The thought was thrumming inside my brain, but I tried to focus on my boss instead.
“Something special for the special someone of my favorite waitress,” Hans called, grinning over at me. “Go get him the nicebottle of red I have in my office.”
Now my eyes were bugging out of my head. “Yourwine?”
“It’s the only thing that I have that’ll pair with what I have planned,” he said with that mischievous smile of his. “Now go before I go out there myself and dig wedding details out of your male.”
I stumbled toward his office, grumbling, “He’s notmy male.”
Hans’ laughter was loud in the open space of the kitchen.
CHAPTER 15
Krusk
Ileaned back in my chair, not certain that I was going to be able to move ever again. I would just sink into the floor and become one with it like a melted pile of orc-butter.
“I see you enjoyed that,” my mate’s sweet voice sounded from next to me. I turned in her direction, grinning at her.
“I’ve never had a better meal in my life,” I told her, honestly.
“Good,” she murmured, her eyes sparkling with amusement for a long moment before she glanced away from me. I didn’t bother to, tracing her gorgeous features with my eyes. “Dessert?” she asked, leaning down to clear the plates from in front of me.
I clenched my fingers on the edge of the table. I wanted her to be sitting next to me, enjoying this mealwith me. She shouldn’t have to beserving me.
But I couldn’t have that until I won her. It was all on me. I needed to do better. Domore.
“Dessert sounds good,” I said, looking around and noticingthat the rest of the restaurant was empty. I glanced at my watch, realizing that wehadto be past closing time. Horrified, I blurted. “But I think I’ve overstayed my welcome. I kept you here—”
She shook her head, leaning her hip against the sturdy table with a small smile playing on her lips. “It’s nothing to worry about. There’salwaystime for dessert.”
The words ran up my spine with a fine shiver, as if she’d touched me ever so gently.
You wish.
“W-would you share it with me?” I asked, hesitant. Maybe it was moving too fast. She might want to get to know me better before spending time alone with me after all.
Which I understood. She was so tiny and perfect; she wouldn’t want to be in any kind of threatening position with a male as large as I was.
Even though her breasts, hips and ass would be luscious handfuls—
My inner ramblings were cut off as she smiled at me, leaning down. In a low whisper, she said, “I recommend the gelato, if we’re sharing.”
I nodded like a complete idiot for a full minute, even as she walked away from my table with a grin on her face.
She wasn’t gone for long, bringing back a tray with two bowls on it. She placed one in front of me before taking a seat opposite me. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She wasvolunteeringto spend time with me, and I was supposed to do something more than worship at her feet?
I leaned forward, shaking my head and giving her an out. “You… you don’thaveto be here just because I’m a customer.”
She nodded agreeably. “I know. I’ve gotten this kind of invitation before, you know,” she said with a bashful shrug, as I tried to shove aside the vengeful, jealous monster inside of me that wanted to rip those males’ throats out. “I don’thavetodo anything. But I… I wanted ice cream,” she finished, glancing away for a moment before our eyes met again and she gave a small, shy smile.
Fuck, I might have just come in my pants.
“Do—” I started, but my voice came out high and squeaky. I cleared my throat before beginning again in my regular voice. “Do you like gelato?”
“Yep,” she said, dipping a spoon into the bowl in front of her, scooping up some of the pale pink dessert. “Even the vegan kind. I don’t know where Hans keeps it or I’d raid his stash more often,” she added with a little giggle that made me want to punch my fist in victory.
She likes gelato.
