"Really?"I blinked at him in disbelief.
"What?Oh, hey guys. I didn't know you'd be here…"
"Fucker.I'm surprised you told me to wear panties." I wasn't mad. Not in theleast. I mean, how could I have been? It was Jimmy and Dennis. "I thoughtyou guys were fishing?"
"Wewere. Until we got the call from Bill and told us where we should have dinner."Dennis looked confused; Jimmy looked hungry. And not for chicken wings.
"Um,excuse me Miss Blackwell. This is our date. You're supposed to ignorethe hired help." Chief chuckled and slid into the booth, motioning for meto sit beside him, facing the boys.
"Oh.My apologies, oh great one." I bowed and scooted in next to him.
Chiefput his hand on my thigh while he perused the menu with the other hand, slowlysliding his calloused palm over my sensitive skin.
Jimmyand Dennis were looking over their menu, giving me little glances and smiles.
"Hi!I'm Devin. I'll be taking care of you folks tonight. Can I start you out withsome beverages?"
"Buddraft?" Chief answered first.
"Surething. And for you, ma'am?"
Ialmost ordered a glass of wine. But I had a feeling I was going to needsomething stronger. "Whiskey sour." It wasn't like I got to enjoy mylast one, anyway.
"Sincewhen?"
"Myyouth. Long story."
"Learnedsomething new about you."
"Learnedsomething new about you, too," I answered.
"What'sthat?"
"Youbought another new aftershave."
Hechuckled and went back to the menu. "Do you like it?"
"Bestone yet."
"Tellyou what. Next one, you pick out."
"Deal."I grinned.
Hekept sliding his hand up and down my leg, stopping short of going under myloose dress. It wasn't just his aftershave that I smelled… It was his fear.Since the moment Dennis and Jimmy came into view, the whole situation felt awkward.Forced. I had an inkling why.
Ileaned against him. "You don't have to do this you know."
"What?"
Turningmy head, I kissed his cheek. "First, tell me why you set this all up."I already knew the answer, but I don't think he realized the truth of it.
"Becausethe last time–" He shut up when the waiter brought our drinks. Anotherserver, in a skirt shorter than my dress, walked up to Jimmy and Dennis'stable. I growled instinctively.
"Here'syour drinks, folks. Need a few minutes?"
"Please,"Chief answered for us while I watched the blonde bimbo engage in a little bitof flirt and serve.
Devinglanced at me nervously and left us alone.
"Didyou just growl?" Chief's question had been the slightest of whispers.
"Maybe."
Hechuckled. "So, as I was saying, I planned all this because that night…wasthe hottest thing I'd ever seen."
"So,you though to recreate it with the shoe on the other foot?"
Hechuckled nervously. "Yeah."
"Notgoing to work, Chief," I answered adamantly.
"Youdon't want to?" I could hear his heart cracking.
"Itdoesn't matter if I want to or not. You don't want to."
"Huh?"
Isighed and took a long pull off my whiskey sour. It was heavy on the whiskeyand light on the pucker. I coughed instead of squinting. Turning in the booth,I faced Chief. "Jimmy is Jimmy. You are you."
"Whatdoes that mean? You don't think I'm as fun as Jimmy?"
Iput my hand on his leg to show my sincerity. "It's not who is morefun, or who is better looking. Hell, it's not even about who has the biggerdick." I wiggled my eyebrows at him. "I love all of you for differentreasons. But this doesn't have anything to do with me, and everything withthe two of you."
"I'mconfused."
"You'rea man. It's your nature." I patted his leg. "Jimmy likes to show meoff. You like to watch. He's an exhibitionist. You're a Voyeur. Watchinghim have his way with me is what turned you on so fucking much. Why would youever think the reverse would work out?"
Heopened and closed his mouth several times while he thought about it. Then hegave me an apologetic look. "You're right."
"Youdid all this to show me a good time, didn't you?"
Henodded.
Thatearned him a kiss on the nose. "We could have eaten KFC on the couch, andI would have had a good time with you. You're kind of a pain in my assmost of the time, but even when we fight, even when I'm angry, one thing I loveis talking to you. That's our thing. Conversation and extremely hot sex."I shot him what I hoped was a genuine smile.
Whenhe did his little head tilt and smile thing, I knew he finally understood. "Sorry."
"Forwhat? Trying to make me happy? Thanks for understanding that you don't have besomebody you're not to do it."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"You'renot going to get bored with me?"
Ilaughed, leaned closer, and kissed him like I meant it. "Can't. You pissme off too much for me to get bored."
"Gee.Thanks." He rolled his eyes and drank some of his beer.
"Andyou make me smile too much to get bored. Make me happy. Make me feel loved. Andsquishy. I love you, Bill."
"Uhoh. I'm in trouble." He threw his arm around me and I shifted in the seat,leaning into the crook of his arm.
"BecauseI called you Bill?"
"No.Because you're perfect." He kissed the side of my face.
"Awww.Suck up." I chuckled at him.
"No.That part comes later." He whispered in my ear and a shiver ran down myback. "So, what do we do with those two?" He nodded at the othertable.
Iturned and looked. They were very focused on their beers, trying theirdamnedest to not drop eaves. "Well? You kids wanna sit at the big peopletable?"
Theylet out the breath they'd been holding, smiled, and grabbed their drinks.
Jimmylet out the breath he'd been holding and looked at Chief. "Oh, thank theLady. I mean Lambresco's was one thing, but this place is packed. No way I would have startedanything in here. You and I are going to have a long talk tomorrow about when andwhere."
Ilaughed at Jimmy's relief.
"Nah.Stuff like that is better left to the perverted delinquents," Chiefanswered with a chuckle.
"Damnstraight."
∞∞ ∞
"Yousure you want to spend the night?" Chief had his hand on the key, ready tounlock the front door of his house.
"I'dlove to. But only if you want me to. The memories in this house are yours, notmine. We can sleep at my house if you'd rather. I don't want to intrude."
Helet go of the keys and wrapped me in his arms. "You're not intruding.Ever. I want you
