with the outside world?
A world that had changed in more ways than he’d envisioned. Now that he had a son to raise, he had even more reason to fight for his country’s freedom. But Hannah’s piss poor experiences with her ex military boyfriend meant he might lose her if he followed through with that choice. He stuffed the dilemma into a deal-with-it-later compartment when their next course arrived and the near invisible server refreshed their drinks.
Though Caleb loved the feel of her hand in his, the comforting warmth and the zips of electricity that charged all the way to his groin, he broke their connection. Reluctantly, he cut into the second to last vegetarian course of their meal. Two wedges of what looked like Styrofoam to him artfully arranged on a bed of arugula and other assorted cold vegetables.
“How do you like the sesame glazed tofu and greens?” she asked after he swallowed a few bites, which pretty much meant he’d inhaled the entire plate.
His stomach rumbled with a hunger pang. “It’s good,” he said. Did he really pay two hundred dollars per person for this meal? Not that money was an object, but geez. Who could live on this stuff?
Apparently Hannah. Half her plate remained untouched. She cut into her second slice of tofu, then slowly brought it to her mouth. “The best I’ve ever had. I only wish I had room for ten more courses,” she said, then nibbled.
Her tongue darted out to catch a drop of tangy sauce. The image of her doing all kinds of wonderful things to his lips, his body—oh man all the ways she had driven him wild with her mouth shot through him.
Caleb’s ears thundered and his collar felt uncomfortably tight. So did his pants. “There’s still dessert.” He didn’t remember what they had ordered, but he sincerely hoped it was cold enough to douse the fire burning inside.
“I know.” Her cheeks glowed in the candlelight that flickered between them and flecks of gold sparkled in her hazel-green eyes. “I can’t wait to try the honey poached Asian pears and caramel-almond tart. Yum.”
“Yeah, me either.” But the only thing he really wanted to taste was Hannah. He wanted to lick the delicate skin at the base of her neck, dip lower to her breasts and rediscover her sweet, responsive nipples. Now that would be a helluva an amazing dessert.
“Liar,” she said.
Amusement underscored her accusation. “What are you talking about?” he asked. Had she read his randy mind? Not good. But maybe not such a bad thing after all? He shifted slightly in his chair and carved his fingers through his hair.
“I heard your stomach growling earlier.” She lifted her glass of chardonnay and sipped, then gave him a half-smile.
“There’s not a lot of food on the plates, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like this stuff,” Caleb said. “Besides, as long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“We should both be happy.” She arched a brow. “What time is it?”
He pulled out his iPhone and glanced at it. “Eight. Why?”
“It’s not too late to hit The Barley Stop before we head home.”
His stomach nearly wept with relief. “Burgers, fries, the best craft beer this side of Asheville.” Already his mouth watered.
She laughed. “And pool.”
“You don’t mind?” he asked hopefully.
“Not at all,” she said. “You’ve treated me to a great dinner, but I know this isn’t your thing. Besides, I’m fairly certain I can kick your ass at the pool table which, if I hedge my bets right, means I might win another few diaper free days.”
While the idea of winning a few diaper free days definitely appealed, the thought of watching her bend over a pool table in that sexy dress gave him all kinds of instant fantasies. “You’re on,” he said.
“Great, but not until I’ve had my dessert.”
“Deal,” Caleb agreed.
During the rest of their meal, though antsy to split the fancy restaurant and head over to the best burger joint in Sweetbriar Springs, Caleb
A world that had changed in more ways than he’d envisioned. Now that he had a son to raise, he had even more reason to fight for his country’s freedom. But Hannah’s piss poor experiences with her ex military boyfriend meant he might lose her if he followed through with that choice. He stuffed the dilemma into a deal-with-it-later compartment when their next course arrived and the near invisible server refreshed their drinks.
Though Caleb loved the feel of her hand in his, the comforting warmth and the zips of electricity that charged all the way to his groin, he broke their connection. Reluctantly, he cut into the second to last vegetarian course of their meal. Two wedges of what looked like Styrofoam to him artfully arranged on a bed of arugula and other assorted cold vegetables.
“How do you like the sesame glazed tofu and greens?” she asked after he swallowed a few bites, which pretty much meant he’d inhaled the entire plate.
His stomach rumbled with a hunger pang. “It’s good,” he said. Did he really pay two hundred dollars per person for this meal? Not that money was an object, but geez. Who could live on this stuff?
Apparently Hannah. Half her plate remained untouched. She cut into her second slice of tofu, then slowly brought it to her mouth. “The best I’ve ever had. I only wish I had room for ten more courses,” she said, then nibbled.
Her tongue darted out to catch a drop of tangy sauce. The image of her doing all kinds of wonderful things to his lips, his body—oh man all the ways she had driven him wild with her mouth shot through him.
Caleb’s ears thundered and his collar felt uncomfortably tight. So did his pants. “There’s still dessert.” He didn’t remember what they had ordered, but he sincerely hoped it was cold enough to douse the fire burning inside.
“I know.” Her cheeks glowed in the candlelight that flickered between them and flecks of gold sparkled in her hazel-green eyes. “I can’t wait to try the honey poached Asian pears and caramel-almond tart. Yum.”
“Yeah, me either.” But the only thing he really wanted to taste was Hannah. He wanted to lick the delicate skin at the base of her neck, dip lower to her breasts and rediscover her sweet, responsive nipples. Now that would be a helluva an amazing dessert.
“Liar,” she said.
Amusement underscored her accusation. “What are you talking about?” he asked. Had she read his randy mind? Not good. But maybe not such a bad thing after all? He shifted slightly in his chair and carved his fingers through his hair.
“I heard your stomach growling earlier.” She lifted her glass of chardonnay and sipped, then gave him a half-smile.
“There’s not a lot of food on the plates, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like this stuff,” Caleb said. “Besides, as long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“We should both be happy.” She arched a brow. “What time is it?”
He pulled out his iPhone and glanced at it. “Eight. Why?”
“It’s not too late to hit The Barley Stop before we head home.”
His stomach nearly wept with relief. “Burgers, fries, the best craft beer this side of Asheville.” Already his mouth watered.
She laughed. “And pool.”
“You don’t mind?” he asked hopefully.
“Not at all,” she said. “You’ve treated me to a great dinner, but I know this isn’t your thing. Besides, I’m fairly certain I can kick your ass at the pool table which, if I hedge my bets right, means I might win another few diaper free days.”
While the idea of winning a few diaper free days definitely appealed, the thought of watching her bend over a pool table in that sexy dress gave him all kinds of instant fantasies. “You’re on,” he said.
“Great, but not until I’ve had my dessert.”
“Deal,” Caleb agreed.
During the rest of their meal, though antsy to split the fancy restaurant and head over to the best burger joint in Sweetbriar Springs, Caleb
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