AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What’s wrong, Mr. Carrington? Can’t handle a few balls in your face?” I teased, as the hostess led us past the bar to a small table for two.
Before I could sit down, Archer pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit.
First he was holding open doors, and now he was pulling my chair out for me? There was definitely something to be said for dating an older man.
“Thank you,” I said, taking the seat.
“You’re welcome.” He scanned the room before sitting down, and when his eyes stayed over my shoulder, I frowned and looked behind me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Someone you know?”
He shook his head, unfolding his napkin and laying it across his lap. Then he finally looked at me and smiled, while under the table I felt his foot brush against mine.
“I needed this view so I can watch the door and play with you at the same time.” He winked, and I felt my stomach do that damn flipping thing again. “Oh, would you look at that, you’re blushing.”
My cheeksdidsuddenly feel a little warmer. “No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.” Archer leaned across the table and said in a voice that did nothing to help the heat in my cheeks, “It’s fucking adorable.”
It wasembarrassing. After everything we’d done together last night, I was getting all rosy-cheeked because he was playing footsie with me. I highly doubted Archer’s previous dates would blush so easily.
He chuckled as he picked up the menu. “What’s got you nervous? The public space or my touching you? I can stop.”
My cheeks burned even hotter then, because it was none of that. Ilovedthe fact he was touching me, even more that he was doing it in public. If I could, I would announce to everyone in this restaurant that Archer was mine, and I’d reach over and hold his hand right here at the table.
“I don’t want you to stop.” I moved my other leg to rub against his. “And I’m not nervous. It’s just…”
Archer raised a brow when I paused, and I shrugged, trying to play off how much I’d enjoyed those familiar touches, those intimate moments on the way in.
“It’s just… I like the way you were…um, treating me.”
“Treating you?” Archer put his menu down and the question in his eyes told me he wasn’t quite getting the fact thatIwas usually the one doing all the…gentlemanly things.
“Opening the door, pulling out my chair.” I bit down into my lip. “You know, date things.”
“Ah, I see. Well, thisisour first date.”
My heart skipped a beat at the confirmation that he felt the same way I did about the day—music to my ears. But then my mind played it over and over in my head. “First date… You say that like there’ll be more.”
Archer ran his gaze down over me.“I sure hope so.” He gestured to my menu. “Now pick something to eat, before I drag you over here and?—”
“Eat my wiener?”
Archer’s mouth fell open, his words leaving him until I started to laugh.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help it. We’re in a German restaurant. I’m allowed to say wiener.”
“Of course we are. Balls and sausages.”
“I mean, do I know how to pick a first date or what?”
“It’s definitely one I’ll remember.” Archer’s lips twitched, even as his eyes softened. “For many reasons.”
By the time the waitress stopped by, we’d each picked out something to eat, but apparently we’d both had enough sausage for now.Archer went for the roasted Long Island duckling with mashed potatoes, red cabbage, and cranberry sauce, while I opted for the Rahm schnitzel in paprika cream sauce with vegetables and spätzle.
For now, though, we were sharing a jumbo shrimp cocktail.
“These are delicious.” I dunked the end into the spiced tomato sauce on the plate.
