Page 44 of Necessary Roughness

“I haven’t eaten most of my dinner.”

“I think the clean-plate rules are suspended for tonight,” he said.

“Is it weird and tacky to ask for a box for my leftovers?”

“I want one too,” he said. “We’ll be weird and tacky together. Which dessert would you like?”

“All of them,” she said with a laugh. “Well, the chocolate one. I’m so full, though, I’m not sure I could eat it right now even if we ordered it.”

A few minutes later, the server appeared to whisk their plates away to package up the leftovers, and Tanner got to his feet. “Will you excuse me for a few moments?” he said.

He reached out for his cane and set off in the direction of the men’s room. He needed to make a pit stop before the ride home, but he hoped he could intercept their server without Jordan’s seeing him.

Maybe he should try this later or just forget it. He still couldn’t move fast enough that he could get to the kitchen without attracting her attention.

“Mr. Cole? Is there anything I could help you with?”

“Will you add one of the chocolate desserts to our takeout bag? I’d like to surprise my guest later. Please add it to our bill as well.”

“Of course.”

Tanner could hardly wait to see the look on Jordan’s face when she opened that box. It was corny, but he hoped she would love the little romantic gesture.

The server turned and headed back to the kitchen, and Tanner took care of things in the men’s room. He made the slight turn into the restaurant’s main dining room and spotted Jordan. She was staring out the window at the vivid sunset, chin in hand and smiling. He couldn’t stop staring at her, either. If he didn’t watch where he was going, he’d crash into someone else’s table.

He knew he was still an ass. She’d seen him at his worst. He’d been embarrassed by his own behavior more than once since they met. He wasn’t sure how he could ask Jordan to put up with him, but he was going to have to make some changes. It hit him like a bolt of lightning: he still had to win her, but he couldn’t lose her.

She glanced up at him as he sat down in his chair across from hers. “It’s beautiful out there,” she said.

“Almost as beautiful as you are” came out of his mouth before he could stop it. He saw the surprise in her eyes and, seconds later, the glimmer of tears. He reached out for her hand again. It felt small and cool inside his. It took her a minute or two, but he spied the moment her expression turned from stunned to teasing.

“I’ll bet you say that to all of your dates,” she said.

“Only to you.” He glanced around for the server. “Shall we?” he said.

***

TANNER WALKED JORDAN to his front door like they were still in high school. He wasn’t walking fast. She knew he was still in pain from walking more than usual tonight. He seemed in no hurry, however. He dawdled as stars twinkled overhead, the scent of flowers surrounded them, and the sweet summer night wrapped them in mystery. The closer they got to his front door, the more her heart pounded.

“I had so much fun tonight,” she said. “Thank you so much for dinner.”

“Thank you for coming with me,” he said.

He set the shopping bag of leftovers down next to his feet and slid his arm around her. She pulled breath into her lungs as she leaned forward to rest her cheek against his. She slipped her arms around his waist.

“Aren’t we supposed to hate each other or something?” she said.

“I thought that was our deal,” he said. “Maybe we should come up with a new agreement.” He stroked her cheek. “How about we only hate each other on days that end in y?”

“Too many,” she said.

“Weekends?” He cupped her cheek in his hand.

“Everyone does that.”

“Monday, Wednesday, and Friday?”

She tried to tell him he had a deal, but she couldn’t get a word out before his lips touched hers. He wasn’t rushing this, either. He trailed small, soft kisses over her mouth as he pulled her closer. She was already a trembling wreck, and he hadn’t gotten to the good stuff yet. He dragged his mouth off hers long enough to say “DP.”

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