Page 36 of Landing Her Eagle
23
DAPHNE
I peerover my menu at Logan. He’s so handsome in his dark green sweater. I love how it deepens the Christmas tree green of his eyes. He’ll be home for Christmas this year, so maybe we can decorate a tree together. I haven’t done a tree the past couple of years because it’s just me, but if it will be the two of us, I’d like to do something. I have the decorations from my family growing up and Gran’s too. There’s a Christmas shop here on the Mall. Maybe we can find an ornament to remember this time. Or not. Maybe it’s stupid to plan for something that’s probably not going to happen. He’s going to go to Europe and will get involved in stuff and not come home for Christmas. He does this every year. But he’s never broken a promise to me. He hasn’t said he’d come home and then didn’t. He just doesn’t commit.
I refocus on the menu to avoid the rising sadness. “I’m getting a grilled ham and cheese. Want to split a basket of fries?”
Logan smiles. “Yeah, fries sound good. I’m getting the bacon cheeseburger. I’ll eat your pickle.”
I can’t help it. I snort-laugh because that sounded kinky, and there are times I have the sense of humor of a twelve-year-old boy.
He smirks, which tells me he’s about to make a suggestive comment back, but our server’s arrival stops him.
“Hi, I’m Steve. Can I get you something from the bar or an appetizer to start?” Steve is around our age, with dark blonde hair flopping in his bright blue eyes. He’s handsome.
I smile up at him. “Hi, Steve. I think we’re ready to order everything. I’d like an unsweetened iced tea and the grilled ham and cheese on rye. Can I get that with Swiss cheese, please?”
“For you, beautiful, absolutely.” Steve winks.
I feel myself flush. I’m not used to this kind of attention. He turns to Logan and asks what he’d like.
Logan orders his bacon cheeseburger, a basket of fries to share, and a Guinness.
After Steve walks away to place our order with the kitchen and get our drinks, I ask, “What’s up with ordering fries to quote,share with my girlfriend, end quote?” I even do air quotes to be extra obnoxious. Why should Logan have a monopoly on the trait?
“He was flirting with you. That’s not cool.”
What the hell? Logan’s never jealous.
I reach out and grab his hand where it rests on the table and lace our fingers together. “Who cares? I’m here with you, and there’s no one else I want to be with. You didn’t have to metaphorically pee on me to stake your claim.”
He unlaces our fingers but lifts my hand to his lips to press a kiss to my palm. “I’m going to sound like an asshole saying you’re mine, but you are. I don’t like other guys trying to pick you up. You don’t recognize it, but guys flirt with you all the time.”
I scoff. “No, they don’t! Guys never notice me.”
Steve comes up to the table with our drinks. “Guys totally notice you. I was flirting with you.” He gestures with his chin. “Those two guys at the bar are checking you out. Your boyfriend is the luckiest man in here tonight.”
I’m flabbergasted, but curious. “I’m obviously here with someone. Why bother flirting with me?”
Steve shrugs. “There’s always the chance he’s your brother, or the date doesn’t turn out well. I want to save my place in line. It’s a pretty successful strategy.”
I blink. I’m pretty sure that’s the skeeviest thing I’ve ever heard. “Oh.”
Steve walks away, and Logan flashes me anI told you soexpression. He’s so annoying when he’s right.
“Are girls more attractive when they’re with a guy? No one usually pays attention to me.”
Logan looks at me like I’m daft. “Daphne, guys have always paid attention to you. You just don’t recognize it.”
I don’t believe him. “Name one,” I challenge him.
“Soccer Matt, Ben, Ferd, Baseball Matt, Liam. Shall I go on?” Logan leans back in the booth with his arms across his chest and a smirk on his face. He named four guys we knew in college off the top of his head. They were classmates of ours, and a couple were friends of his. Ferd was his roommate. His cousin, Liam? No way.
“None of those guys in college ever asked me out. They were not interested in me.”
I see red creep up Logan’s neck. “Well, I made it known you were off limits.”
What the ever-loving hell? My hands ball into fists on the table, and my jaw tightens so hard I think it might break. Thank goodness I don’t have any mystical powers because there would be lasers shooting through my eyes as well.
