Page 60 of Blade

“Nothing.” He waved me off as he tried to hide his grin. “Thank you for taking care of this.”

“You’re welcome.” If he’d thought of something silly I wouldn’t press him about it. He’d end up embarrassed and that wasn’t what I wanted on our first date. “This shouldn’t take long.”

It took long.

I was patient.

I was polite.

I was shocked.

“Um, I really don’t want one of our meals to sit out for half an hour while you make the other.” What was going on in the kitchen? “That’s…”

Not reasonable.

“I apologize for the delay. Let me see what I can do.” She hurried over to the window to the kitchen where she’d been whispering with the cook just a moment ago. It didn’t go any better this time but she tried smiling it out as she came back over to me. “I’ll try to get it out to you as quickly as possible.”

There was no way that was what the guy cooking had told her…and I was starting to wonder what he was…besides angry and terrible at organization at the very least.

Did I want to wait what was probably going to end up longer than she was estimating?

No.

Okay, what would be best for us?

Us.

There was an us now.

We needed food and to keep getting to know each other.

We needed to relax and…and I wanted us to curl up together.

Yes.

“I’m going to need to cancel my order.” It was the right call for the situation but I was going to have to make sure Blaine knew I hadn’t been rude.

Her sigh said she’d been prepared for that answer. “I understand.”

And she also got things handled quickly as the cook glared at me and mumbled something about…ruining his fun?

What?

I played dumb human and smiled at the server as she said everything was taken care of on her end. Blaine was still smiling as I walked over to the table. “What are your plans for us, my mate?”

“Making you lunch at home and finding something to watch.” It might not be a flashy first date but his smile said he approved. “And I’ve got an idea for a good bribe to make up for some of this.”

The way his eyes twinkled said I probably should’ve been more specific about that bribe part.

Oops.

I’d meant stopping to buy brownie mix at the Dollar General down from the campground.

“I think I’m going to enjoy that.” Still wearing a shit-eating grin, he stood and nodded toward the door as he brushed his arm against mine. “I’ll admit to being a bit out of date on a lot of things, but I don’t think bribes go out of style. I have some ideas for that as well.”

The way his smile shifted to something hotter sent a shiver through me and the way his eyes sparkled said he hadn’t missed it. “I…I’m very curious to see what you come up with.”

I wasn’t going to tell my mate he couldn’t bribe me…I was nervous, not stupid.