Page 38 of Daddy's Little Mama Bear

"Yep," he replied. "I come here maybe once a week. It's a good place to eat, especially when I don't want to cook."

"You like to cook?"

Mac nodded his head. "My mama taught me how to cook from a young age. Wanted me to know how, so when I got a wife, I could spoil her."

Janie stared at him as he talked. His mom was amazing.

"Well, from the mac and cheese you made I have to say your mom did an amazing job," she gently said.

"Thank you. I'll have to cook for you again. mac and cheese isn't the only thing I know how to cook."

She kept her mouth shut. She wanted him to cook but that would require for her to go over to his house or him to hers. Was she prepared for that again?

"I'll have to cook for you and Eleanor," he said. "Do you like cooking?"

She scrunched her nose up and shook her head.

"I burn water," she replied. "I've never been good at cooking. My mom tried to teach me, but I just never got any better. No matter how closely my mom looked at me, it never worked out."

Mac wrapped his arm around her and brought her close. He kissed the top of her head and she relaxed into his embrace.

Just a couple of seconds like this. Get a taste and then she wouldn't allow it to happen again.

"That's okay," he gently said. "Not everyone likes or can cook. That just means I get to spoil you even more with my cooking."

Janie pulled away and opened her mouth, ready to tell him that it wasn't going to happen. But Maria came back with their drinks.

"Here are your drinks," she said as she placed them down. "Do you guys know what you want to eat or do you need a couple more minutes?"

Janie quickly looked back at the menu before looking at Maria.

"I'll take the classic cheeseburger with fries," she gently said. "Thank you."

"I'll take two classic cheeseburgers with one portion of fries," Mac said. "And this is all on one check. I'll be paying tonight."

"Alright! I'll put these in. Your food should be ready in a couple of minutes," Maria said before walking off.

Janie stared at him. That was a lot of food.

"What?" Mac asked. "Do I have something on my face?"

She shook her head.

"Are you going to argue with me about who is paying?" he asked a different question. "I already told you that when you're with me, I pay for things. I open doors. I will make sure everything is safe for you and Eleanor."

She shook her head again. While she wanted to pay for her own food because she could, she also didn't want to argue. He had already said it several times tonight. Maybe the next time she would fight for it.

But deep down she knew she wouldn't win the battle. Mac was very stubborn.

"You’re very stubborn," she said before she could stop herself.

Her eyes went wide and she slapped her hand across her mouth. Mac chuckled and shook his head.

"Not the first time I've heard that," he said. "I'm stubborn about things that matter to me. You and Eleanor matter to me."

Her hand fell down as she stared at him.

"Now, why were you giving me a look before?" he asked. "I don't think it was because you thought I was stubborn."

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