Page 79 of Things We Fake
She gave a quick nod and disappeared toward the bar.
I leaned back in my surprisingly comfortable chair. “You know the menu by heart?”
“You don’t come here for options. You come here for the burger. It’s legendary, trust me.”
When the waitress returned, she placed two dripping, glistening burgers in front of us, piled high with caramelized onions, gooey cheddar, and a toasted brioche bun. The fries came in little baskets, dusted withpaprika and just greasy enough to require napkins on standby.
My mouth watered as I pulled my tray closer. “You weren’t kidding. This looks incredible.”
Sue watched me as I took my first bite. It was sautéed bliss! The bun melted in my mouth, so soft I didn’t even have to chew it. The meat was done to absolute perfection. The cheese was creamy, the onion was crunchy, the sauce had just enough kick to caress my taste buds into ecstasy.
“Oh my God,” I said, muffled by food. “This is ridiculous. How does a dive bar make a burger this good?”
She grinned. “Lots of butter.”
We clinked our beer glasses and dug in, the combination of greasy food and cold beer making everything feel a little less complicated.
“Watching a fellow gourmand eat is a delightful experience,” I said, admiring Sue’s appreciation for the delicious food.
She smiled around a mouthful. “I’m always squeamish about eating on dates.”
She sucked a drop of sauce off her knuckle. My mind short-circuited. I imagined her sucking on my knuckle. Or some other part of me.
“Why’s that?” I asked to distract myself.
“Well, take burgers, for instance. They’re messy as hell.” She was struggling to keep hers from dripping all over her hand. “One wrong move and you’re wearing half of it. It’s really hard to eat one like a lady.”
I was amused. “They’re supposed to be messy. That’s the best part.”
She took another bite, this time abandoning the dainty, proper nibbles she had been struggling with.
I watched, my gut tightening in appreciation. I wanted to please this woman in every way possible, and feeding her was a satisfying start.
“Now that’s what I like to see. A woman unafraid to devour her food.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Devour? I’m eating, not taking down prey.”
“Same thing. Besides, I think it’s sexy.”
“Me, eating a burger, covered in sauce? That’s sexy to you?”
I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping lower. “Yeah. Watching a woman actually enjoy her food instead of picking at a salad like a tortured Victorian ghost is sexy to me.”
She chewed, considering. “So if I get barbecue sauce all over my chin and let grease run down my fingers, you’re still into it?”
My eyes dropped to her mouth, her lips full and shiny. Kissable. Devourable.
“Depends.” My voice was a bit more than a growl. “Would I get to clean it up?”
A rush of pink spread to her cheeks, and I wondered if she could read my thoughts. Was it the beer that was doing the flirting? I took another swig of mine to make sure it didn’t stop.
“You’d want to clean it up?” she asked, licking beer foam off her upper lip.
“Oh yeah.”
“Then I might get really dirty tonight.”
“I’m up for anything.”
