She grabs her stomach and blushes. Taking her purse from the passenger seat, she says, “A walk would be great.”
Hand in hand, we stroll toward the ocean.
“How do you afford to live down here?”
“The catering gig does really well. Hollywood is a steady income. The restaurant holds its own too. The house was my aunt’s, and when she wanted to move to a retirement community, I bought the house for a fair price.” I shrug as if it’s no big deal, but I know how lucky I am.
“I can’t wait to see inside.” She blushes again.
I slide my arm around her waist. “I love when you blush, but I’d love to know what you were just thinking that made you pink.”
“I don’t usually blush. You seem to bring it out in me.” She tucks her small but capable hand in the back pocket of my jeans. “I was thinking that you’re a very good lover.”
My cock jumps to attention from the half-mast state it’s been in since she stepped out of her car. “Wow! That was honest.”
“Sorry. I always am, and most people don’t like it too much.” She tries pulling away.
I hold her close to my side. “I like it a lot. I liked it two years ago when you told me you like the way I look. If you hadn’t said that, I might not have had the balls to ask you for that first date.”
She sighs. “I should have been more available.”
“Me too.” I feel every bit of my regrets, and admit it’s satisfying to hear some of hers in her tone. “But that’s the past.”
“History often repeats itself. The movie will end, and you probably have your family to see for the holidays. I already missed my shot to go home for Christmas. I guess I’ll try to make time to see my family in January. Then something else will come up.” She groans. “I hate Christmas.”
Not a huge fan of the commercialization of holidays myself, I’m still sad to hear her say she hates Christmas. “Do you have a big family, Grace?”
She laughs. “You have no idea.”
“Give me one.” I lead her through the parking lot of the mom-and-pop burger place.
She lights up at the sight of the run-down blue walls and a half-lit neon sign that readsManny’s. “I love a good dive.”
The joy in her voice makes me laugh. “Me too. This place has the best service and juiciest burgers around.”
We grab a booth in the narrow diner.
Manny lumbers over, his crisp white apron snug against his large belly. “Hey, Landon. You want the usual?”
I lean toward Grace. “Do you like hamburgers?”
“Yes.” Her eyes are bright.
“Do you trust me?”
“Sure.” She laughs.
It’s the best sound ever. I shift my attention back to Manny. “Manny, we’ll take two of your special burgers, fries, and chocolate milkshakes.”
“You got it.” Manny ambles away and calls the order into the kitchen’s open window.
“I’ll be sick after all that.” She slaps the table, still laughing.
I take her hand. “How big is your family?”
“Didn’t we get to this two years ago?” She toys with my knuckles, investigating every scar and callus on my hand.
“Nope. You interrogated me all night and didn’t answer any of my questions.” Turning her hand up, I trace a line over her palm.