She finally met his gaze. “And prepare your date’s favorite dessert.”
“That’s why you asked earlier?” he said.
She nodded. “And since you said your favorite dessert was me…” She leaned in a little, and the wrapper of the edible panties crinkled a bit in his tight grip.
“You’re very clever. And I love all of it.” He gently kissed her lips, soft but thorough, stealing her breath and thoughts.
This was so out of her element. “You don’t think it’s stupid?” She wasn’t good with romance, but she wanted to make Gage feel all the things he made her feel. Wanted. Special. Seen.
“You’re incredible, sweetheart,” he whispered against her lips. “Thank you.”
Chloe smiled—she’d won a small victory here. Maybe he was right. Maybe this romance thing wasn’t so bad. Granted, she’d given her date a fruit-flavored thong in the middle of a five star restaurant, but whatever.
She gave him a final kiss, then took her seat. Gage set his gifts on the edge of the table and sat, too.
Across the white linen and flickering candle, his eyes sparkled. Looking at this man made her melt. Just being across from him was its own delicious kind of foreplay hinting at what the night would bring when they finally made it to the bedroom. Why hadn’t she agreed to this sooner?
Oh, right. Because she was feeling something for him. A lot of something.
But she wouldn’t get caught up in those thoughts and fears. Not with so much riding on tonight.
Tonight, she wouldn’t overthink it. She’d just enjoy dinner.
And later, she’d enjoy him.
“Five star restaurant and we cut out for ice cream?” Chloe said, walking along Main Street, licking her vanilla ice cream cone. Vanilla. Not chocolate. As far as Gage could figure, her choice indicated she was neither sad nor stressed. Excellent.
He also knew the creamery was her favorite. Every time they’d talked in the past, she’d brought up the flavor she’d tried that week.
“Thought you’d like my dessert choice.” He took a lick of his own strawberry cone.
Her eyes met his. “I do. Very much.”
Gage had never expected tonight to go as well as it did. Dinner was wonderful, but Chloe was even better. She was trying, which meant she clearly cared about him—that alone was enough to make him hold on to the hope they could actually make this work.
They walked down the street, the lights of the nearby shops twinkling. She slipped her free hand into his, and it felt good. Better than good. It felt right. As though strolling down the street after a nice night of talking and laughing was so normal, he could feel it in his bones.
And he wanted more. Wanted to know her more. Wanted her to finish all the things she’d ever stopped herself from telling him. Wanted to hear her mind when she spoke and watch her eyes when she laughed. He just wanted…more.
“Ever think about adding ice cream to the menu at your restaurant?” he asked.
She smiled and took another lick of her cone. “Are you kidding? I could never beat the creamery.” She moaned around another long lick of the ice cream, and the sight of her tongue made Gage’s cock take notice. But he stuck to his mission. Getting to spend time with her outside of bed. If this worked, it would be all the more satisfying when they fully gave in to their desire.
“Besides,” she finished, “Natalie would kill me if I had a direct dessert competition.”
He nodded. Time to push just a little bit. “So it’s safe to say that the dish you’re trying to make for the anniversary isn’t a sweet one?”
Her stride slowed and she glanced at the ground. Gage knew that look. Like if she could turn her vanilla cone into chocolate right now, she just might. But when she looked at him, there was a different light sparkling behind her eyes. Like she…trusted him. At least wanted to see if she could.
“I’m trying to make crab cakes. My mother’s epic, amazing, can’t-be-replicated-ever crab cakes.”
“I see,” he said. And he wanted to help. Because of all the times he’d seen Chloe, he’d never seen something be so important to her. “There are only so many ingredients in crab cakes. Did your mom get creative and use a difficult recipe?”
“No,” she said calmly. “That’s just it. It’s not putting them together that’s hard, it’s how she cooked them. The ingredients I can handle, well…for the most part. But no matter what I do, I can’t cook them right. It’s really annoying.”
She huffed and took another lick of her cone. But she kept holding his hand. Kept talking to him. And damn, Gage wanted to keep that rhythm going. She was opening up. Trusting him with more.
“I always end up burning them. Even when I turn the stove down.” She shook her head. “I swear the stove just hates me. It’s secretly a robot out to destroy anything I bring near it.”