have one?"
He was stunned for a moment. "What?"
Then she smiled. "Did he give you his reservation?"
Jesus, she was just feeding it to him. Relief washed over his body and he smiled back at her. "Yes. Yes, he did. I thought that was really nice of him. I, uh, didn't wanna say anything. Didn't want you to think I was some kinda chump who couldn't get a reservation or anything."
Winn smiled at him warmly, every smile doing more and more damage to the emotional wall he had worked so hard to build around himself over the years. "I wouldn't have thought that of you," she said. "I would have been fine with not being able to get a reservation. I'm a simple person. Doesn't take much to make me happy."
He smiled nervously as he opened the menu. "Good to know."
With that conversation out of the way, and comfort slowly making its way back in, Isaac was able to order drinks for them. He ordered for her, the restaurant's best chardonnay, in an effort to remind her that he remembered what she liked. He was met with another one of those amazing smiles and a warm, "Thank you." He had to be careful. This woman was dangerous.
When their drinks came, and it was time to order, Isaac was ready to do his usual and order for her. He always ordered for his date. It was always the same plate: Trembach Riesling Chicken with lemongrass broth, jasmine rice, green beans, and enoki mushrooms. The ladies
either always loved it or pretended that they did and he was fairly certain that the server was already writing it down before he even had a chance to speak. However, before Isaac could open his mouth, Winn had beat him to the punch and had miraculously ordered that very same plate. On her own. He didn't know how many more near-misses in the heart attack department he would be able to take that night.
As she sipped her wine, she asked him a question. He wasn't sure if he was stunned by the question itself or the fact that she even had one. Normally, on these dates, he did all the talking. "Pardon me for being nosy," she said. "But why are you single?"
His eyes widened at her question. It was an interesting choice of question. The truth was, he didn't really know how to answer it. He couldn't help but begin to grow increasingly frustrated with himself, however. This wasn't how it worked. This was never how it worked. Isaac scheduled the dates. Isaac wined and dined the women. Isaac controlled the conversations and ultimately how the night would progress. Dating was Isaac's game. So why the hell didn't he feel like he was ON it?
As if reading his mind, yet another annoying intrusion, she narrowed her eyes deviously and smiled. "Be honest."
He cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter, smoothing out his jacket. "Well. I guess I just haven't found the right woman yet."
"Cliché answer," she replied sipping her wine and eyeing him. "Try again."
"What do you want from me?" He replied, narrowing his eyes back at her.
"Blood."
He was stunned and he didn't know how to follow up on that. Suddenly, she burst into laughter, genuine laughter, and then said to him, "I'm only joking! Wow, you should have seen your face. That was priceless."
Fun. Wow. She was having fun. She was--creating fun. He wasn't having to flirt or tell bad jokes to make her feel obligated to giggle. She did it herself. Without being coaxed. Had it really been that long since he'd been out with someone this real? Actually, yes. Yes, it had. And the memory pained him and he quickly shoved it out of his mind.
As she calmed her laughter, her face grew serious again. "Seriously, though. Why?"
He didn't want to. He didn't want to tell her. He didn't want to bring it up, he had wanted to long since forget it. He didn't know her yet, he wasn't sure he could trust her. After all, she was a fan. Or at least she started out as such. Why was he even thinking about it? He was a master of conversation. He could have said anything. He was good at that.
But something in her eyes caused him to--well, dammit, lying just didn't feel right with her. Didn't mean he wasn't going to--well, make sure things to his way, per se. But she just--she made him want to tell the truth. And at the moment, it was the only thing he could think of to say. So he went for it in spite of himself. "It's a choice," he said. "Maybe it's selfish, and not necessarily the right one considering the situation, but it's a choice. I date sometimes, but nothing too serious."
"So...you weren't kidding then. You really haven't found the right one."
"I did once," he blurted without even thinking about it. Why was he feeling so comfortable all of a sudden? "Years ago. She, uh, she was the one. And then she wasn't. And then I chose to stay single and now here we are."
"Amazing how you were able to speak right then and say absolutely nothing."
He sipped his bourbon as the ice clinked against the glass. "What else do you want me to say? You wanted the truth, you got it."
"I want to know what causes a man like you to not be snatched up after all these years."
"She marries your brother," he said bluntly as he drained his glass.
Winn's eyes widened for a moment before her face fell. "Oh. I'm, um, I'm sorry, I--I didn't mean to pry, I--I wasn't--"
"You weren't expecting it to be quite that heavy."
