28. Michelin Star Rednecks
Michelin Star Rednecks
SARAFINA
In the car, Carter rested his hand on the middle console, palm up, and wiggled his fingers in request. “You waiting three whole business days, or are you gonna get in here, pretty girl?” Carter crooned, while the dim glow of the console illuminated his devastatingly beautiful face.
“What does this mean?” I asked nervously, sliding my hand into his. We’d held hands lots of times, but not just because, not like this.
“I just want to be close to you tonight, that’s all.” He shrugged casually. “Is that okay?”
“Yeah.” I smiled to myself. “I guess that’s okay.” I tried to steady my breathing as his callused thumb stroked over the back of my hand, making me feel all kinds of things that I tried to shove down and forget about.
Entirely distracted by the feel of his hand around mine, we drove along the scenic waterfront for some time before I suddenly realized where we were going.
Carter pulled up at The Pearl, a seafood restaurant that I’d been dying to eat at for years, but for one reason or another, I’d never booked the reservation. How he’d remembered that, I had no idea .
Carter rounded the car and opened my door, extending his hand to me. “How did you get a reservation at the last second?” I asked as he guided me inside with his hand on the small of my back.
Carter shrugged and raked his free hand through his hair. “I know a guy.”
Inside, a very pretty woman greeted us, and she gave me a warm, polite smile before she gave Carter an extra-long look. My stomach clenched as I waited for him to reciprocate, and to my relief, he didn’t seem to notice her at all.
Carter and I were shown to a candle-lit table in a quiet corner of the solarium that jutted out over the river, and the view was incredible.
Boats drifted by with twinkling lights, while the moon reflected off the rippling surface of the water, and just beyond the solarium was an art déco inspired bar.
There was a live band serenading us with sultry music, the entire space was beautiful, and utterly romantic.
Was I reading into things? What did all this mean, exactly?
Carter stepped in front of the server and pulled out the tufted, high-back chair for me and then settled into his own, a mischievous look in his eye as the candlelight flickered between us.
“I’ve always wanted to eat here.” I said suddenly, wondering if this was a date. It couldn’t be though—right?
“Oh, I know.” Carter smirked.
I fidgeted nervously while the server placed our napkins on our laps and took our drink order.
After our glasses of white wine were sampled and then poured, Carter grinned, unable to contain himself as we started on an appetizer of chilled oysters and caviar. “I have a surprise for you, and if you’re not into it, you can totally veto it.”
“Okay?” I placed my empty oyster shell back on the pebbled ice with peaked curiosity. “What is it?”
“I know you’ve wanted to eat here for a while, and if you want something off the menu tonight, we can totally do that.
” He leaned forward on his forearms. “But, I also know you well enough to know that you typically prefer Burrito Bell over caviar, and since this is a special occasion,” a small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth as I listened intently.
“Remember that one summer at the beach house?”
Of course I did. That had been one of the best summers of my life.
The boating during the hot summer days, the big family meals in the evenings, the campfires and s’mores on the beach, long after our parents had gone to bed.
The flirting. Even back then. Well, I’d been flirting, or trying to at least. “What about it?” I asked, turning the memory over in my mind fondly.
“I thought maybe we could share a seafood boil tonight instead of whatever stuffy menu they have planned.”
“Like where they dump it on the table?” I quirked a brow, looking around. Carter nodded, a grin spreading even wider across his face. “How did you even remember that I liked that?”
“It’s not hard to remember the important things.” He watched me intently.
I blushed, unable to hold his gaze. “I don’t think they do that here, Carter.” In fact, I knew there was no way they were dumping a giant pot of seafood directly onto the pressed tablecloth in front of us.
Carter smirked, all too proud of himself. “They don’t, but if you want it, they’ll do it for us.”
“You never cease to amaze me with your thoughtfulness.” I admitted, shoving my emotions back down before I slowly grinned. “Let’s ruin the tablecloth.”
“That’s my girl.” He grinned back, and something exciting and electric hummed between us as we gazed at each other, leaving me feeling more hopeful than I’d felt in a long time.
This time, I didn’t push the feeling away. He was soothing something inside of me, even if I wasn’t sure exactly what that was. I decided I could let myself have this moment, could let myself feel… happy . Just for one dinner at least. Surely that was allowed .
Carter’s gaze shifted over my head, and he pushed his chair back as a deep voice sounded behind me.
“Would you look at this riff-raff.” A tall, muscular man in a chef’s apron shook Carter’s hand and pulled him in for one of those bro-hugs where they clap each other on the back, way too hard.
“Riff-raff?” Carter grinned. “You’re one to talk.” He motioned to me a moment later. “Ethan, I’d like to introduce you to Sarafina Devereux.”
“No shit.” Ethan shot Carter a look as he reached for my hand. “It is very nice to meet you, Sarafina.” Ethan bent, bringing my knuckles to his lips with a wink, and I blushed when his lips lingered a little longer than I’d expected.
“Okay, okay. That’s enough of that.” Carter said stiffly and gripped Ethan’s shoulder hard .
Ethan chuckled deviously and crossed his very buff arms, pleased he’d confirmed what I’d been trying to figure out all night. Carter and I were on a date.
Heat bloomed across my chest at the realization, and I suddenly realized Ethan had been talking to me.
“It sounds like you two are going to throw off my whole service tonight.” Ethan said, and I looked at him blankly as he pointed a thumb over his shoulder.
“I owe this guy a favor, and he wants me to horrify my regulars and set up a redneck, backyard boil in here.” Ethan rolled his eyes at Carter.
“Because that’s totally what I earned the Michelin Star for. ”
I could feel my cheeks heating even more. “If it’s too much, we don’t have to?—”
“Hey now.” Ethan waved his hand, cutting me off with a sympathetic look. “Gorgeous, I’m totally joking.”
“Oh,” I breathed, my head still in the clouds. “Okay.” I took a heavy sip of my wine and glanced at Carter, who was already looking at me.
A date.
We were on a date ?
Oh my.
“I’m happy to do it, truly.” Ethan looked at Carter. “I’d do anything for this guy, and for Liam’s kid sister, for that matter.” I nearly choked on my wine.
Shit-what?
“I’m going to whip up the best damn boil you’ve ever had. We’re going backyard, but elevated as fuck.” Ethan nodded to himself, his mind clearly occupied with the options already.
“Appreciate it, man.” Carter clapped him on the back.
“Anytime.” Ethan nodded. “Holler if you guys need anything at all.”
We watched as Ethan strutted over to the bar and threw back a shot of something clear, before disappearing around the corner, presumably towards the kitchen.
“Pays to know someone.” Carter said as he settled back into his chair.
“How exactly do you know him?”
“Through Liam,” Carter said, watching my reaction too close for comfort.
“Right.” I chewed on the inside of my cheek and adjusted the silverware nervously.
“Does that worry you?” Carter asked, tracing his finger over the rim of his glass.
“Uh, yeah.”
“Why?” His voice was low, thoughtful, as he cocked his head, still watching me carefully.
“What if he says something? What if Liam finds out about—” I shifted, unable to find just the right words.
“He won’t.” Carter purred, and the timbre of his voice caressed my very bones. “But I’m glad to know you’re worried.”
I swallowed hard, realizing I’d outed myself. This was a date-date , and Carter wanted to see if I knew it. How I felt about it.
Sneaky bastard.
My heart fluttered, and I suppressed a smile. I was on a date with my best friend. With the guy I’d been crushing on since forever. Was this real life?
I tried to keep my cool, and more importantly, not make it mean anything more than it was. Just a simple dinner between friends… that was romantic .
Shit. There was no way I was going to keep my cool. I was freaking the fuck out.