Page 24 of Chomp's Challenge

“You’re welcome to some if you’d like,” he says, waving his hand over all the plates.

“I suspect this club sandwich and the onion rings will be more than enough for me, Chomp,” I reply. “What’s this?” I ask, pointing to a small cup filled with sauce.

“Try it, Ariel, it’s for the onion rings.”

Cautiously, I dip one of them in the sauce and take a bite. It has a slight kick to it but definitely adds to the overall flavor. “It’s pretty good,” I muse as I finish my first onion ring, uncaring that I’m double dipping, since Chomp has his own cup of sauce. If he doesn’t start eating his, though, it could be in danger because this sauce is freaking addictive!

“You should watch out,” I tease after swallowing my bite. “I might snag yours.”

He curls his fingers around his food with mock horror. “You wouldn’t!”

“I can, and I just might,” I joke as I dunk another onion ring and pop it in my mouth. I’m making yummy noises and I don’t care. This food is delicious.

“It’s a good thing we can come here every day for lunch. I suspect you’re gonna want these onion rings often.”

“You know, I think I might.”

When we’re done eating, I push my plate toward Chomp. There’s half a sandwich but none of the onion rings left. I know he’ll finish my sandwich. He still looks hungry as he finishes off a third Coke.

“Here. Eat this. I’m full.”

I don’t have to ask him twice. Chomp picks up the sandwich and chows it down within four bites. I giggle as I shake my head. He’s insatiable.

“What?” He stacks his plates and I note he’s careful to clean up after himself. Something I never saw Perry do. It’s refreshing to see a man who’s confident and mannered. “I gotta feed my gator.”

“Yes, I see that.”

“You ready to head back?”

“Sure.”

Chomp catches Janie and waves her over, telling her we’ll take dessert to go, and he needs the check. While she’s bagging up the sweets he ordered, he pulls out his wallet and reaches for a twenty and a ten, placing them on the table. It’s his tip, I realize. A generous one.

Janie returns and Chomp gives her cash, telling her to keep the change. I slide from the booth and Chomp joins me, his palm resting against my lower back as he leads us from the diner. The heat of his touch sinks through the material of my shirt. It’s soothing in a way I can’t explain.

He carries the to-go bag in one hand and reaches for me with the other. I almost debate refusing him and decide I don’t want to. I’ve enjoyed his company today. I tighten my grip around his fingers and feel his glance in response, but don’t say a word.

When we arrive at the shop, I release his hand after a gentle squeeze. “Do you think it’ll be busy?”

“Probably. People usually book the campsites in advance of the upcoming weekend. I’ve got a tour this afternoon, so I’ll be leaving soon.” Chomp places the bag from the diner beside me as I take a seat behind the counter. “I figured you might like to try Maggie’s brownies and chocolate chip cookies, so they’re here when you want them.” He winks at me. “If you eat them all, I won’t judge.”

“That good?” I ask, amused.

“Best in the state,” he quips, before lowering his chin and dropping a kiss on my head. “See you in a few hours.”

I blink, somewhat shocked that he made such an intimate gesture, but I like it too. It’s innocent, I know. The kiss to him is an endearment for his mate. For me? It’s affection and the confirmation that he’s trying to protect and understand my boundaries. We might not have finished our discussion at the diner, but it’s obvious that he heard me, and I wasn’t treated as though my thoughts weren’t important. He makes me feel as though I’m important and it heals a tiny part inside of me.

Chomp is sure making it hard for me to dismiss the whole mate idea. In fact, his sweet treatment, affection, concern, and need to protect me are part of the reason I feel safe in Yukon Bluff. He’s replacing all those horrid months and memories with new ones, making it hard not to like that gator shifter a little too much.

After he leaves, I go over everything I learned earlier today since I won’t have him readily available to ask questions. Thank goodness, I took good notes and I decide to create a manual to make it easier for anyone who might have to step in and help. It also dawns on me that I didn’t turn in my employment application or the banking information he’s going to need to set up direct deposit for my paycheck, so I pull it out of the crossbody bag I bought the day before and put it in his mailbox to handle.

Customers come in steadily all afternoon and before I know it, Chomp is walking back into the store with a grin on his face. “Are you ready to go?” he asks, glancing over the two books that have seen a lot of action today. “Holy shit,” he murmurs when he sees that tours are booked solid for the next two weeks, and every campsite has been rented as well. “I think you’re good luck, Ariel. This is the busiest we’ve been since opening up, I think.”

“Hopefully, I didn’t screw anything up,” I reply. “I put my application and the bank information in your inbox since I forgot to do that this morning.”

“I’ll take care of it in the morning. Let’s shut the computer down for the day and I’ll work up the deposit. We can drop it in the bank’s overnight box before I walk you home.”

“You don’t need to do that, it’s still light outside.” His eyes briefly glow, and I realize his gator’s letting me know he’s listening in. Finally, I shrug and say, “Okay, you can walk me home.”

---