Page 68 of Mayhem
"This is still translucent and spongy. It isn't done." Paetyn then took the fork, stuck it in the thickest part, and twisted. "And the skin should have flaked when I did that if it were."
The server looked down at the plate for a few seconds before his eyes went to Paetyn, and Erin felt as if he should have just taken the plate away in the beginning instead of trying to convince them.
"If she eats this, she can get sick. It could give her food poisoning or a parasite," Paetyn informed. "Will you take it back and have them cook another?"
"Our chefs are highly trained, and I can tell you with the utmost confidence that the fish has been prepared beyond standards."
Erin had never seen Paetyn mad, but she could tell he was annoyed at the server. His job wasn't to convince them of the food's preparation. He should have just taken it back. If it went back to the kitchen and turned out to be fully cooked, then the chef or manager could return to the table, inform them, and they'd eat their words. However, Erin was sure Paetyn wasn't wrong.
"And I'm telling you, as a chef that owns several Michelin-star restaurants, that the fish is undercooked," Paetyn responded.
The server stared for a second before nodding slowly. "I'm going to have my manager come over."
When he was gone, Paetyn put the fork down and sighed. Erin reached over, took his face in her hand, leaned in, and kissed his lips softly.
"How'd you know the fish was undercooked?"
"I could smell it."
Erin wasn't sure she could tell the fish was bad from the brief smell Paetyn got; she probably would have only been able to do so when she bit into it. She turned her attention as the server approached the table, this time with another man behind him.
"What seems to be the—" he cut himself off as his eyes shifted to Paetyn. "Mr. Silva, we haven't had you join us in a while."
"Yes, I'm starting to remember why."
Erin saw the man wince a bit at Paetyn's slight.
"I hear there's an issue with the fish."
"It's undercooked," Paetyn responded.
"My apologies. I will get both of your meals remade and expedited, and it is on the house." He grabbed their plates, handing them to the server, and the two walked away. As they did, Erin heard the manager say, "If he said it's undercooked, it's undercooked."
"Your culinary prowess and name strike fear and admiration in restaurant managers," Erin stated, remembering the man who introduced himself to Paetyn when they celebrated Nik's birthday.
He shook his head. "I hate pulling the 'I'm a successful chef card,' but I wasn't about to let you eat that."
"Thank you, baby," Erin kissed him again, and she sparked another conversation as they began their second wait for their food.
Paetyn stood behind Erin, hands on her waist as they moved to the slow, melodic beat of the music. They'd been dancing on and off for a couple of hours, and as Erin did a slow wind against him, he tightened his hold on her waist and leaned down, attaching his lips to her neck. He didn't hear the moan she released, but he felt it against his lips as it vibrated along her throat.
She tilted her head, giving him more access, and her hand came up to the back of his neck, playing with the hair at his nape.
After a moment, he removed his lips, and Erin turned, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him down. She placed her lips against his and continued to move to the music, kissing him in time with the tempo of their swaying.
He couldn't remember the last time he made out in public, surrounded by people who probably had enough liquor in their systems to make them bold enough to watch and stare unabashedly.
When the song went off, he continued to kiss her for a few seconds longer before pulling away. Her hands slid down to his chest, and he watched her lick her lower lip.
"I'm hot," she informed.
"Come on; we'll get you a drink."
Erin shook her head. "I'm all danced out. Can we go?"
"Yeah, Angel. We can go."
She took his hand, and Paetyn allowed her to lead him out of the building. They stopped outside so she could stand in the cool night air compared to inside and then continued to the car. When they were both inside, Paetyn pulled out of the parking space and headed toward Erin's apartment.
