“Veal. That’s what I usually have.”
“But…isn’t veal baby cows?” My brows draw together.
“Yep.”
“Jesus, I’m not eating baby cows!” I screw up my face in disgust. “I’ll have the steak instead.”
Carrick sputters out a laugh. “You won’t eat baby cows, but you’ll eat adult cows? Where’s the logic, babe?”
“They’re babies!” I gesticulate. “It’s just wrong!”
“But it’s okay to eat the mammy cows?”
Fuck. He’s got me there.
“Fine. I’ll have the crayfish.”
“But what if that’s a baby crayfish?”
Bastard.
Carrick’s eyes are filled with mirth. Even Owen is choking back a laugh.
I narrow my eyes at Carrick, and then my gaze goes back to the menu, quickly scanning. “I’ll have the spinach ravioli.” I slap my menu shut, jutting out my lip.
“Aw, babe, I’m just teasing. Have the steak.”
“No, I’m oddly off it now.”
“Don’t sulk.” He tugs on my pouting lips with his thumb and finger.
As if I could stay mad at him.
“I’m not sulking. Promise.” I smile easily. “I’m good with the ravioli.”
He smiles back at me with such warmth that I feel it coat my skin like the sun is shining on me. He hangs his arm around the back of my chair.
As I turn my face forward, I see Owen watching us with obvious interest.
It makes me wonder if Carrick is always this affectionate with women in front of his dad. Owen doesn’t seem surprised by it, so maybe Carrick is.
Then, I have the thought of whether he was like this with Sienna, and I suddenly feel ill.
I’m glad when my glass of wine appears in front of me. I take a deep gulp.
“Are you ready to order?” the waitress asks.
Carrick slides me a grin. “Yeah, we are.”
We place our orders and settle back into a comfortable conversation.
Owen asks me about my family, but I artfully dodge any conversation about my dad with Carrick’s help. Then, Owen asks me about my time in stock car racing. He seems genuinely interested.
And I’m feeling relaxed. Maybe that was the point. Relax the prey and then swoop in for the kill when it’s least expected.
“I’m just gonna go to the restroom,” Carrick says to me, a wicked gleam in his eye.
If he thinks I’m leaving this table to join him, he’s got another thing coming.
Not that I’m adverse to public restroom sex with Carrick. I’m just adverse to it while we’re out to dinner with his dad.
“Okay.” I give him a sweet smile. “Don’t be long.”
He playfully narrows his eyes, and then he surprises me by taking my chin in his hand and kissing me softly on the lips.