Seated across a small table from Sean, Kyra felt like a giddy schoolgirl. She was on a date with the man she had admired from afar and couldn't believe it.
Over steaks and homemade fries and eventually dessert, they covered the gamut as they discussed their families, their careers, their partners, their hobbies, their pet peeves. They laughed at each other's stories and somberly shook their heads at the losses they had endured. Before they knew it, it was café's closing time and the owner politely asked the police captain to pay the bill.
Sean obliged, thanking the staff for their service, and helped Kyra with her coat. They stood in the parking lot as the café locked the door and shut off the front lights, her leaning against the hood of her SUV.
"I enjoyed tonight, Sean," Kyra said, looking up at him. He resisted pulling her into his arms.
"Me, too. Kyra, I want to see you again," he said, moving closer toward her.
Her heart jumped for joy as her head told her to slow down.
"Do you want to come over for coffee?" she asked, knowing full well she wasn't asking him over for drinks. Kyra could have sworn she saw Sean's eyes flash.
"I don't think that would be wise," he said. "Like I said last night, we've not discussed what we want out of this relationship. I want you more than anything but I don't think we're ready to go there yet. Do you?"
Kyra sighed. He was right, of course.
"I hear what you're saying," she said, "but telling my body to listen isn't exactly working."
"Believe me, my body isn't listening either," Sean said, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She shivered in delight at his touch.
"We're going to have to have 'the talk' sooner than later, Sean," Kyra said.
"I agree, but not right now." He moved away from her toward his truck. "Goodnight, Kyra."