Page 52 of The Billionaire Submissive
As soon as the elevator door opened, he lifted her up and had her pressed against the inside wall, high enough she could look into his eyes. “I’ll show you a loose tongue.”
She draped her arms around his neck. “Later. Talk food to me.”
He pressed her harder against the wall, working his knee up between her legs so she was riding his thigh. “Make me.”
“I’m fucking starving so fucking tell me where we’re going.”
He grinned and let her drop down to the floor. “Five. And we’re going to my favorite place for a change.”
“I hope my clothes won’t offend anyone.”
“Not at all.” He didn’t elaborate, which she chose to allow, simply because she relished the surprise. Where would posh Mr. Morgan take her to eat tonight in jeans and a risqué T-shirt?
Driving down Payne Avenue was like backing up thirty years. He turned onto his old street and parked in front of the older two-story house he’d grown up in. Two large maples anchored either side of the front porch, and more large pines towered over the house in the back yard. Roses tumbled around the front and down the side of the house, all lovingly planted by his mother. Wild and overgrown, they were a gorgeous splash of color against the craftsman-style home. He didn’t have to roll down the window to remember those heirloom roses he’d given her every birthday and Mother’s Day would smell incredible.
“Surely this isn’t where we’re eating,” Lilly said slowly.
“No, but I can’t come to this neighborhood without stopping by to say hello.”
Her eyes widened. “We’re here to see someone?”
“No. Just a bunch of old memories.” He smiled but he knew it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “This is where I grew up. Until Mom passed away.”
Lilly threaded her fingers through his. “Does anyone live here? I mean, do you want to go inside, or does it make you uncomfortable?”
“Not at all, I love this old place. I bought it as soon as I could afford it twenty years ago. I even lived in it for a while. It was nice, actually. I felt closer to her, more connected to my roots and where I came from. Ricky lived next door and we were inseparable. We played ball in the street and rode our bikes all over the neighborhood, though we weren’t supposed to go all the way down to Payne. When we got older, we’d often sneak down to the bakery. Even then, Ricky knew his food. The most delicious crème donuts you’ve ever had.” Her stomach growled, making him laugh. “We can come back for a tour some other time. Let me show you where Ricky and I both got our first jobs.”
He drove back down Payne, turned onto Minnehaha and down a block to reach the little corner diner he’d practically lived at. “We started as dishwashers, cleaning the nastiest, filthiest monster pots you’ve ever seen. Later, I escaped to my aunt’s house and then started working on Dad’s boat, but Ricky stayed in the kitchen and eventually took over on the grill. He never left food after that.”
“For which my stomach is still thanking him after such an incredible weekend. Hank is happy too. He got a two-hour walk this morning.”
Waiting at the light before pulling into the parking lot at Gus’s Family Diner, he shot a quick look at her face to gauge her reaction. He’d never been with a woman who enjoyed to eat and didn’t claim to be on a diet every time the dessert tray came by. But if she wasn’t happy…I’ll tell Ricardo to come up with something delectable with fruit and less sugar. Less cream.
Oh hell no.
She winked at him. “Maybe you can help me out with a really hard, sweaty, rough workout tonight. Then I can justify having a nice big juicy hamburger and fries for dinner.”
He had to wait a few moments to make sure his voice didn’t crack with desire. “My lady’s wish is my command.”
Gus’s Family Diner was the typical greasy spoon diner with a stainless steel counter and old-fashioned drug store stools lining the bar where you could watch the grill masters at work. Classic black and white tiles covered the floor, making the red tables and chairs pop. However, the glass tiles on the wall and shiny counters were brand new.
“Back in my day, this was a popular place for kids to hang out after school for a fountain drink or hand-dipped shake, but like so many diners across the country, it fell on hard times as the generations changed. Kids don’t want to come hang out at a greasy hamburger joint any longer. They just stop by McDonald’s, too busy playing on their phones to even sit down and have a conversation.”
“Let me guess, you bought this place too.”
He smiled. “Guilty as charged. I couldn’t stand by and watch this place fall into disrepair and then oblivion. Ricky came back for a while and helped train an all-new staff. We also renovated, going for a classic, clean vibe. We’re still not making much money, but it’s nice to see the old place stay true to its roots.”
“I had no idea you were such a sentimental man, Donovan.”
He could only shrug like it meant nothing, but her warm approval made his stomach feel like he’d just drank a cup of hot cocoa.
“Is there a place we can sit and spread out some sketches without getting food all over them?”
“Sure.” He led the way to the dining room housing the same jukebox from when he’d worked here. There were a few older couples sitting at small tables, but the family-sized table big enough to seat eight was empty. “Will this suit?”
Lilly laid her portfolio down on the table and started pulling out papers. “Perfect.” The waiter showed up, a young man, surely not old enough to even shave, to take their order. Not holding back, she stayed true to her word and ordered the biggest bacon cheeseburger on the menu with a side of hand-cut French fries and a cherry soda. She organized the papers, sorting them into some kind of order. After the waiter brought their drinks and she didn’t even notice the real cherries swimming in her Coke, Donovan realized she was nervous.
“So what do you have to show me?”
