“You’re alone?” I ask. I thought for sure he was here for a date or with the other higher-ups from the Rampage, celebrating a successful draft. Sure, that was two weeks ago, but still, that’s where my mind took me.
He shakes his head. “Not anymore. I have you.”
“A-Are you sure?”
“Welcome, how many in your party?” the hostess asks.
Will keeps his arm woven tightly around my waist, but slowly moves us forward. I follow without complaint. “Two, please.” He smiles kindly.
“Of course. Right this way.” She grabs two menus, some wrapped silverware, and motions for us to follow her.
Will moves his hand to the small of my back, and then, we’re on the move. He stays right behind me, his hand a solid presence, the heat of his palm seeping through the thin fabric of my dress. When we reach the booth, he guides me to sit before sliding into the space across from me and smiling.
“Your server will be right with you,” the hostess says, before turning to head back to her post.
“Where is Miss Mia tonight?” Will asks, picking up his menu.
“Bellamy called and said Coral demanded a sleepover. I didn’t have a good excuse to say no, other than losing my mind being in my condo all alone. So, I ventured out for dinner, and yeah, you saw how that turned out.” I laugh nervously.
“Ah.” He nods. “Coral can be very demanding.” He winks, and heat rushes to my core.
What the hell is wrong with me?
No, I cannot let this happen. No. Just no.
“It was more her mom than her, but she’s learning from the best.” I smile, thinking about my best friend. Then I remember that not thirty seconds before, I was perving on her dad.
Damn, I’m a mess.
“What sounds good to you?” Will asks, nodding toward the menu that’s still sitting in front of me on the table, untouched.
“Chicken tenders, honey mustard, loaded baked potato, side salad with ranch,” I rattle off my usual order.
“No steak? We are at a steakhouse.” He chuckles.
I wrinkle my nose. “I’m not much of a steak eater. I mean, if I have to work that hard to eat my food, it’s not worth it.”
Will tosses his head back in laughter. “Babe, you’ve never had a well-prepared steak. This place does a phenomenal job. You can taste mine,” he tells me.
Babe.
Did he say that I could taste him?
“Trust me, you’ll change your mind,” he says, pulling me back to the conversation.
“Hi, I’m Todd. I’ll be your server. Do you want to start off with drinks?” he asks, rambling off the night’s drink special.
“Mandy?” Will defaults to me to order first.
“I’ll have a sweet tea, please.”
“And for you, sir?” Todd asks.
“The same. We’re also ready to order, if that’s okay.”
“Perfect.” Todd smiles and turns his gaze back to me. I rattle off my order word for word, as I did for Will. “And for you?” Todd asks Will.
“Ribeye, well-done, loaded baked potato, salad with ranch, as well. And go ahead and give us an order of pretzel bites,” Will says, handing Todd his menu. I rush to close mine, which is still sitting open on the table, and do the same.