He rolled his eyes.
“Are you ready to order, sir?”
“Yes, we’ll take filet mignons that are medium rare, with baked potatoes and a salad.” He looked over at her. “Is that okay?”
She pressed her lips together and nodded.
“Very good, sir. I’ll bring out a basket of bread while you’re waiting.”
“Thank you.”
She knew he was trying not to grin and scowled at him.
“What’s the problem?” he asked.
“You picked the most expensive thing on the menu,” she said.
He chuckled and reached for her hand. “I said not to worry about money. I made a lot when I was overseas, and Inever spent any. I invested in some stocks that paid off big time. We’ll never have to worry about our next meal.”
A basket of bread was set on the table.
“The food will be out shortly.”
“Thank you,” Cole said. He broke a roll in half, buttered it, and handed it to her.
She ate most of it. “Can I try the beer?”
He handed it to her.
She took one sip and her face puckered. She grabbed her milk and drank a fourth of it to get rid of the taste. “That’s awful. How do people drink that?”
“You acquire a taste for it.”
She shook her head. “If I had to taste it again, I’d vomit.”
He chuckled. “That’s okay. I don’t think I’ll let you drink anyway.”
She chewed some more bread. “So, are you going to be my boss all the time?”
He grinned. “Kind of. I’ll be in charge.”
“Will I get a say in anything?”
“Absolutely.”
She relaxed. “What did you do over in that other country?”
She could see him shut down, and his eyes got hard. He looked like a different person, one that made her nervous.
“All I can tell you is I helped the people. I taught them to care for and protect themselves to the best of my ability.”
She was going to ask another question when the waiter interrupted them by setting the plates down in front of them. The food on the plate looked good, but there was so much of it. She wanted to be able to take some of this home because she could live off this food for a few days. The problem was her refrigerator didn’t stay cold, and she unplugged it since it took electricity.
They ate in silence for several minutes. When she couldn’t take another bite, she pushed her plate away.
“Can you take the rest of my food home? I hate to waste it. My refrigerator isn’t working.”
He wiped his mouth with the napkin and took a drink of his beer. “I know we have a lot to talk about, but I want you to come home with me tonight. I don’t ever want you in that apartment again.”