Page 38 of Accidentally Forever
Crew’s hands tightened on the steering wheel for an instant, and I was afraid I had said the wrong thing. Then he smirked over at me and clucked his tongue. “You know, that’s right. That makes you my, what,Sugar Baby? I should be taking out interest at this point. So what is it, an orgasm for a dinner out?”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “You really think your orgasm is worth a dinner? I don’t know what you think more highly of. Your dick or my mouth?”
“I suppose we will have to see later. But first, you’re going to want dinner.”
I tried to hold back my laughter and failed. This was a ridiculous conversation, but I loved making him smile and act all possessive. “I wouldn’t mind your cock. Just saying. It’s a nice cock.”
“You say the sweetest things, Aria.” He paused, and I leaned back in the seat, enjoying the smooth leather. “You never ask about the money.”
I stiffened and looked over at him. “I was just thinking about how it wasn’t my place. You let me pay for dinner sometimes, and we’ve always been good about helping each other out. And I think you like the mysterious act when it comes to you owning the gym.”
His lips twitched as he pulled into the parking lot of the place I had never seen before. “People get weird about the money. Especially my family.”
My hands tightened into fists. “My family and I aren’t typical people.” I held up my hand. “Joking aside, you’ve always been just Crew to us. Even though it’s taken me a while to realize what ‘just Crew’ meansto me.” I swallowed hard, ignoring that knot of emotion. “But your family also makes me want to throw something, so I tend not to think about them at all. If that makes me a terrible person, I’m sorry.”
Crew looked at me for a moment, and once again I was afraid I’d said the wrong thing. Then he leaned forward and brushed his lips along mine. “You just do something to me, Aria Montgomery,” he whispered before he shut off the engine. “Now, as much as I would like to talk more about this and figure out what is going on inside that big, beautiful brain of yours, you haven’t noticed where we are. And I, for one, am shocked.”
I frowned at him, my heart racing because it felt like we were having a moment here. A moment for what? I didn’t know yet. But it was something. And then I turned to really look at the building in front of me.
“Oh my God. It’s the Cheese Bar?” I turned to him, my stomach rumbling, my mouth watering. “You can’t get reservations here. It takes months.”
“You can when you know the owner because you happen to own the building next door.”
“I love all of your Machiavellian connections. This place not only has a cheese bar, but on Wednesdays, it’s all you can eat charcuterie, and they have a special menu depending on the week. I follow them on every social media, trying to get ideas for dinner with thefamily. It’s so hard to get in here, I’ve never been able to come.”
“Well then I’m glad that I brought you here.” He paused, looking a little uncertain. “I’ve never brought any other Montgomerys here. Just thought you should know.” And with that, he hopped out of the truck and made his way to my side.
Feeling oddly warm inside, I let him help me out of the truck, and then slid my hand in his as we went inside.
I froze as I looked at the gorgeous wood interior with comfortably warm booths and tables set up everywhere. It was one of the most inviting areas I had ever been to, and I nearly wept at the center of the room.
Because there, in all its glory, was a conveyor belt of cheese.
“Is this heaven?” I whispered, and the host laughed softly under his breath.
Crew wrapped his arm around my waist and led me toward the table. “I think the look on your face means I did a good thing.”
“You did an amazing thing.” Even in heeled boots, I went to my tiptoes, cupped his face, and kissed him softly on the mouth. It wasn’t one of those hard and fast kisses that we used to gauge one another. One that would let the other know they were craving them. No,this was much softer, much kinder. And as our gazes met, I swallowed hard.
The host cleared his throat. “Here you go, you’ll have this corner area of the belts, and if you’d like to sit at a table, for fondue or a full meal, let us know.”
We took our seats, and I practically danced in my chair as I looked at the menu. The server came over and began explaining a few things, and I kept dancing.
“Are you going to be able to sit still for this?” I could hear the humor in his tone, but I didn’t care.
“No. Not at all. I can’t believe it’s all you can eat on this belt right now.”
Our server smiled. “And we can add extras. There’s this Kirkham’s Lancashire paired with a Yorkshire fruitcake that sounds awfully pleasing.”
“I’ll take fourteen of them,” I teased, and I couldn’t help but feel as if I had found my true home at this place.
Cheese and meat plates went around the conveyor belt, calling my name, and I laughed as Crew snapped a few photos of me, knowing I probably looked ridiculous. When he took a bite of a soft cheese and fig jam combination, I was the one to snap a photo.
“Are you going to show that anyone?” he asked, his voice low against my ear.
I wiggled in my seat and moved towhisper so only he could hear. “No. Because I’m pretty sure you look like that when you’re coming.”
He barked out a laugh, kissed my cheek, and we moved on to the next phase of our dinner.
