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Kim stood immobile. Afraid to breathe. Afraid of the revulsion she might see in his expression, hear in his voice. Her heart thudded painfully with that fear; a surge of adrenaline urged her to flee, to shut herself away again in total isolation. But her body could only respond to Jay’s tender touch, thick ribbons of heat fluttering through her.
“Kimberly Lydell, you listen to me and you listen real good.” His rich baritone vibrated with conviction. “Even when my vision is twenty-twenty again, you’ll still be the most beautiful woman in the world to me. That’s how I’ll always see you.”
Tears escaped to edge down her cheeks. She wanted to thank him but she didn’t have the words to express the depth of feeling that filled her chest and tightened in her throat.
Her ego had been shattered along with her cheek, and whether it made her seem shallow or not, she’d needed to hear a man say she was beautiful—a man she cared about—even if his words were a lie.
Chapter Four
Jay treated himself to one last caress of her satiny cheek with the back of his hand. The loss of his eyesight had heightened his tactile senses. He relished the sensation of her smooth flesh, warm and vital, against his rougher skin. It hadn’t occurred to Jay that she might need him instead of the other way around.
And, despite the courage she’d shown the night of the earthquake, the determination he’d seen in her blue eyes, she still did need him. Her tears proved that. And the gossamer bit of fabric—a scarf, he presumed—she’d been wearing to hide her face from others. Now he had to convince her she didn’t have to hide from anyone.
“Hey, sweetheart, I’ve got another one of my great ideas.”
She drew a shaky breath, audibly pulling herself together. “Spare me. Do you get these grand ideas often, or do you only hallucinate late in the day?”
“Think of yourself as my inspiration.” Reaching down, he found Buttons and caught his leash. “There’s a bar about a block from the fire station that’s got the best beef dip sandwiches in the county. Let’s have dinner there.”
“I don’t think so, Jay….”
“You’ve gotta eat, don’t you?”
“I don’t go out in public much these days. My face—”
“But that’s the beauty of the place. The bar’s as dark as a tomb—which is probably why the beef dip tastes so good. God knows what kind of meat they’re using.” Taking her arm, he made a U-turn and headed back toward Paseo Boulevard. “Come on, Buttons. I’ll buy you a hamburger without the bun.”
“You don’t like to take no for an answer, do you?” Kim complained as he ushered her along.
He smiled. Not when something important was involved.
KIM WASN’T at all sure going to dinner with Jay was a wise idea. Her nerves felt on edge, her emotions raw. After months of near-total isolation, she’d about used up her courage for meeting new people. Only the fact that the firefighters had been so unconcerned about her appearance gave her encouragement that she would survive a dinner in a dimly lit restaurant. And Smoke Eaters Bar and Grill was dark, she discovered. About two-candle power and very intimate with small tables and cozy booths, few of them occupied at the moment. At the very back of the room was a pool table, a shaded hanging lamp illuminating the green felt, and on the wall there was a cork dart board with a bright red bull’s-eye.
“Hey, there,” the bartender shouted. “You can’t bring a dog in here.”
“It’s okay, Curly,” Jay replied, keeping Buttons on a short leash. “He’s my Seeing Eye dog.”
“You’re putting me on. That’s no guide dog. He’s a dalmatian!”
Jay drew a sharp breath in mock surprise. “My God, I didn’t know that! Thank heavens they didn’t give me a dachshund!”
Kim nearly choked trying to swallow a laugh. Jay was totally outrageous and made her want to join in the fun. “According to section 1202 of the equal access statute,” she told the bartender, “guide dogs have to be admitted anywhere the owner can legally be present.”
Curly, who lacked even a single hair on his head, scowled at her.
“Is that true?” Jay asked under his breath.
“I have no idea if that’s the right section of the law, but it sounds pretty good.”
Jay barked a laugh. “Find us the best table in the house, sweetheart. We’re going to have us some dinner.”
TRYING TO AVOID curious looks from customers and employees alike, Kim selected an inconspicuous booth at the side of the room where the shadows were the deepest. She and Jay both ordered the beef dip sandwiches, and Jay covered his French fries with enough catsup to consider he’d had a full serving of vegetables with his meal. Kim opted for fresh fruit instead of fries.
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