Love Therapy (Stanton Falls #2) by Kaci Hart

than he had wanted.

 
    “I’ll take it!”  

 
    They both laughed for a
moment before he spoke again.

 
    “Wait, you’re not just
looking for another tip with that compliment are you?”

 
    “No sir.  We are
well past that time now.  Now you get to hold the title of the guy that got
me to change my stance on dating.  So you see, you are putting in hard
labor there sir.  Knowing everything that you know now, I hope you still
feel like it was worth it.”

 
    Their eyes met before he
responded with a slight grin.

 
    “Completely.”

 
 
    ***

 
 
    Donna really enjoyed her
date that with Nick.  He had been the perfect gentleman all night long and
really didn’t want the night to end; with him driving ten miles per hour below
the speed limit, she could only assume that he was enjoying the night as much
as she was.  

 
    “Nick you don’t think
this is going to affect our work relationship, do you?”

 
    Nick dismissed her
concern with a hand waive.  

 
    “No way.  Our jobs
don’t even require us to interact and like I told you before, you don’t work
for me.”

 
    “You’re right.  I’m
probably being overly cautious since this is all so new to me.”

 
    “Don’t worry Donna.
 I know you were concerned about dating me or anyone else.  I promise
you that I am going to make sure that you don’t get hurt.  All you need to
do is enjoy yourself.”

 
    Donna didn’t say
anything.  Instead, she stared out the window, and tried to wrap her mind
around the good time she had with Nick that night.  She didn’t want to get
too far ahead of herself since she hadn’t been on a date in forever, but she
knew they clicked well.  The car stopped in front of her apartment before
she realized it.  He got out of the car, and walked around the front of it
to get her door for her again.

 
    A girl could get used to
the royal treatment.  

 
    Donna got out of the car
and walked casually to the front door of her apartment with Nick.  It was
late for a Sunday in Stanton Falls at nine thirty p.m. and he had made it clear
that he wanted to get her home at a respectable hour.  That was just the
kind of guy he was, it seemed.  

 
    “I had wonderful time
with you tonight Nick.  Thank you so much for taking me out.”

 
    “The pleasure was mine.
 I just hope that you’ll let me take you out again.”

 
    “You won’t know unless
you ask.”

 
    “You know it’s coming.  I just want to make sure that you won’t
forget me by then.”

 
    “Not possible.  You
have left an impression on me Mr. Dellinger.”

 
    “Good.  I’m happy
to hear that.  Well, I guess we are here.”

 
    “Yeah.  We’re
here.”

 
    Neither of them made a
move, each apparently waiting on the other.  Nick approached her, hugging
her gently.

 
    “I’ll see you at the
office tomorrow Donna.  Goodnight.”

 
    “Goodnight to you too
Nick.”
    Donna turned around and unlocked the door.   She looked back happily at him and then
walked inside.  She was holding her breath for a while when he hugged
her-- her heart pounded in her chest as she was really
hoping that he would kiss her.   His hug was still even sweeter than
she could imagine.  It showed her that he was about more than talk when it
came to his desire to take care of her.

Chapter 9

 
    “I don’t get why you
insisted on driving Donna.”

 
    She laughed.  As
sweet as Nick was, he could be kind of clueless at times.

 
    “Nick, I think it’s cool
that you always want to drive me every time we are together.  I find it
rather sweet but you know the times we live in.  I don’t want you to feel
like I can’t ever drive myself anywhere.”

 
    “Oh I know that.  I
just like to do those things for you.  One of the ways I take care of you.
 Showing you my love and all that good stuff.”

 
    “Your love huh?”

 
    “Well… uh… I didn’t mean
that in the literal sense.  I