Page 10 of Royal

My face reddens at the compliment he has given me. I smile shyly, and the waitress comes and takes our drink order along with Royal's suggested appetizers.

This restaurant is above my budget, a regular steakhouse is the most I have dared to splurge on.

“Do you trust me to order for you?” he asks when he sees me scanning the menu for the second time, unable to decide on what I want.

I don’t recognize half of the food on the menu, so I nod thankfully. “Yes, please. I’ve not been here before, so I’m not sure what is good.”

He lifts his hand, and the waitress walks over immediately. Royal lists off a bunch of items, and the waitress walks off with our menus.

As Royal studies me, I can see he wants to ask me something, but he doesn’t. He reaches over and grabs the leg of my chair, dragging me over to him so we’re sitting together on one side of the table.

I shriek at the sudden movement and giggle once my chair is no longer moving across the floor. Royal laughs at my reaction. “I didn’t like you being that far away from me,” he explains.

My face burns with all the butterflies I’m feeling, and my cheeks tingle from smiling so much and the burning excitement I’m feeling in this moment. I know my face is red.

“Okay,” I say softly, liking that he wants me close.

I can feel him. Though our bodies aren’t touching, I can feel his presence close to me. His smell is intoxicating, and I want to stick my face in the crook of his neck and breathe him in.

I manage to control myself and not throw myself at him.

Royal tells me stories of him and his MC brothers, about how hard it was to start the club from nothing, and the pranks they did growing up with each other through the years.

“My brother and I were best friends. He practically raised me because our mother was so busy screwing her way through men who could take care of her. I have had more stepdads than I could count.”

Royal cringes at that. “Since I have had Penny, I have not dated anyone because I don’t want just anyone to come into her life.”

I hold my breath at his confession. His eyes are dark, staring at me like he is willing me to understand what he is saying.

This is not casual for him.

I didn’t want to assume it wasn’t, but I clear my throat, trying to play it cool. I put my hand over his that is resting on his thigh. “I haven’t dated anyone since my ex because my son needs someone to come into his life and be a father figure.”

He growls at that and puts his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his chest. “It fucking kills me because I know you have struggled with being a single mother.”

It has been so hard. I have starved on some occasions because it was either me eating or my son. The choice was always going to be my son, no matter the cost.

But I’m in a better place and have budgeted to the point where I can live without worrying about starving.

“But I made it. You made it too, Royal. I know it was hard because Penny was sick when she was born.” My heart breaks at the thought of any child being born addicted to drugs.

He gives me the sweetest and softest look. “You’re too fucking sweet and pure for this world.”

“Penny is lucky to have a dad who loves her, and I can tell how much you love her,” I finish, saying what I was planning on telling him.

He shakes his head, smiling. Leaning over, Royal places his lips to my forehead, letting it linger for a few moments. My eyes flutter closed, basking in the feeling.

When was the last time someone touched me like this in such a sweet way? I can’t even remember.

The moment is interrupted by the waitress, and we break apart. I laugh under my breath, and she smiles at us both. “Sorry about that,” she apologizes.

Royal chuckles, his hand on my shoulder. My stomach growls then. I never ate after work because I knew Royal had dinner planned.

He looks down at my stomach and smirks. Embarrassed, I cover my face but can’t stop the laughter. That was way too loud. He busts out laughing with me, holding his own stomach. “Oh shit, they better hurry before you start eating the tablecloth. As if we willed it, the waitress comes back out with a tray of appetizers. “They must have feared for their décor.” He snorts and laughs again, and I stare at him as he does. I love the way his eyes light up happily.

The waitress slides the food in front of us and leaves us to check on the other patrons. In front of me is a shrimp dish over a martini glass with some sauce in the middle.

“Prawn cocktail,” he informs me. I take a bite of the shrimp, making sure to get a heaping bit of the sauce. The burst of flavors is fantastic.

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