Tattooed Sweetheart

I couldn’t help it. I let that smile wash across my face so it was so big and probably so goofy-looking that Malkolm probably thought I was a lunatic.

He was sweet, so sweet that I wanted to just melt against him. Malkolm may look hard and rough around the edges with those tattoos, but he was a good guy.

He was more than that, although I didn’t know what that was.

He gave me this slow, sinfully sexy smile, and without saying anything, he gestured toward the restaurant and led the way. I could tell he was tense and wondered if he was just as nervous as I was.

“I’m sorry about taking you here for our first date.”

My footing faltered silently, not because he mentioned the restaurant, but because he said the first date, like there was definitely going to be more than one. “What?” I finally said after a second passed and I realized he stopped right before the entrance. I could hear country music coming through the closed double doors, and although everything was so bright with the lights from the signs on the building, and the streetlights, I was in my own world as I stared up at Malkolm.

“I’m sorry I picked Porky's for our first date.”

Reality finally settled in, and I felt my brows lower in confusion. I looked at the front entrance for a second before turning my attention back to Malkolm. “Why would you be sorry?” Yeah, Porky’s was a boisterous establishment, but it was also a place I’d never gone before, and it looked like their food was incredible.

He rubbed the back of his neck and stared down at his feet. “I thought maybe… it was too gaudy, too loud.” He looked up at me then.

“I think it’s going to be great, Malkolm.”

I saw his whole body relax and then a smile of… relief crossed his face.

“Come on. I’m starving, and all this hype about it being the best barbeque has me curious to dig in.”

He grinned then, flashing straight, white teeth and looking so happy. He held the front door open for me, and I walked in, instantly amazed by the place. The lights were low, but there were enough neon signs on the walls, even hanging from the exposed wooden beams, that the whole atmosphere was almost dreamy in quality.

There was a hostess desk off to the left, but numerous people loitered around, leading me to believe the wait-time was probably insane.

Malkolm leaned in, and I felt his warm breath along my ear. I suppressed a shiver of awareness. “Give me one second,” he said low, gruffly.

I nodded as I watched him head toward the hostess desk. He said something to the older woman working, and she looked down at a list, then nodded before grabbing two menus and walking out from behind the podium.

Malkolm was back to me and tipping his chin toward her direction. “Ready?”

I nodded again, not about to ask how we’d gotten in so quickly. I couldn't see this place allowing reservations, but maybe?

We passed a massive soup-and-salad bar and weaved around tables of people wearing bright white plastic bibs, their table topped with all kinds of barbequed meat.

Once seated, the hostess handed us our menus but gave us the rundown about how we could experience the full Porky’s experience, all you can eat, where servers brought platters of all the meats they provided.

Then she did another rundown of all the sides, desserts, and the million different types of beer they offered.

We were left alone after that, and I stared at Malkolm, feeling my eyes widen. “Wow, that was a lot to take in.”

He chuckled and nodded, and I glanced down at the folded plastic bib sitting at my place setting.

“How about we do the all-you-can-eat meat? They have so many different choices; it’ll give you a chance to sample them all.”

My stomach growled, but thankfully the music was loud enough it drowned out the sound.

“I’m game,” I said, excited by the whole date so far. He’d brought me to a new place, and not just any run-of-the-mill chain that seemed to be at every street corner. Not to mention, my company was pretty incredible.

Our waiter arrived, and we both ordered beers. I wasn’t a big alcohol drinker—not counting when Tatum brought over wine with dinner—but beer and barbeque seemed like a good combination. Malkolm said we’d do the all-you-can-eat barbeque, as well as the sides sampler and the dessert tray.

I was impressed he thought I could handle all that food, but I was hungry enough that I was going to try a little bit of everything.

When we were left alone, the look he had on me made me feel as if he was touching me. His stare was that intense.

“So. What do you think about this place?” He had to lean forward and speak loudly in order to be heard over the country music.