"Going out?" Her dad grinned from the doorframe.

Skylar finished arranging her waves over her shoulders before acknowledging him. "A date, actually."

"A date?" She could see the vein in his forehead twitch at the word. "When? With who?" They both stilled at the sound of the doorbell.

"Wait! Dad!" He bolted from the room. Skylar took off after him in a sprint. She was too late. He was already pulling open the door.

She froze in the hall as Bear came into view. Suddenly her bubblegum pink sweater and leather leggings felt entirely too underdressed. Bear wore an impressive suit and tie. Every inch of him radiating pure, unabashed power. He didn't even flinch when her dad beheld him with his mouth agape. "Evening, Mr. Carrow."

Skylar watched, terrified of what her father might say to the first guy to ever pick his daughter up on a date. They'd joked about this moment so many times. How he would be waiting up with a shotgun, how he'd balk when they'd try to impress him. But he didn't do either of those things. Instead he stammered, "Mr. Cruor. Wh--Did I do something--"

Bear laughed lightly and dismissed his questions with a shake of his perfectly styled hair. "No, everything's all good. Actually," his eyes shifted to Skylar, "I'm here to pick up Skylar."

Her father turned around, staring at her in complete and utter shock. "Pick up...Skylar?" he parroted.

"If that's alright with you, sir." Sir. She stifled a laugh as her dad struggled to breath.

"Skylar?" He seemed stuck on that.

"These are for you," he called around him, showing her the bouquet he had bought her. A dozen blood red roses wrapped in silky gold and lace.

"Thank you," she said moving towards him.

"Was someone at the door?" Her mom came around the corner, a glass of wine in her hand. "Oh, Bear! So wonderful to see you again!" She fawned over him.

"Mrs. Cruor," he greeted and flashed her his brilliant white teeth, "you look as stunning as the last time I saw you. I had to nurse quite the hangover after that night."

"Hangover?" Her dad looked between the two, mouth opening and closing like a fish.

Her mother flushed and swatted Bear's chest in a way that had her father choking. "Oh stop! How is Skylar treating you? Has she messed up your coffee yet?" she teased.

"Not yet," he assured her. He returned his attention to back to Skylar. Her parents turned to her too. "Ready?"

"Oh," her mom raised her brows, "are you two going out tonight?"

"Bear is taking me to dinner. Is that okay?"

Her father hesitated, only letting out a small squeaking sound. "Why wouldn't it be? I think that's great. Isn't that great, honey?" Her beaming mother turned to face the blubbering man.

"Great," he half whispered.

"Relieved to hear that, sir," Bear caught his attention once more.

Her father didn't speak again--staring dumfounded at his boss standing in his doorway with a bouquet of roses for his only child. "I should put these in water before we leave." Skylar rushed forward bit her mother tittered.

"Don't be silly. Go, have fun. I'll get these in a vase for you."

"Sure?"

"Of course. Go on, have a wonderful night, Sky." She was practically pushed out the door. Her dad kept making wheezing noises, but remained quiet otherwise.

Once the door shut she twirled to Bear and said, "I think you almost killed my dad."

Bear chuckled, opening the door of his Tesla for her. "I don't think he expected to see me."

"What gave it away?"

The car roared to life and took off down the street. "You look lovely tonight," he complimented.

"No one says lovely anymore," she replied coolly. Bear grinned at the familiar phrase. "So, are you taking me anywhere special?" It was meant lightly, but Bears smile faded.

"It's nowhere you haven't been, but hopefully you won't hold that against me." He gave her a sideways glance. "Two Olives."

"I liked that place," she told him.

A small smile. "Good. It'll be a little different this time."

"Why?"

"Because you're with me," he stated, matter-of-factly.

-------

Bear was right. She was treated completely different from the first time she came with her mom. For one thing, they were let in through a back entrance and whisked away to the roof before anyone had a chance to recognize them. The staff, however, did recognize them. A few waitresses were girls from her school.

Dana Curry--the little brat--was clutching an empty tray to her full chest, her red lips parted as she watched in envy while Bear lead Skylar up the steps without a glance in her direction. She felt like a princess the way he just swept her away to a private dinner. At first, she thought she'd be cold, but she found herself warming every time he looked at her.

