Page 17 of His Forever

She laughed at him and then said, “I’ll take water with lemon, please.”

As they waited for their server, they talked. He told her about Duke and she immediately told him that the next time he came over to swing, he needed to bring Duke. “Gladly. I talked to Mamá this morning and I’ll be adding screen on the open parts of the porch, as well as a door, so Harry and Nabisco will be able to join us as well.”

“How awesome! I think they’ll be okay around Duke, but we’ll be there if there are any problems, right?”

“Absolutely. Marleigh, I…”

The server interrupted him, saying, “Good evening, have you had a chance to look at the menu? And would you like to hear the specials?”

“Si, Marleigh, do you know what you would like?”

“Um, yes, can I have the baked Italian special?”

“Yes, ma’am. For you, sir?”

“I would like the same, please.”

“I’ll put your orders in now. They should be out shortly.”

“Thank you,” Zeus said. “Oh, can we have a carafe of ice water?”

“Yes, sir, I’ll bring it right out.”

***

Conversation over dinner flowed and she marveled at how easy it was to be around him. She had always felt like she was walking on eggshells around Colton, but with Zeus? It was as if they had known each other all their lives. Except, of course, her attraction toward him was off the charts. Smiling, she looked at him and said, “I am beyond thrilled I decided to come to Colbyville, Zeus.”

“I am as well, mi siempre hermosa. I am as well.”

The server came back when they were over halfway done and asked, “Dessert this evening?”

Zeus looked to Marleigh, who shook her head no, before saying, “Not tonight, thank you. I think we are saving room for movie popcorn.”

The server smiled and said, “In that case, I will leave the check. Take your time and thank you for your patronage this evening.”

Zeus looked at his watch and saw that they were getting close timewise so he grabbed his wallet and pulled out the cash to take care of the bill plus the tip. “Are you ready, Marleigh?”

“Yes, I am. Thank you for a lovely dinner, it was delicious.”

“You’re welcome, mi siempre hermosa. It’s one of my favorite places.”

***

At the movie theater, she excused herself to use the restroom while he stood in the concession line. By the time she was done, he was nearly at the head of the line. “Glad I got back to you before you were ready to check out,” she told him. He just smiled and put his arm around her, hugging her close.

Armed with popcorn and drinks and some candy, they headed into the theater where he proceeded to seat them in the last row. “Zeus?” she asked in a whisper. “Why are we on the last row?”

“So I can kiss a beautiful girl if I feel like it,” he told her, flipping up the armrest between them. The seats were cozier than she was used to and when he did that, he pulled her close so they were right next to one another, placing his arm around her shoulder.

“I…I see,” she finally said.

“No, but you will,” he told her with a smile on his face.

During the previews, he kissed her several times, leaving her breathless. “Zeus? We should probably behave,” she finally told him. “I mean, aren’t we supposed to set an example?”

“We are, mi siempre hermosa. I am showing the young men how to treat the women they are with.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “How so?”

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