Page 90 of My All American Girl

39

SARAH

The tub was calling my name, but Dean promised there would be all night to soak. Hunger was my main concern. I quickly changed into the one and only dress I had brought along. It was a soft fabric that claimed to be wrinkle-free. The claims were right.

I put on a little makeup and left my hair down. I almost forgot I had long hair. It was always in a ponytail or secured in a tight bun when I was working. Letting it swing free felt rebellious, and tonight was a night for getting wild.

Tonight was our first official date. We were breaking all the rules, but no one was around to wag their fingers or bring us up on disciplinary charges. We had earned it, after being patient and staying mostly apart. No more holding back.

Dean was waiting for me in the living room area of our suite. He wore a black dress shirt and dark jeans, his muscular frame easily filling out the clothing. His green eyes met mine, and for a moment, my hunger was no longer for spaghetti.

“You look beautiful,” he said with sincerity, extending his arm toward me.

I took it, my heart fluttering with anticipation. Now that we weren’t at risk of being caught, Dean could take his time and be a proper gentleman, fitting since we were in London. He had been my knight in shining armor coming to Washington. I would happily be his lady tonight.

“Thank you, you clean up pretty nice yourself,” I teased, drawing a chuckle from him.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Starving,” I replied.

The restaurant Dean had chosen was near the hotel. The Italian restaurant had an intimate atmosphere, with flickering candles on the tables and soft guitar music. Outside, Big Ben stood proudly, its clock face lit up against the night sky. The city lights were more romantic than I had expected, casting a warm glow on the historic buildings around us. For a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. It felt magical to share the moment with Dean.

He pulled out the chair for me, giving me a seductive smile. Our waiter arrived, speaking with an accent that was rich in Italian flair. We ordered glasses of red wine.

I smiled at Dean’s clumsy attempts to decode the menu. “Everything looks so good,” I said.

“Because you’re starving.” He laughed.

“Good point.”

Our waiter returned with our wine.

“I think I’ll have the lasagna,” I said, handing back the menu. Dean grinned, murmuring something about not daring to try anything he couldn’t pronounce.

“Me too, please,” he replied.

I sipped my wine, feeling very fancy. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been on an actual date. I grabbed dinner in the mess hall or sometimes lunch with a guy, but dates were rare. For the first time, I didn’t talk about flying or my career. Tonight was about us. I wanted to get to know the man. Not the pilot.

I leaned forward, propping my chin on my hand. “So, tell me more about you, Dean. What were you like as a kid? Did you act out?”

He chuckled, taking a sip of his wine. “I wasn’t too bad, actually. I grew up as an only child, but when I was about sixteen, my parents started fostering younger children. Suddenly, I was an older brother to a lot of kids.”

“That must have been a big change,” I said.

“It was. It was hard to say goodbye to each one when they left, but I learned a lot of life lessons during that time. Looking back, it’s one of the things I’m most proud of about my parents. They were selfless people who knew how to show love.”

“Were?” I asked gently, sensing the shift in his tone.

He nodded, his eyes growing distant. “My parents are both gone now. My father died when I was halfway through my own UPT. My mother passed a few years later.”

“I’m so sorry, Dean,” I said softly.

He gave a small, sad smile. “My father never had good health, and my mother was too lonely without him. They were true soulmates. Losing them was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to contend with. It felt like I was just starting to get over losing my father and then my mom decided to join him. It was difficult.”

“That and survival training?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

He laughed, the sound easing the tension. “Yeah, that too.”