"Did you enjoy your meal?" he asked as the dishes were cleared from the table. Dana ended up being their server, and flirted mercilessly with Bear for the majority of their interaction. Bear was not impressed. He kept his words clipped, short, and balked at her when she placed her grubby hands on his arm when making a joke that neither of them laughed at. 

"I did," she replied. "You barely touched your steak," Skylar observed. Dana was still glowering, carrying the two plates away. Skylar's was practically licked clean. Bear had ordered for her--garlic braised lobster tail with steamed broccoli and a crab stuffed mushroom appetizer. She wasn't even a little bit ashamed that she'd scarfed it all down.

Bear, on the other hand, barely touched his food. He took a few bites, sipped his rum, but otherwise was too immersed in conversation to bother. There was something about the way he couldn't take his eyes off her that made her burn. Her mind couldn't loosen the grip on the vision of him kneeling in front of her. The way that his hands had felt on her bare skin when he massaged her aching feet. How sweet he tasted when his tongue...

"I'm not hungry for steak." His tone was playful, insinuating. She swallowed. She wasn't good at this--at dating. The first boy she ever slept with was in and out of her life within minutes. The other two were no better. But Bear...the way he looked at her--talked to her--it was different. He wanted to know her. He had the power to sleep with anyone he wanted, date or no date, and yet he chose her. Chose to take her out instead of all the other women that swooned anytime he walked into the room. The realization struck her like lightening. Coursing through her veins until white hot electricity controlled her movements. 

"What are you hungry for?" she dared to ask. 

"Something else," he decided in a low voice. His green eyes were like the black green of a midnight forest. "Come here," he said, standing and holding out his lithe fingers to her.

"Okay," she whispered, unable to find much more of a voice. A devilish smile curled over him when her hand slipped into his. Even in the November night it was still as warm as ever. She wanted to curl up in his embrace and let the warmth soak into her bones, but he pulled her to the edge of the roof. His breath was like peppermint fire on the back of her neck. His hands moved so slowly to brush her hair away, letting his fingers dig into her. Kneading and eliciting little gasps when he'd hit just the right spot.

"What do you want, Skylar?" Tiny wisps of hair tickled her ear.

"For you to keep doing that," she breathed. A low chuckle rumbled in his chest and he kept working his hands. 

"What do you want out of life?" he clarified.

Her eyes opened fully at the question and she twirled around to face him. Her back pressed against the cement perimeter separating her from a plunge to the sidewalk below. His hands stayed on her neck, unmoving. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," his body was so close to hers, "what do you want to do after high school?"

Skylar felt the urge to bite her lip, but stopped herself--remembering that she had taken the time and effort to apply a matte pink lipstick that would surely come off with her incessant chewing. "Well," she began, "it's always been my intention to go to a good school. Somewhere prestigious enough to look impressive on a resume."

Bear tucked her hair behind her ear and grinned. "Is that so? What would you major in?"

She blushed. "Nothing interesting," she mumbled.

"Try me."

Skylar sighed, looking up at the clear view of the stars. "I've always wanted to be an archaeologist." His gaze softened. "I'm a bit of a nerd, actually. Always had a thing for ancient history."

She expected him to laugh, or make some sort of a joke about how it was an odd career choice for an eighteen year old girl. "What kind of history are you most interested in?"

She tried not to look shocked that he took an interest. "Uh, Egyptian mainly. I think their culture was fascinating. It's my dream to be able to travel to Egypt one day. Even if it's not as part of my job, but just to be there and see. You know?" Once she started she couldn't stop. "It's just incredible to me how sophisticated they were. Women could rule, everyone had a role, animals were revered." Bear didn't scoff. He didn't laugh at her rambling. In fact, he appeared to be enjoying her rant. "Greek mythology fascinates me too. And Roman, and Irish, and Norse, all of it really. I have tons of books on history and mythologies of the world," she rambled. 

"You really like all that stuff?" She wanted to cringe. He probably thought she was a complete dork. Skylar nodded twice. "Then there's something I want to show you some time. Something I think you'll really like."

"About archaeology?"

"Sort of. You'll see." The subtle nod to them seeing each other again hung in the air. "Let me take you home Monday, and we'll take a quick detour."

"Okay," she agreed. No other answer would suffice.

"For now," she gasped when he spun her back around, letting his lips graze her ear, "let's enjoy the view." He kissed down her neck, pulling the sweater down to nip at her shoulder. She shuddered, letting him continue to work his magic and wondering how someone like her had gotten so lucky.