"I'm sorry."
He sighed and swirled the ice around in his glass. "Yeah, well, so am I. But on a positive note, your past makes you who you are and if it weren't for my past, I wouldn't be sitting here with you, staring into those gorgeous green eyes and about to sink my teeth into the best New York strip on this side of Oklahoma."
She leaned across the table. "I thought you've never been here?"
"I've been told the steak is excellent."
"You need to work on that."
"On what?"
"Your lying."
He straightened up in his seat and he blinked at her. "Okay. Fine. I've been here a couple of times. Big deal."
"Why did you lie?"
"Why don't we talk about you?"
"We've been over this, there's nothing to talk about."
"Why are YOU single?"
"I told you why I was single."
"You can do better than that."
Her eyes lit up over his shoulder. "Oh, look. Food's here."
For the next few minutes, they ate in silence. Surprisingly, it wasn't an awkward silence. The first few minutes of dinner always seemed awkward, but not this time. Isaac spent his first few bites lamenting to himself in his head. He hated how he was starting to come across. He knew he was only frustrated with himself and he didn't want her to feel like he was upset at her. To make himself feel better, he decided to do something he never did. He apologized. Sincerely. "Look," he said. "Conversation got a little heavy. You caught me off guard, it's a subject I don't normally talk about. And haven't in quite some time. I apologize if I've come across a little...harsh. First dates aren't supposed to...you know, they're supposed to be fun."
"I'm having fun," she offered, as she wiped her mouth with her napkin and placed it back in her lap.
"You are?"
"Yeah. Weren't you the one who said you liked learning what made people tick? Well, turns out, so do I. I mean, normally I would call it being nosy. But your terminology is much more eloquent. Doesn't make me feel so bad."
He gaped at her as she casually went back to her dinner. She just cut him down to size. Just like that. Without the slightest of effort. Never had he wanted to jump across a table and ravish a woman on the spot this badly in his entire life. And he'd been out with some sexy women in his time, but this--there was something about how her brain worked that turned him on much more than her body did.
He looked across the table at her and his heart suddenly sank. The feeling of competition was slowly rising in him all of a sudden as he recalled their conversation when he picked her up. "So...how do you know Taylor?" He asked her, trying to carefully choose his words.
"We're friends," she replied matter-of-factly.
"Mhmm," he observed. "Just--just friends?"
"Yep," she nodded. Then she narrowed her eyes at him. "Why? You're not one of those people who thinks people of the opposite sex can't be friends, are you? Because if you are you're wrong."
He shook his head. "No. No, I was just curious, that's all. How, uh, how long have you been friends?"
"He was one of the first people I met when I moved here. Well, besides my employees. It was so weird, he just--I dunno, showed up in my office one day. It was so random."
"Really..." he replied, mindlessly swirling what was left of his ice around in his bourbon glass, cursing the server for not bringing him another one yet. "And you're close? Friends, I mean. Close friends."
She shrugged one shoulder as she reached for her wine. "I don't know if you'd consider us 'close' friends. I mean, it's not like we talk every day or anything. We only just recently exchanged numbers the other day and we've known each other for a month now, at least."
"I see."
Suddenly, she straightened up in her seat and looked at him. "Wait, is that a problem? Does that bother you? I mean, I promise, we've never even been out together. Not even for coffee. We're just casual friends, that's it."
"No," he said in a desperate attempt to control the dynamic of the conversation. "No, it doesn't bother me at all. I was just curious, is all. I just I just wondered...you know, I mean, you're here..."
"I like you," she said simply.
"I like you, too," he said quietly.
"Good, then," she said, her demeanor cheery again. "Then that issue is resolved."
"Wasn't even an issue."
"Even better."
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There was an edge to the way Winn and Isaac interacted with each other. A sort of tension. Winn didn't know if he felt it or not, but she couldn't mistake it. She didn't know if it was nerves. She didn't know if his accusatory term was a defense mechanism. She didn't know if his story about a past love marrying his brother, obviously Kate and Zac, was even true but he gave her no reason to doubt him. Except for the fact that he'd lied about never having been to Lucky's before. She wasn't sure why he felt the need to lie about that. But the Zac and Kate thing--that was definitely the truth and it made her think of her own situation momentarily. Isaac was right, the conversation had grown heavy and she sure didn't want to make it any heavier by throwing her own sob story in there.
