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We settled down across from each other at a table so small our knees bumped. “Oops, sorry.” I shoved my chair back, but Griff hooked the chair with his foot and pulled me toward him.
“Stay right there,” he said. “I don’t like when you’re so far away from me.”
At his commanding tone, I could only manage a nod. Why wasn’t there any water on the table? I needed to replenish stat. The way he was looking at me—really looking at me—was so open.
“How have you been?” he asked.
I forced the little saliva I’d mustered past my throat. “Good.”
Griff reached across the table and placed his hand on top of mine. “Scottie, it’s me. You don’t have to be nervous.”
“Who says I’m nervous?” Tater tots, but my squeaky voice didn’t sound convincing at all.
“Your legs are shaking.” He bumped his knees against me.
I closed my eyes and groaned. “Thanks. That’s going to make me less nervous.”
“What can I do to make you relax?”
“I don’t know.” I hated this, getting all flustered by being with Griff. I should have passed this stage already. This man had been inside me. Multiple times. There was no reason to be shy now.
“Maybe this will help.” Griff rose from his seat, stretched across the table, and placed his lips on mine. My eyes drifted shut, and I slipped my fingers into his hair.
The kiss couldn’t have lasted for a minute, but that was all I needed for my nerves to melt away under the fire of his touch. Griff sat back, looking satisfied with himself. I stared straight ahead of me. If I glanced around, I would have to face the fact that all these people had seen me turn to mush.
“Now that’s better.” Griff winked. “If you get all nervous again, it seems all I need to do is kiss you.”
“I’m not nervous!” I held up a hand to ward him off lest he kissed me again. My breathing was still not normal after that kiss. How could I survive another one without turning into a complete slut for him right here in a restaurant?
Thankfully, a server appeared and handed us two menus. Griff folded his aside and told me to order for him.
“Are you sure?”
“I trust you.”
He shouldn’t have. Not after the lies I’d told him while he was in prison, but those three words calmed me down even more than the kiss. I smiled and signaled to the server that I was ready to order. She brought our drinks: iced tea for me and Coke for Griff. I drank half of the liquid before our meals arrived.
“You’re off work today?” I asked. The construction site had been shut down because they’d lost their site supervisor. Griff didn’t seem bothered, but if he wasn’t working, he wasn’t making money.
“I have the week off.”
“Oh.”
“Why?”
“It’s just that…” I shook my head. Money was such a touchy subject. The last thing I needed was to make him self-conscious or upset.
“Tell me, Scottie. I can’t fix it if you don’t.”
“Are you doing okay? I mean, do you need money? You haven’t been out for long, and if you’re not working, then… What are you smiling about?”
Griff covered my hand with his. “You getting all concerned I’m going to be a pauper because I’m out of work for a week. It’s cute. You’re cute.”
“But I was serious.”
“And that’s what makes you cute. Don’t worry. Technically, I’m not off work. I’m doing stuff for my boss, just not at the site.”
“Okay, but if you need anything, tell me. I’ve lived frugally for a long time, and I have a small nest egg saved up.”
