“Didn’t think you’d show,” Kai says, and as he nears me he leans forward and kisses my cheek.

Lips. Skin. I inhale, smile less steadily. “I wouldn’t have canceled.”

“This isn’t your kind of place.”

“You warned me.” And he did. In fact, those were his exact words. It’s a dive bar. Someplace you don’t go at home, princess.

Princess. I smile. I’m so not a princess. At least not anymore.

“A beer?” I ask. “Or do you want something else?” I had, after all, promised I’d be buying.

“A beer.” He heads to the bar, though. Good man. I’m definitely not as comfortable bellying up to the bar as a man.

Or as he is.

I need to date more. I think of the few dates I’ve had, and no one interested me, no one has made me want anything. Not to talk, or touch, or get undressed.

And it’s the undressing part I seem to miss most about now.

God, there’re things I miss about marriage, about being with someone who gets you, loves you, knows what you want, you need.

For years Daniel got that. For years Daniel loved me.

But now is not the time or place. Definitely not the time or place, as Kai’s leaning on the bar counter and watching me, that half-smile at his eyes, his expression wiser than any thirty-year-old man’s has a right to be. “Beer, or something else, girl?”

Girl.

I know he probably calls every woman “girl,” but I like it. Makes me feel good inside. Not just young, but safe. Protected. Although the way he’s looking at me right now, I’m not sure he’d protect me. At least not from himself.

He wants me.

Good.

The feeling’s mutual. But would I really do anything? Could I really do anything? I’m not even on birth control anymore.

It’s then that I realize he’s still waiting for me to answer, and I gesture to the barmaid on the other side of the counter. “A beer.”

His eyebrow lifts. “Any kind in particular?”

“Um, light. Draft.”

He waits for the beer and carries both over to where I still stand in the middle of the dark bar. “Upstairs?” he asks, indicating with his head the narrow staircase in the corner against the wall.

I nod. This is his night, his game. I’m just along for the ride, and it’s dangerous but thrilling. Something new is happening in my life.

Something I don’t know.

Something I maybe can’t control.

It’s the devil in me, I think, but this is the moment I’ve been waiting for, the moment I’d hoped would come ever since Daniel and I made the big decision to split.

Chance. Adventure. Opportunity.

Discovery.