“Wow. If that little guy were mine, I’d be all over him.”
Spencer chuckled. “He’s the best damn thing that could’ve happened to me. Am I completely sleep-deprived and feel like I have no idea what I'm doing half the time? Yes. But I’ve never been this happy."
I swear my heart was trying to jump out of my chest. I couldn't believe he’d said something so sweet. "You're a good dad, Spencer."
"I'm trying to be."
The waiter brought the bottle of wine, uncorking it quickly and pouring a bit in two glasses. Both Spencer and I reached for ours. He twirled his wine gently, and I copied the movement. Just by sniffing it, I could tell it was finer than any wine I've ever had—including the one at my wedding.
"I love it," I exclaimed. Spencer nodded, and the waiter poured generously. Then Spencer held his glass up. “Let's toast.”
"To what?" I said, feeling giddy, shimmying in my seat as I held up the glass, and we clinked them.
“Though our date started unusually, with my grandmother pushing us out the door, and continued even more unconventionally—”
"Spencer!" I exclaimed.
"I wouldn’t change any of it,” he went on. “Damn, you look delicious when you're red in the cheeks."
He was being gallant, because I knew for a fact I turned into a tomato when I blushed. My forehead and my chin were red as beets as well.
The waiter interrupted us again, putting down sliced bread and a little dish with olives. I immediately took two olives with my fork. I wasn't prepared for the explosion of flavors in my mouth. I tasted honey and lemon and a very sweet element. They’d stuffed dried figs in the olives.
"This is amazing."
Spencer cleared his throat. I stopped chewing and glanced at him. He was eying me hungrily.
"What?" I murmured.
"The sounds you made reminded me of our elevator trip."
Oh, hell! I just had to accept that I was going to blush a lot tonight.
We received our spaghetti a few minutes later.
"That was fast,” I said.
"That's one of the things I like about this restaurant."
I glanced at both our plates, wrinkling my nose.
"What?" Spencer asked.
"Yours looks more delicious than mine."
"You're more than welcome to try some of it."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah."
I planted my fork right in the center of the pile of spaghetti, twirling it a couple times until I'd filled it. Spencer laughed.
"I love how you taste my food first and not yours," he said as I shoved the huge mouthful in. I smiled sheepishly.
“Mmm, mmm, mmm.” Now, this was delicious. I might just have to rethink my dislike for guanciale. I gave him a thumbs-up because I couldn't speak with my mouth full.
"You know what? You took a huge amount. So it's only fair that I take a large forkful from your plate as well."