Page 81 of A Table for Two
Gabriel didn’t say a word, especially since he’d skipped more meals this past week than he had the entire time he’d been in town. The balance he worked hard to achieve had been thrown out the window, and he’d reverted to his old ways.
“Mm-hmm, that’s what I thought,” she said with a chuckle.
He opened the door and gestured her forward first.
“Table for two?” the hostess asked.
“Yes.” The phrase “table for two” summed up everything good about his relationship with Serenity. In his mind, the times they spent with just the two of them around their love of food had been perfect.
She led them to a booth near the back and handed them menus. “Your server will be with you shortly. Enjoy.”
“Thanks.” Gabriel had dined there enough that he had a few favorites and already knew what he wanted to order. “Do you know what you’re getting?”
“I thought I did,” Serenity murmured. “But now that I’m looking at the menu, I want some of everything. What do you have a taste for?” she asked, not looking up.
“Besides you? I’m having the fried catfish, macaroni and cheese, and green beans, with cornbread.”
Her head came up sharply and her eyes widened. She quickly glanced around, as if trying to determine whether anyone had heard him.
“You asked,” he said with a lazy grin.
“You know I meant the food. What am I going to do with you?”
Chuckling, he said, “Another loaded question.” He’d been asking himself the same thing about her and was afraid to hope for what he wanted.
“I think I’ll have the gumbo and sweet tea.”
He leaned forward and said softly, “And have you decided what you’re going to do with me?”
“I’m not answering that question.”
She didn’t have to say a word. Her eyes told him everything he needed to know—passion, desire—it was all there, tempting him beyond reason. He hadn’t expected to fall for his sexy neighbor, but he couldn’t help it. The server came and took their drink and food order. Once the young man departed, he asked Serenity, “What does your weekend look like?”
“Nothing exciting. I’ll probably catch up on my cleaning and laundry. What about you?”
“Probably spend it working, unless you save me. We never got around to our movie night.”
Eyes sparkling, Serenity said, “Well, since I’m such a good neighbor, I’ll help you out. As long as the movie you pick isn’t one of those gory horror movies,” she added with a shudder.
Gabriel laughed and waited until the server placed the drinks on the table and walked away before continuing the conversation. “No horror. Since you mentioned being a Marvel fan, I figured we’d watchEndgameand I can still have the action movie I want.”
“Count me in. If you had saidInfinity Wars, we would’ve had to start early so I could watch both. There’s no way I’d be able to sleep unless I got the resolution.”
He’d seen the movie and remembered the outcries in the theater at the end. “I’m glad I could help.” Although, the prospect of them watching a double feature that would last almost six hours sounded good to him. As he’d told her earlier, they needed to maximize the time they had left.
When the food arrived, Serenity let out a soft moan after the first bite. “Mmm, so, so good.”
He smiled and started in on his food, loving that her appreciation of good food mirrored his. They’d been eating and laughing for a few minutes when a woman he’d never seen came over to the table.
“Well, hello, Serenity.” She divided a speculative glance between Serenity and Gabriel.
“Hi, Mrs. Satterfield.”
“Who’s this handsome young man?”
“This is Ms. Della’s grandson, Gabriel.”
“How are you, Mrs. Satterfield?”
