Page 10 of Mac
"The mid-town location."She flipped both steaks and poked at them a moment before sitting back down.Picking up her cup, she took a sip and set it back down.
Mac frowned."Didn't they close that one?The one on Grant and Campbell, right?"
"Actually, they did close that one, or rather they moved it.I manage the location at on Speedway just east of Country Club."
Mac closed his eyes and mentally drove up Speedway."In the same shopping center as Whole Foods?"
"Exactly.How did you know that?"
"I know most of this city.I may not notice every detail, but I've got a pretty good idea of what's in the area."
"That's impressive.Hold on to that thought a moment, I need to grab something from the kitchen."She hopped up and hustled inside but wasn't gone long.She came back out with a large plate and went straight to the grill where she poked at the steaks again then pulled them off.
Mac lifted one brow but didn't say anything.He did wonder if she'd over cooked his or undercooked hers, but his ma had taught him better than to question the cook, at least until he'd tasted their fare.
"Let's eat inside, I've got a couple potatoes baked to go with this and it will be easier to eat at the table."Elyse led the way inside, carrying the steaks.Mac picked up his tea and hers and followed.
CHAPTER8
Elyse led him into her kitchen marveling at how he wasn't at all what she'd expected when she'd first seen him rumbling up the street on his motorcycle.She found that she liked talking to him and occasionally found herself telling him more than she'd planned.Like what she did.
She knew from experience that most men found managing a bookstore boring.In the past, when she'd told someone, she could see the light of interest die in their eyes.She didn't know why, she loved her job, but she'd seen it happen more than once.So she'd quit offering it up.Most of the men she'd dated in the past didn't push after she told them it was boring and those that did eventually find out, were far enough into the relationship that they no longer cared.
"So, you manage a Bookmans, any real benefits to the job?killer discounts?First access to new books, movies, whatever?"
Elyse shrugged as she plated their dinners, pulling the potatoes from the microwave and adding them to the steaks."I can pull pretty much anything from the shelf and read it, as long as I put it back in the end.If I want to keep it, I have to pay for it just like anyone else."
"So, you do get first access."He sounded intrigued.She set the plates on the table, his rare steak in front of him and hers in front of her empty seat, then went to fetch flatware, seasonings and a couple things from the fridge.
"I guess, unless it's something we've got a wait list on, though I could take those, I rarely do.It wouldn't look good if a customer was waiting for something and found out I'd brought it home to read it first.Know what I mean?"
"I get it.It's not that you can't, it's that it's not good customer service.You want to get it to the waiting customer as quickly as you can.It builds goodwill and creates devoted customers."
"Exactly!"She laid the flatware on the table and set out the salt, pepper and butter."Do you need steak sauce?I think I've got some of that A1 stuff in the fridge, but I couldn't tell you how old it is."
"I'm good.The only reason to use that stuff is to cover up the taste of a bad steak."Mac met her gaze a slight smile curling the edges of his mouth."I've never had a steak bad enough to need it."He winked, and heat rushed to her face.
Elyse wasn't sure why but something about the way he said it made the room feel warmer as a pool even warmer than the room settled low in her belly.
Why does he affect me this way?she asked herself.She didn't know, but it had been way too long since anyone had made her feel like this.Like a schoolgirl who blushed at every innuendo or hint at something intimate.She'd forgotten how heady it was and right now, she was going to enjoy it.At least for tonight.Tomorrow was soon enough to examine things and pick them apart.
"I have some sour cream for the potato, if you like?"
"Butter's fine."Mac shook his head as he picked up his fork and steak knife.He used the knife to point at her chair."Sit down and eat with me.Your steak's getting cold and you don't need to wait on me."
Elyse blinked then did as he requested.First she doctored her potato, so the butter would have time to melt while she ate her steak, then put a second pat of butter on top of the meat and rubbed it around a moment, until it had mostly melted before slicing off a chunk and taking a bite.
Elyse had to close her eyes a moment as the flavor burst in her mouth.The flavor of the beef, the seasonings, the char and the butter all blended together into one of the best tasting things she'd eaten in a long time.
When she opened her eyes, she found him watching her with a look she didn't know how to interpret.She lifted one brow in question and met his gaze for several seconds before turning her attention back to her plate.Whatever was going on in his head, she wasn't sure she wanted to know.Not as long she had food this good sitting in front of her.She popped the second bite in her mouth, this time she was expecting the taste and didn't close her eyes or savor it in quite the same way.Instead she smiled across at Mac and when she'd swallowed, she noticed he hadn't taken a bite since she sat down.
"Is there something wrong?"She pointed at his plate with the point of her knife.
He glanced down and seemed surprised it was still waiting for him, nearly untouched."Sorry, no.It's good," Mac cut a bite and spoke again before he put it in his mouth."It's really good."
Elyse watched the way his full lips moved as he chewed and wondered if they were as soft as they looked.Unbidden the thought popped into her head, wondering what that pale, reddish stubble that covered the bottom half of his face would feel like against her skin.Along her cheek, sliding farther down.Heat rushed to her face and she turned her attention back to her food, hopefully before he'd noticed her blush.
She kept her gaze on her plate until her steak was gone then glanced at him as she reached for the salt and pepper.His eyes weren't on her, so maybe he hadn't noticed that she had avoided looking at him.
