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The waiter’s brows rose. “I apologize, Mr. Corde. Was there something you weren’t satisfied with in our service or the food?”
“Not at all. A family matter.”
“Of course, sir. Shall we box this up?”
Nathan rose. “That won’t be necessary.”
Alyssa shook her head. “Oh hell no, we can’t just waste food like this. Please, box it all. We can eat it later if we get hungry, or for dinner. Thanks.”
All three Cordes looked at her like she’d lost her mind. Alyssa crossed her arms and stared back. Amusement brightened Nathan’s eyes, and he ran a hand down her arm. “You heard the woman. Please box everything.”
As they left the restaurant, Alyssa expected backlash from Piper but got nothing. The woman took the seat opposite her in the limo and stared out the window. Alyssa sat at Nathan’s side, and he grasped her hand in his, lacing his fingers with hers. His mother took the seat beside Piper, and soon they arrived at the mansion.
When the car door opened at the chauffeur’s guidance, she started to get out, but Nathan held her back. She glanced up at him, but he said nothing while his mother and sister vacated the vehicle. When they had gone inside, he waved the driver away.
“Give us a moment, Felix.”
The man nodded and shut the door. Wary, Alyssa faced Nathan. “What’s up?”
He hesitated and then patted her hand. Something told her she wouldn’t like what was coming.
“We don’t…usually box food we don’t eat.”
She tilted her head to the side, studying him. “And what? Oh, did I embarrass you?”
“Not embarrass exactly. You don’t know how we do things.”
Alyssa looked away from him and tugged her hand free of his. She raised it to gesture while she spoke, thought better of the words she intended, and tapped a finger across her lips.
“I don’t know how you do things?” For the life of her, she couldn’t get a grip on the rising anger. “So in other words, you waste food on a regular basis, untouched food, food that was slaved over in a hot kitchen for you, food that could have gone to someone else who would appreciate it, but instead, they had to be ousted because your family showed up unannounced at a restaurant where they require reservations.”
Nathan drew back as if she’d slapped him. The displeasure radiated off of him. “It’s not a situation we need to argue about, Alyssa. We just need to come to an agreement that—”
“Oh, an agreement!”
His eyebrows snapped together over darkened eyes. “Alyssa.”
“Don’t Alyssa me.” He had no idea of the many nights she had to do with ramen and green beans because she couldn’t afford meat when money got tight. That wasn’t his fault, but the man knew nothing of suffering, and she wouldn’t sit here and be made to feel ashamed of asking for a box.
He sighed, a long-suffe
ring sound that pissed her off all the more.
“I’m not angry. Nor am I scolding you as if you’d made a mistake. I respect who you are and your experiences.”
“Yeah, I’ll just bet you do.”
He grabbed for her hand, but she moved it out of reach. Not to be put off, he slid a palm over her belly, and she could have cussed out her own flesh at the reaction of his touch. Short of fleeing the car, she sat stuck.
“Contrary to your assumptions, we do not make a habit of wasting food.”
“But you don’t eat leftovers. I don’t even know why we’re sitting here having this discussion. It’s pointless. Okay, I won’t ask for anything to be boxed again. Happy?”
He stroked her cheek, and his face softened. “How about we offer the food to the staff? Will that make you happy?”
As if he’s really my man and needs to make me happy. “Okay. That sounds good.”
“Great. Shall we go inside?”
