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Game on.
I didn’t finish my steak. Not even close. I started with the lobster and worked my way to the beef. Five bites in, and I was stuffed. So, I have a doggie bag with the other twenty ounces as we make our way out of the restaurant.
“Can I drive?” I ask him.
“Um, no.”
“Please? I’ll be careful, I promise,” I plead.
He leads me around to the passenger side and opens the door.
I frown.
“Don’t pout. Driving my car is more of a second-date kind of thing,” he says.
I relent and slide into the seat. “I’m gonna hold you to that, Tuttle.”
Ansley’s café is a bright, cheery coffee shop and bookstore by day and a low-lit romantic craft beer, wine, and dessert bar by night that offers live music Wednesday through Saturday.
It’s a brilliant concept, and it serves as the perfect place for adults to spend an evening.
When we arrive, Erin and Jena and their husbands are seated on a leather couch in front of the stage, splitting a couple of bottles of wine and enjoying the acoustic guitarist. I don’t get two steps inside before Erin spots me. Her eyes slide from my face to Corbin’s hand resting on my hip and go wide.
Looks like Corbin picked the perfect place to be seen. I bet Taeli and Ansley will know we are here together before our asses even find a place to settle in.
I let him lead us to a table in the corner, and I allow him to pull my chair out one last time.
We each order a hoppy beer and decide on splitting a slice of strawberry cheesecake.
Corbin’s back is to the stage, whereas I have a full view of the café.
“What are you grinning about?” he asks.
“It seems we are the center of attention this evening. Every single pair of eyes in this place keeps flickering over in our direction,” I inform him.
“I bet,” he mumbles.
I reach across the table and take his hand in mine. “This is a good thing,” I assure him.
“I know. Why do you think I brought you here?” he whispers.
I’m so focused on his mouth that I don’t notice Erin approaching until she clears her throat.
My eyes shift to her.
“Hey,” I greet.
“Hi yourself. What are you two doing out tonight?” she asks.
I give her a wide smile. “We had dinner earlier and weren’t quite ready to end the night, so Corbin suggested we stop in here for dessert,” I reply.
Her eyes flutter between the two of us. “So, you’re having a friendly night out?” she asks.
“We are having a nice first date,” I clarify.
Her head jerks around to where Jena is seated, and she mouths something we can’t hear. Then, she turns back to us.
“You guys have to join us,” she says.
