Page 34 of What A Croc
Snorting, I looked at the menu options. “If they’d even let us back into that steakhouse.”
“I’m sure you’re not the first omega to go into heat there,” Jackson assured me, lowering his voice so the table next to us couldn’t hear. There was pure fire in his eyes though, as if he was remembering those nights.
Putting my menu down because I knew what I wanted, I shook my head. “I like this place. I think Wyatt’s mentioned it before. He and his friends come here.”
Jackson looked around. “It looks fun. And no kids running around.” He winced, “I love my son, don’t get me wrong, but places like Chuck E. Cheese are my own version of hell.”
Smiling wistfully, I told him, “I don’t know. I always thought it would be nice to have had a birthday party for Wyatt in one of those places.” At the look of horror he shot me, I laughed. “Okay, maybe not.”
A petite server came over to take our drink orders, a beer for Jackson and a glass of house red for me.
“The bacon cheeseburger looks good,” Jackson told me, but I wrinkled up my nose.
“I’m going for the grilled chicken sandwich.” Picking the menu back up, I said, “Though one of these adult shakes looks really good. But I shouldn’t.”
“Why not?” he wanted to know, flagging down our server. “May we change our drink orders?”
“Absolutely,” she told us cheerfully, pen poised on her pad.
“Jackson, no,” placing my hand over his, I implored him with my eyes, “I shouldn’t. But you go ahead.”
“Baileys or something stronger?” He completely ignored my protests.
“Baileys. Chocolate and baileys.” I gave in, because it sounded good, and Jackson made me not worry about calories or the extra weight I carried in my soft belly.
“Two, please,” he smiled brightly at our server, who hurried off to change our orders. Picking my hand up, he turned it over and placed a kiss on my palm. That kiss shot straight to my dick, and I fidgeted in my chair. By the knowing gleam in his heated gaze, he knew exactly what he was doing to me. “No more worrying about your weight.”
“I wasn’t.” I denied, looking away from him for a second.
“You were, and I want you to stop it. You’re absolutely stunning just the way you are. Did I not make you feel beautiful during your heat?”
Cheeks heating, I did look away from him then, staring at the row of video games running along the length of the wall. “You did, yes.”
“Because you are. Beautiful.” He kissed my palm again. “Stunning.” Another kiss. “Sexy.” Another kiss.
My skin heated right along with my cheeks, and somehow I forgot all my protests. Because when an alpha as stunning as Jackson was telling me he found me all those things, I wanted to believe him, if only for a few hours.
Our server brought our shakes, and I took a sip while Jackson ordered for the both of us. The shake was cool, the ice cream good, and the baileys gave it a nice flavor that warmed me on the way down.
“Good?” Jackson asked, his eyes glued to my lips sucking the shake up through my straw.
Nodding, I sucked harder, then ran my tongue a little down the side of the straw.
I swore I heard Jackson moan, and I couldn’t help the impish little grin I gave him. “I’d better slow down before I give myself a brain freeze.”
“Uh-huh,” Jackson murmured, finally taking a sip of his own drink. “Oh, that’s good.”
We made small talk while waiting for our food to arrive. I told him a couple anecdotes about the kids at the daycare and assured him that Aiden seemed to be enjoying himself and making friends. He told me he was really enjoying his job, even if it was something completely different than he was used to.
He told me that Aiden’s birthday was next week, and I nodded. Aiden had been telling all of us about his upcoming special day, as he was very excited.
“The day after,” Jackson told me, “we’re flying home to Connecticut. My folks and Levi’s mom want to throw him a small, family party. My brother and sister, their mates, and my nieces and nephews. We’ll come home on Monday.”
A pang of…something hit my gut, and I pushed it away. Why did it feel like I was going to miss Jackson while he was gone? That was silly. And he was just going for a long weekend, to see his family. I had no hold on him. Not really. There was no reason to feel anything at all over him leaving town.
“That will be fun for you both, I’m sure,” I said, deciding I wasn’t going to think too hard on whatever it was I was feeling right then. “Aiden is very excited for his birthday.”
Jackson grinned, “Turning five apparently is quite the big deal.”