But she liked him. She hadn't lied to him when she told him she liked him. She also couldn't deny the feelings that tried to break through when the subject of Taylor came up, but she hadn't told Isaac anything that wasn't true. Taylor wasn't interested, she decided to try to accept it and keep her feelings platonic, and they were just friends. Nothing more, nothing less. But Isaac--she could see herself with him. Wow, she couldn't believe she'd just thought that.
As he walked her to her door, her porch light lighting their way, she couldn't help but glance over at him and smile. He looked great in his black coat with his white scarf hanging from his neck. There was something so dashing about basic black and white. As she unlocked her door, she opened it up and turned around. "Did you, um, did you want to come in for a second? It's really cold out here."
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I could come in for a second."
She smiled as he followed her inside the door and shut it behind them. He didn't step any further into the living room and she was glad for it. Even inviting him in afterward made her nervous enough as it was. She tried very hard not to lead him on or send him any wrong signals. By doing so, she didn't even take her coat off. "So, um, thank you for tonight," she said to him. "It was fun. And the food at the restaurant was amazing. Dressing up for dinner isn't usually my thing, but tonight was nice."
Isaac smiled at her, that smile that had easily melted millions of hearts. "Good. I'm glad. I was afraid that, uh..."
"You make your own fun," she said. "So we got a little heavy for the first date. Big deal."
"First date?"
"Well...I wouldn't...I wouldn't mind doing this again sometime. I mean, if you wanted to..."
He took a step toward her. Oh god, please no. "I had fun, too," he said quietly. She recognized his tone. The tone from the phone. The tone that had--had made her feel things. The tone that couldn't keep him off of her mind after that phone conversation. "Tonight was a little different for me," he continued. "I felt...raw. Stripped. Exposed. It was scary, but I kinda liked it."
She felt her breathing begin to stagger and she was quickly at a loss for words. "It was, um, it was interesting."
Another step brought him even closer. She could smell his faint cologne, the cold from his coat. "You're interesting," he replied. "Everything about you interests me. I have this...incessant need to know more. I can't seem to get enough of you."
Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard. "Um, you don't--I mean, we haven't known each other for--I mean, it's only been a few days..."
"I couldn't get enough the moment I saw you," he said.
He leaned in. Oh, no. It was happening. This was it. No. This wasn't it. She couldn't allow it to happen. She couldn't--he stepped even closer and she could feel his breath on her face. His hands found her waist and she had never been more glad for her thick coat. He gently pulled her closer and then she said, "Isaac--"
He smiled. "Call me Ike."
"Ike, I don't--I don't kiss on the first date."
This stopped him in his tracks and relief washed over her. He blinked at her. "Seriously?"
"I know," she said. "It's stupid. I have--I have old-fashioned morals and stuff, I don't know. I don't ask men out, I don't kiss on the first date, I believe in old-time chivalry--"
"You believe in the man doing all the work."
"Well, I mean, it sounds harsh when you put it that way..."
"What if the man wants to kiss you?"
"Um, I would--well I would hope that the man would respect me."
"So you believe in old-time chivalry and old-fashioned customs, but you, as a woman, still want to call the shots," he observed, a hint of seduction in his voice. "See, now, that amuses me."
"I think you have it mixed up."
"I don't think I do."
"Can I tell you a secret?" She blurted in desperation.
Suddenly, his entire expression changed. "Uh, yeah. Yeah, of course."
She stepped away from him and sighed, glancing down at her hands as she finally peeled her gloves off. "Um, the--um--the truth is, this is the first date I've been on in two years."
She glanced up at him for a second, afraid to see his reaction. She knew it would only be a matter of seconds before that sent him running. She was prepared for it. He blinked at her for a moment before he narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Seriously?"
God, she was mortified. She should have never invited him in in the first place. She simply nodded in response.
"Um--mind if I ask why?"
She shrugged and then she took a breath as her eyes darted around. "I guess we're more similar than we thought. I, um, I was with a guy--for three years--back home. He drove a Mustang," she said with a slight laugh. "We were engaged. He was my entire world, he was everything to me. I'd never been so in love in my entire life. I, uh, I got off work early one day. Came home to surprise him, except that I came home to a surprise of my own. Walked in on him in our bed with my best friend. It was the most devastating day of my life. And, um, I haven't--I haven't been out since."
Isaac was silent. She had a hard time looking him in the eye. Not because she wasn't saying anything that wasn't true. But because it was obvious that he had expected something different out of her. There was no mistake they'd had the connection for it. But she knew for sure she'd disappointed him and now she was disappointed in herself for ruining their evening. She swallowed and glanced at her hands again. "I'm, um, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin our date, I just--I didn't want to lead you on, you know?"
