Page 31 of Wintertime Heat (Holiday 1)

“Mr. Tanner, welcome back! Hello, Master Aaron. May I take your coats?”

As Steven and Aaron shrug off their coats, I notice how warm the interior of the restaurant was. I also notice that he didn’t offer to take my jacket.

“Would you like your help to sit at a separate table?”

The low words reach my ears and I feel a flush of shame creep up on my face. I find myself staring at the floor, trying to get my feelings under control.

When Aaron tugs at my hand and looks up at me in a worried manner, I force my lips to curve.

“Miss Abby is my teacher!” Aaron scowls at the man, his tiny hand squeezing mine. Then he looks at his father, “Dad, I don’t want to eat here!”

The tantrum was artfully thrown by a child who was so well-grounded, that I found myself blinking. It seems that Steven’s son had picked up quite a few things from his father, including that arrogant air.

Steven just looks at the Maitre d’, a cold look in his eyes, “I do hope you weren’t referring to my guest.”

The man turns pale and immediately stammers out an apology.

Awkward, I just wave it away and when he offers to take my coat, I hand it to him.

We were ushered to a private dining area. I couldn’t hold on to my own embarrassment when I see the thinly veiled temper behind Steven’s eyes.

“You’re angry.” I mutter.

When he just frowns down at the menu handed to him, I kick him under the seat, and hiss, “Stop it. Aaron’s watching.”

He lifts his head up to look at his son, who was staring at him and he tries to smooth out his expression.

“I’m sorry for the scene right now,” He turns his gaze to me, and I shrug.

What did he expect me to say?

“It didn’t bother me,” I lie, shifting my eyes to the menu.

To my dismay, the items on the menu were too expensive for my budget, and I flip through the menu hoping to find something affordable. At this point, even I was hungry.

I bite my tongue when I see that even the salads were in the double digits.

Mentally, I calculate how much getting a simple salad would set me back on my Christmas shopping savings, and with a heavy heart, I decide on the cheapest one.

When the waiter arrives, Aaron orders a burger that was surprisingly very simple. When Steven looks at me, expectantly, my fingers tighten on the menu.

“The green beans salad.”

The waiter blinks at me when I put the menu aside, “Uh, what would you like for your main?”

Oh, dear God. Please don’t let this be a three-course meal, I pray internally.

I give a strained smile, “That’s it for me.”

If I saw the strange look that Steven sent my way, I ignored it.

“I’ll have number 5 for starters and number 27 for the main. She’ll have the same. Forget the salad.” Steven glances at me as I gape at him.

I wait for the waiter to leave, before digging my claws in, “What was that? Why did you order for me? I wasn’t hungry!”

Steven leans back in his chair, studying me, “You’ve been on your feet all day. You expect me to believe that you didn’t manage to work up any sort of appetite?”

I purse my lips, feeling my cheeks turn red at the subtle reprimand, “Yes, well. Maybe, I won’t like number 27.”

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