21 Lindsey #3
Dane chuckles now, and his irises swim with amusement and something else I can’t place. When I woke up this morning, my Dom feeding me in public was definitely not on my list of to-dos. But now?
Before I can overthink it, I part my lips.
Dane lifts the fork to my mouth, slow and careful, and I close my lips around the warm egg and the cool press of metal.
He draws the fork back with a measured hand, his eyes darkening as he watches me chew.
His eyelids lower, heavy with something that looks almost reverent, like feeding me is the best thing he’s ever done. Even if that’s an odd thought.
“Oh my god, Mom. You ate it!” Kas snorts. “Is it nasty?!”
Dane’s gaze lightens, and he lifts an eyebrow in question. I chew the food and inhale a breath through my nose. It’s…not bad. But the egg/chicken combo is not my favorite. The more I chew, the more I think my daughter is right.
I swallow and reach for my root beer. “It’s…”
Kas snorts again, and Dane shakes with his own laughter.
“It’s not that bad,” he says.
I pat Dane’s hand that’s resting on the table now. “If you like it, that’s what matters.”
He smirks at me. God, is everything this man does sexy?
Dane picks up his hand along with his fork, and he cuts into the omelet. He brings the bite of food, on the same fork that was just in my mouth, to his. His eyes stay on mine as his bowed lips close over the food and he eats it.
I shift in my chair, and when he swallows, he looks to Kas. “So yummy.”
More laughter fills the air, and soon we fall into an easy silence as we eat our meals. Kas eventually starts to ask Dane what it’s like to be a logger.
We both listen to him with rapt attention, learning that his dad was a logger and he followed in his footsteps. He talks about cutting down trees and reforesting to keep the planet healthy. He also mentions that he doesn’t do much logging now but doesn’t tell Kas what he does. Thank god.
My daughter hangs on his every word, and I have no doubt Kas will ask him to eat with us again sometime when we’re done. Not that I would mind. I should mind, because he’s my Dom. I shouldn’t be having meals with him. A meal that has felt an awful lot like a date.
My mind starts to carry me away with ideas of the future.
One that involves Dane and me together. One that involves meals at my kitchen table.
Meals with Nathan, Fox, and Morgan. The image of Dane sitting next to me on the couch while Kas plays a game or he tells her a story and tucks her in at night is when I know my brain has gone too far for the night. Way, way too far.
“You good?”
I focus my attention back on Dane. There’s concern in his eyes, and I blink away the haze of my stupid imagination. “Yeah, fine. Why?”
“Kas asked you a question.”
I look at Kas. “Yeah, honey?”
“I was asking if we could go get ice cream now.”
“I promised you we would.”
Kas bounces in her seat and does a little cheer. “You want to come, Logger Dane?”
“I think I need to get back home, Curious Kas.”
She snorts. “That is not a good nickname.”
“Is it…Ohio?” he asks.
Kas groans, and Dane smiles easily. Their interaction makes my chest warm for what feels like the millionth time in the last half hour.
There’s a part of me that would love for him to get ice cream with us, but I don’t need to feed my fantasy of him being more than what he is to me now.
Our impromptu dinner already did not help my situation.
“Just say weird or cringe, Logger Dane.”
He chuckles and steps out of the booth. Cheryl walks back over at that exact moment, and I swear she’s attempting not to glare daggers at me.
“You’re still here!” she says to Dane.
“Leaving now.” He doesn’t look her in the eye as he pulls out his wallet again. His eyes meet mine as he says loud enough for Cheryl to hear, “I’ve got this.”
“Dane—” I start.
“Let me take care of it.” His words are more than just words.
They’re a command. If the gentle edge to his tone didn’t say it, his eyes do.
He’s asking me to submit to him, here and now.
To let him not just take care of the bill, but to take care of me, something he said he’d do if I’d let him.
I just never imagined it would be in this capacity.
I dip my chin, and emotion builds in my chest. When was the last time a man not in my family paid for my meal? It’s been a long time, and while I think I should fight him on it, it feels good to let him do it.
“Thank you, Dane,” I say while holding his penetrating gaze.
“You’re welcome, Lindsey.” The warmth of his deep voice curls my toes like it often does, and I imagine, if we were in private, he’d call me his good girl again.
He clears his throat as if he’s imagining it, too, before turning to hand the cash to Cheryl. “Keep the change.”
She takes the money and walks off again with that same pout on her face.
“See you later, Kas the Sass,” Dane says.
Kas screws up her face. “Still cringe, Logger Dane.”
He chuckles and smiles at me, his tone dropping deeper as he says, “Bye, Lindsey.”
I don’t think I can speak, so I wave, knowing I’ll be messaging him later. For now, I’m wondering what the heck just happened between us.