Chapter Four
Before she could answer, a plate of salad was put in front of her.
She glanced at the waitress. “Thank you.”
“Your meals should be out in a few minutes.”
Had he actually said he cared about her? They’d just met, and she doubted he’d be around once he got to know her. She wasn’t worldly or sophisticated like most women she knew. When he learned that about her, he’d walk away.
He was one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen. He was over a foot taller than her, and his hands were twice the size of hers. He had dark hair, not as dark as hers, but close. When she stared into his green eyes, she thought she saw little specks of yellow in them that made them even prettier.
She noticed the scars he had on the side of his face, but to her, they were barely noticeable. When she caught sight of them, her only thought was that she hated how much pain he’d had to have felt at the time of the injury.
Eli nodded at the waitress and started eating.
She looked around the table for what she needed. “Eli, there’s no salad dressing.”
“It’s a special salad. The dressing is already on it. Try it. I think you’ll like it.”
She studied the plate in front of her and saw something creamy. She took a small bite and then rolled her eyes. “Oh, my God, this is so good.”
Eli laughed and continued to eat.
The waitress served the wine and poured it into two glasses.
Eli picked his up and took a sip. “This is good. You might like it. It’s not dry but sweet.”
“I’ll try maybe a little bit.” She took several sips and set it down. “It is good, but I don’t want to get tipsy.”
He grinned. He’d probably have to drink the whole bottle to feel anything.
They had just finished the salads when the plate was whisked away, and another larger plate was put in front of her.
It was like an art piece. The little steak had some kind of sauce over it and something with green on top of that. Then there was a pile of asparagus and tiny potatoes with spices all over them.
“Eat, honey.”
She looked up at Eli. “I don’t want to. It’s too pretty to eat.”
He smiled at her. “I think so, too, but the chef makes them for us to enjoy. If you didn’t eat yours, it would hurt his feelings.”
She giggled. “You’re teasing.”
“No. Haven’t you ever heard about chefs and how sensitive they are?”
Kinley laughed, speared a potato on her fork, and popped it into her mouth. “Hmm, this is so good.”
They both ate in silence for a few minutes.
She glanced up to see him studying her. “What?”
“Nothing. You’re very beautiful. I like looking at you.”
Kinley set her fork down and wiped her mouth on the napkin. Just by staring at him, she could feel the heat of something she couldn’t define making her blood flow rapidly through her veins. Her panties became saturated with her cream. She squeezed her legs together to relieve a bit of the ache, but that just made it worse. The more time she spent in his company, the more she wanted him.
Since the first time she saw him when he was helping her with the donuts, he’d made her feel desire—something she hadn’t experienced before. As the hours passed, it got a little harder to ignore.
“I … thank you.”
“Would you like dessert?”
She shook her head. “Oh, no, I’m so full. I’m not sure I can walk.”
Eli chuckled and took care of the bill the waitress had left on their table.
She bit her lip as she watched him. She couldn’t see the amount, but it had to have been costly because he got the most expensive thing on the menu.
The waitress came for the bill and brought back the receipt to sign before he stood up and helped her.
On the sidewalk, she stood in front of him. “Are you sure I can’t pay…”
He cupped her face with his hands. “If you ask about the cost of things one more time, I’m going to be sad.”
Her eyes widened. The last thing she wanted to do was make him feel bad.
“But if you keep doing it, I’ll put you over my knees.”
“Did you just say you’d spank me?” she asked.
He smirked. “Yeah.”
“But… We just met.”