My lips tilted up and I lifted my fork. “See, you took a ride on the wild side and look what gifts were bestowed. That is, of course, if you like steak and prawns.”
“Hell to the yes, I do. I’ve never even seen this on the menu,” Kyson said with awe.
The waiter smiled and pressed his hands together. “It isn’t. The chef found out you wanted to know what he was making and felt inspired to make you something he fancied. This was the result,” he chirped after setting down a bottle of red wine we hadn’t ordered and two glasses. “Enjoy!”
“Apparently, the chef wants us to pair the wine with the meal.” I grinned.
Kyson poured us each a glass and we dug in. All conversation ceased until we’d both gotten a good quarter of our food into our gullets.
“Damn, this is probably the best meal I’ve ever had.” Kyson wiped his mouth with his napkin.
I smiled around a mouthful of creamy, delicious pasta. “Mmm-hmm. Just wait until I cook for you. I’ll blow your mind, baby,” I teased.
His gaze jetted up to mine and his eyes flashed with desire. “I’ll be looking forward to having my mind blown...amongst other things.”
My mouth dropped open in shock and then his eyes widened, as he must have realized how what he said sounded.
He lifted his hand and waved. “No, Isa, I didn’t mean it that way...”
Kyson looked miserable as I began laughing almost as hard as I did in the car. “You should see your face. Freaked you way the heck out!” I taunted and cut another savory chunk of perfectly cooked steak and plopped it in my mouth. “You’re so easily riled.”
He shook his head. “Normally, I’m not.”
“Well, chill out. I’m not easily offended, especially when I know a person’s intentions.”
“For that, I am grateful.” He smirked.
We finished up our meal, chatting a little bit about our families. I told him my dad was an architect and my papa owned his own landscaping business. I already knew his dad worked at the auto mechanic garage the motorcycle club owned, and his mother was an accountant, who worked freelance from her home. My guess was that his mom did his books for Turner Brothers, but he never clarified why he felt his mom did a lot for him and I didn’t pry. I found out that he owned his own home and had been in business for six years. Also, he shared that he was thirty and had graduated college at the University of Colorado with a business degree. Of course, I shared bits and pieces of my past as well as details about my culinary degrees and my time abroad learning under people my industry considered masters.
After finishing our food, we left our table and headed to the bar area where he introduced me to a game I’d never played before called shuffleboard.
“This is so fun!” I squealed and pushed the blue circular disc down the long, sand-covered table. It smacked right into one of his red discs. Mine pushed his off and over the side of the table to the cubby area that meant it was out or fouled.
“You would think it’s fun since you’ve been kicking my ass.” He came up behind me and pressed his front against my back and reached around me with one of his discs, keeping me wedged in place and incapable of moving. Not that I wanted to, because the hot guy pressing up against me was well...pleasurable.
He leaned his face over the crook of my shoulder, put one of his hands on my hip and squeezed as he lined up his move to take out one of my discs.
“Um, I’m not quite sure this is how you play?” My voice was deeper, sultrier, than I intended.
He nuzzled my neck and inhaled before placing a kiss there that ended with a featherlight tongue touch. “I think this is exactly how to play the game, Isa.”
I reached around to put my hand over his on my hip and leaned back against him. His face was close to mine, in easy kissing distance. I licked my lips and he watched me do so, leaning closer until we almost touched.
“Hey, Kyson!” I heard a man’s voice approaching.
Kyson turned his head automatically and the spell was broken. Dammit.
He let me go and reached out a hand. The tall, dark and—it had to be said—handsome guy shook his hand and clapped him on the shoulder. “Haven’t seen you in here since you came with Hope. What was that, at least a few months ago? Brother, you can’t go that long before visiting.”
Hope.
Kyson stiffened at the mention of her. I assumed she was a woman from his recent past.
My heart sank but I straightened my spine and moved around Kyson and waved at the good-looking guy who resembled Camden, except his hair and eyes were dark to Cam’s light.
“You must be Isabeau. Good to meet you. I’m Porter. The entire fam has heard so much about you from Suda Kaye. She’s been gushing about your beauty and how sweet you are for the past couple months.”
I smiled and shook his hand. “Aw, that’s nice of her. And you have a great place here, Porter. The food was to die for.”
Kyson wrapped an arm around my waist and tugged me to his side in a rather territorial move I wouldn’t have expected. “And she’d know as she’s a chef,” he said with a hint of pride.
Porter rubbed a hand over his unshaven jaw. “That’s right. Cam mentioned you were a chef, but he said you were focused on desserts if I remember correctly.”
I nodded. “It’s my passion. I’m actually opening up a bakery with my best friend right next to Suda Kaye’s store. Kyson here will be doing the renovation.”
“I see that. And it looks like he’s also mixing business and pleasure,” he jabbed good-naturedly.
My cheeks heated as Kyson responded, “Hey, when a stunning, smart and sweet redhead enters your sphere, you toss out any archaic rules about not mixing business with pleasure and take a shot at the opportunity in front of you.”
I gripped his biceps and leaned my head against him, wanting him to know I liked what he said about me and appreciated that he shared his feelings.
“Can’t blame you one bit. I’m just sorry I didn’t meet you first.” He winked at me and I laughed. “I’ll send over another round of brews on the house.”
“None for me. I’m driving. Safety first, man.”
He nodded.
“None for me, either.” I prodded a finger at Kyson’s very hard chest. “Have to keep my wits about me,” I teased.
Kyson waved Porter off and smirked. Once again, I wanted to kiss those beautiful lips. They were mesmerizing.
“I’m thinking we should uh...” He licked his lips and I swear I could feel the physical ache between my legs. I may have even whimpered a bit, something I had zero control over. “Take the, uh, walk downtown.”