Page 28 of One Night Stand After Another
He watched her load a crostini with the triple crème. Her lids dipped in ecstasy, and he chuckled. It really was that good.
She chewed and swallowed. “Did you really book a room in this Inn?”
He nodded. “Way better than a random motel we might hit on the interstate. Plus, we were already in the area. Food coma. Sex coma. Rinse, drive, and repeat.” A sudden thought made him wonder if choosing the paired cider and wine option might have been a mistake. “Do you drink? They’re bringing booze with every course.”
“I drink.”
The server who had served their cheese board appeared with salads that the chef must have tossed lightning fast. “Arugula with champagne vinaigrette, pomegranate, fresh figs, and toasted pumpkin seeds paired with—” She paused to consult her notes. “Sorry, the Chef made a substitution, and all she wrote was ‘very hard cider.’ I’ll have to ask her who made it.”
“Please do,” Zane said with a perfectly straight face.
An interesting combination, but he couldn’t complain about the timing. Or the flavors. Perfection. But there was something tickling his brain about the ingredients. Something he’d read? Some past menu? Then it hit him.
“No worries on embarrassing the chef,” he said to Clara. “She definitely has a dirty sense of humor,” he said. “These ingredients are all aphrodisiacs. We did an entire aphrodisiac menu for Valentine’s Day last year, and I distinctly remember hilarity as my staff planned the courses.”
She made a face. “I hope she doesn’t send out raw oysters. That’s a classic, right? So not my thing.”
“I don’t think you spring raw oysters on someone without a warning. Plus, it’s May. Not a great time to eat oysters. I’ve got my money on a garlicky, hot pepper dish with a lean protein. For stamina. Hopefully something I can eat one-handed.” He slid his hand back into her lap, and she smacked it, making him laugh.
He picked up a halved fig and held it to her lips. She accepted it with a smile, flicking his finger with her tongue. He didn’t know what it was about her that made him so wild, so happy, yet so darned comfortable at the same time. He could get used to this.
He almost said that exact thing out loud, but then his brain kicked back in.Don’t pressure her.You promised her fun, a good time. Blow her mind with no strings attached and then maybe…maybe…she’ll be willing to give it more than tonight.
In companionable silence they settled in to work on their salads, but the spark burned between them. Banked for now, but he couldn’t wait to encourage it to vibrant, burning life after dinner.
Chapter Nine
Zane was right. Just as they finished their salads, their server arrived with fragrant, steaming bowls of pasta, vegetables, scallops, mussels, and shrimp in a creamy broth. The scent of garlic was heady, and she was glad they were both eating the same thing, because it smelled so good her mouth watered. It was decadent and light at the same time. The perfect size portion, too. She could eat it all without feeling like she needed a nap, and the semi-dry champagne was a perfect complement to the slightly spicy, rich sauce.
When the to-go bag of dessert hit the table, she was tempted to peek, but it was more fun to wait. Kind of like her entire day. She’d really enjoyed being with Zane, driving, shopping, eating, and knowing the entire time that it was a prelude to spending the night with him. It really took the anxiety out of dating.
Not that they were dating. But she knew he wanted to be with her tonight. She also knew it wasn’t going to last, so she didn’t have to worry about driving him away. Since last night had been so incredible, she wasn’t in the least bit apprehensive about whether tonight would go well.
“All set?” Zane asked.
She nodded and stood, swaying just a teeny bit, feeling a little buzzed from having two drinks in a relatively short period of time. He wrapped an arm around her waist. “Steady.”
“What fun is that? Then you won’t hold me up,” she teased.
“I’ll hold you up.” He took her lips in a scorching kiss she felt everywhere. “I’d also like to hold you down. I have all sorts of fun ideas.”
“Well, then,” she said breathlessly. “Let’s go.”
He led her into the restaurant, past the hostess stand, and straight to a wide desk perched at the foot of a stunning staircase. He checked them in and accepted a key, all without letting go of her hand.
They climbed, her anticipation building with each step.
She gasped when he opened the door of their second-floor room. A king-size four-poster bed covered in fluffy pillows dominated the space. The walls were painted a rich blue, and the furniture looked antique. “It’s lovely.”
“I’m glad you approve. I’m going to run down and get our bags. I know I’ll regret it if I don’t get them now.” He heaved a deep sigh, making her laugh.
“Take the key. I’m going to shower.”
His eyes blazed. “Now I’m going to be climbing stairs carrying heavy bags with a hard-on because I’ll be thinking about you naked and wet.”
“Or you’re going to pay a bellhop to bring the bags up later so you can race back up here to join me in the shower.”
“Goddamn right I am.”
