Page 27 of Reluctantly Married

“I have an idea.” He slipped his hand around hers, the warmth of her touch increasing his pulse. “Come on.”

They went to the register, and he paid for the broken merchandise. Then they climbed back into the car, the sun hanging low in the sky, casting long shadows across the lot.

Megan fastened her seatbelt. “You’re not going to tell me where we’re headed, are you?”

“Nope.”

She tossed him a mock-angry look. “Fine, just remember, I’ll get you back if you choose wrong.”

He threw the car into drive and backed out of the parking space. “There’s such a thing as a wrong restaurant?”

“Yes.”

He held in a chuckle and raised an eyebrow at her. She was something else. “Like what?”

Her lip twitched. “Chuck E. Cheese.”

This time he couldn’t help but laugh. “You think I’d take you to a kid’s place?”

“You asked for an example.”

“Okay. Got it. No climbing mazes.” He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “Anything else I should avoid?”

She crossed her shapely legs, and he averted his gaze. “Nothing too expensive. I’m on a budget.”

“Deal. Anything else?”

“I don’t want to sit on the floor, eat with my hands, or watch belly dancers.”

“You’re no fun.” He changed lanes, thinking of the perfect place to take her. Five minutes later, they pulled into the Hooters parking lot.

Megan’s eyes grew wide. “You’re kidding.”

He pulled through the lot and went out the other side, to the Mongolian Grill.

She slugged his arm. “You’re mean.”

He parked the car. “They do have great food. Plus, it was worth it to see your face when I pulled into a breastaurant.”

“Haha, funny.”

They entered the Mongolian Grill, the smell of garlic and ginger making his mouth water. The hostess walked them to their booth past large murals of gold leaf dragons and waterfalls.

After their food arrived, Megan leaned forward. “What are you doing for Easter?”

He stabbed some noodles with his fork and glanced at the camera. “Visiting my father.”

“Oh. He lives in Iowa, right?”

“Yeah.” This was not what he wanted to be talking about. He decided to turn the tables on her. “What’re you doing?”

“Nothing special.” She looked at him, and he realized too late he’d look like a jerk if he didn’t invite her to come with him. They were dating. It was only natural she’d meet his father. But he couldn’t. Not on camera. How could he get out of it?

He nodded. “We should get together when I get back. Color some eggs or something.”

Her eyes lit up. “I haven’t done that since I was a kid.”

“It’s a date then.” He breathed a sigh of relief, successfully deflecting the conversation away from his father. Not that he didn’t want Megan to meet him, that wasn’t it. He wasn’t ashamed of him. But it couldn’t be on camera. He would not give Leon the chance to mock his father.

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