"I'm not asking you for a commitment," he finally said. "I don't want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I'm the last one who wants to put you in that position. And--and I'm sorry that things worked out the way they did. I truly am. But, Winn, if I can be honest--two years is a long time. You can't shut yourself away forever."
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Don't apologize," he said gently. "I'm just having a hard time comprehending how you say you have all these...rules and beliefs and such when the truth is, you haven't even put yourself in a situation to utilize them."
"Ike--"
"So how do you know?"
"What?"
He took another step toward her, once again invading her space. "How do you know if that's how you really feel about things? If you don't put yourself in those situations?"
Her breathing quickened again. Her nerves tore her up and her palms started to feel clammy. "What are you trying to say?" She whispered.
"Let me kiss you." He pulled her close again and looked into her eyes. "I'll stop if you tell me to."
"Um--"
"But I don't think you will."
"Ike--"
"Please."
And then she allowed him to kiss her. It felt so odd. She hadn't kissed a man in--she didn't even want to think about it. He pressed his lips gently against hers as her hands gripped the arms of his coat. Slowly, he stopped and opened his eyes, catching her off guard for a moment. "Is that okay?" He asked.
She nodded. She couldn't help but nod. She couldn't help but be honest. And, honestly, she liked it. Innocent as the kiss was, she liked it. Her heart raced a mile a minute and she couldn't take her eyes off of him.
"Can I do it again?" He asked.
Once more, she nodded, and his lips met hers again. This time she was a little more responsive, inviting the chills that ran through her body. Carefully and slowly, he parted her lips and let his tongue find hers. In that instant, she melted into him. She slid her arms around his neck and, in response, he pulled her tighter against him. Something in his kiss seemed to send fire straight down to her toes and she kissed him back eagerly, finding herself only wanting more. She whimpered softly as her breathing grew heavier. Was he just this good of a kisser or had she just been this deprived?
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Very quickly, Isaac was losing all sense of meaning. There was a passion in her innocence that he couldn't seem to tear himself away from. Underneath him, Winn had begun unbuttoning her coat. Momentarily, he'd forgotten that they were both still bundled up from the cold. When her coat hit the floor and his hands felt the material of her dress and the shape of her body underneath it, he nearly lost his mind.
He was shocked when Winn's eyes snapped open and she stopped kissing him. "Stay," she breathed.
"What?"
"Stay," she repeated. "Don't leave."
Holy shit. He had to admit, the fact that they weren't in bed already was a record for him. But this time--well, dammit, this woman was so completely different he almost didn't even know who he was. He didn't know how to conduct himself. He almost didn't know himself anymore. It was apparent that he was finally growing a conscience because he replied by shaking his head, "Winn, I can't."
"Yes, you can. You don't have anywhere to be tomorrow, do you?"
"I don't, I just--" he sighed, already hating himself for what he was about to say next. "I want to. I do. It just wouldn't seem right. I don't want to take a chance on you waking up in the morning and regretting tonight's actions."
She shook her head. "I wouldn't--"
He took that moment to be a little crude and lighten the mood. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I know you wouldn't."
She smiled back at him, blushing.
He continued, "But I still don't want to risk it." He kissed her again, a gentle peck on the lips and told her, "I'll call you tomorrow. I promise. And we'll plan to go out again. Okay?"
She nodded. "Okay."
"Goodnight, Winn."
"Goodnight," she whispered back.
And with that, Isaac walked out her front door, accosted by the harsh cold once more.
He was pissed off. Angry with himself. This date had gone so completely wrong. How could something have been so wrong but so right all at the same time? It was insanity. He probably broke every single one of his own rules. Let her see sides of him he didn't like to expose. Dammit, he respected her. He didn't want to respect her. He wanted to grant her wish and take her to bed like she'd asked him to. He could have done it. It would have been easy. And normally, that was okay. Taking a woman to bed and taking advantage of her was practically what he did best. Since his relationship with Kate had ended, it was easy to lose respect for women. He almost didn't know how to have respect anymore. They all left you for something better anyway, right? Why not just enjoy it while you could and save yourself the rejection?
But Winn was--Winn was Winn. He'd only known her a few short days and it didn't take long for him to figure out that she could very well be the beginning of his ending. And he wasn't sure he liked the way that felt.