“I’m starved. Let’s hurry.” She pulled his hand toward the restaurant.
“Then you want me to shop with you… at Walmart?” He looked mortified.
“I know it’s not your usual speed, Mr. Giorgio Vamp-mani, but we can get you a razor for that three hundred o’clock shadow and some sunglasses for driving and a few other things, including snacks for the road tomorrow. Everything we need. One place. And it’s cheap.”
“Alright…well, let’s get you fed and then check in to our luxurious suite at the Econo El Cheapo motor inn and then we’ll go to… Waaaalmart?” He put on a southern drawl and drew out the Walmart word as he put the convertible top up and Kyla stretched in the parking lot.
“Hey! Walmart is frickin’ awesome. Okay?”
He shook his head at her and wrinkled his nose, “You’re crazy.”
“Don’t be such an elitist!” she teased.
“I’m trying…” he replied with sincerity.
She gave him a shy smile, “You’re doing good.”~~~“Our first date, kinda,” Kyla said, smiling as they sat. The scent of cinnamon in the attached country store was inviting but it wasn’t anywhere near as good as the cinnamon toast taste of him in bed that morning. She was suddenly anxious to get back to the motel and get to bed. Her face flushed.
He smirked across the table and when she caught his expression she flushed brighter. He seemed to be fully aware of what she was thinking about.
“Hey,” she said sultrily, “What are you in the mood for?”
He lifted the menu and gave her a sexy look right back, then said, “I’m thinking ham and mac & cheese with some cheese grits and corn bread.”
So not sexy but still sexy, strangely.
She wiggled her brows, “Very southern of you. I think I’m having the country fried steak.”
“What about dessert?” He arched a brow at her, and now there was an innuendo on the table.
She moistened her lips and used her phone sex voice, “I’d like to binge on dessert. I haven’t binge indulged in dessert in too long. Way. Too. Long.”
Tristan chewed his cheek and Kyla felt heat prickle along her spine as his gaze heated. Then he swallowed hard and looked down, his expression dropping. Kyla frowned.
Was he afraid of being intimate with her? Was he afraid he wouldn’t have self-control?
She reached across the table and wiggled her fingers, motioning for him to give her his hand. He did. She squeezed it and tried to give him a reassuring look. This guy was always trying to be so strong for her and she could see underneath the mask of confidence was a man who was a mess. He was obviously afraid of what he was capable of as well as afraid of outside sources that could harm both of them and through all that he had to search for her, knowing that she was hiding from him and afraid of him.
She wanted to burst into tears. She didn’t. She held it together. He was smiling all of a sudden.
“What?” she asked.
He shook his head, “I love you,” he squeezed her hand tighter and then leaned forward and touched his lips to hers.
“I love you, too.” It was getting easier to say. She added, “So much, Tristan.”
He closed his eyes and he let out a slow breath, appearing to savour her words.
Dinner was pretty good and they talked like a couple getting to know one another. Kyla loved how normal it felt. He was more than a pretty face, too; he was smart, well-read, they had similar political views, and she could see how he’d make a good choice to run a company --- even if that company wasn’t exactly mainstream. The conversation was easy, normal, fun.
She knew it wasn’t a normal date, of course; they were on a mission, a potentially life-altering one, and he was a vampire and she had some coveted vampire elixir blood but it felt almost normal tonight. Two people enjoying a hearty meal in public and being happy for a moment. She knew Tristan was hyperaware of their surroundings. He could see the entrance and looked narrow-eyed at everyone who entered the restaurant but he seemed to be enjoying their time together, too.
When the server offered dessert menus they both stared at one another as if they shared a private joke. Kyla chewed her lip, thinking about tasting him, about having him taste her.
His gaze heated under her stare and the waitress finally cleared her throat, obviously uncomfortable at being smack dab in the middle of what must’ve looked like imminent intercourse. Tristan thanked her but declined dessert and then dropped money on the table. They then walked hand in back hand to the motel where he checked them in.
The room was a standard motor inn type place with two queen sized beds, a TV, dresser, and a bathroom. It was pretty unremarkable but it was clean and definitely a step up from that RV Kyla had slept in back on Vancouver Island.