“There’s no need. The food was delivered on a serving cart with everything we need, including silverware. You can come sit down.”
“Oh, okay, thanks. I thought it would be delivered in boxes.”
After she sat down, he placed the covered trays on the table and lifted the top of one. “I take it you ordered the baked chicken, rice pilaf, and creamed corn,” he said, placing the plate in front of her.
“Yes, and I made sure you got a steak, cooked medium rare, with steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes, just like you asked. I wasn’t sure you wanted gravy, so I asked them to put it on the side. All the dinners came with buttered rolls. And I didn’t forget your French onion soup.”
“I see it. Thanks,” he said, placing his food where he would be sitting before putting the silver lids on the cart and then rolling it out the way.
“The food smells good, doesn’t it?” she asked.
“Yes, it does.” However, he was convinced it didn’t smell better than her. “I see there’s chocolate cake for dessert. But just one slice.”
“I thought we would share it,” she said.
He moved over to the counter to start the coffee maker. But instead of glancing over at her, he looked at the fireplace. The fire was blazing, emitting a great deal of heat. But then, so was his body.
“I talked to my agent and Sophie. I assured both that I’m doing okay. Sophie said she heard my dad is upset I got away from those people in the Western Union.”
Drew rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, they’re lucky you didn’t hurt them, the way you got that guy at the phone booth the first time we met. What kind of father does that kind of thing?” He shook his head. “He can stay upset, for all I care. Do you want a cup of coffee, Eden?”
“No, I’m fine with drinking just water.”
He was of the opinion that she was fine, period. Returning to the table with his coffee, he noticed that she hadn’t started eating. “Is anything wrong?” he asked.
“I was waiting on you.”
“That wasn’t necessary,” he said, sitting down across from her.
“It is for me.”
Drew figured it was all that etiquette stuff she’d been taught over the years by her grandmothers. He wondered if any of their teachings included how to properly dress in front of a man so as not to tempt him. That made him ask, “Where are the rest of your clothes?”
“My clothes?”
“You were wearing leggings under that top earlier.” Not that he was complaining. Just curious.
“It’s not a top, it’s a mini-dress. Usually, I wear it without leggings. But it’s too cold for that. The only reason I removed them is that I’m doing laundry.”
He was glad he’d never seen her without the leggings walking around anywhere. “I think the housekeeping service would take care of laundry for you, if you wanted.”
“I read that on the pamphlet next to the phone, but I’d rather do my own laundry. I never had to when I lived at home, but I was determined to learn how when I was in college, despite my parents’ wishes. They wanted a private service to come to my dorm each week to handle it for me. Personally, I thought that was ridiculous. I refused to be pampered that way. There were some things I needed to learn for myself.”
“Experience is the best teacher,” he said, cutting into his steak.
“You believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Me too. And I’m glad we think alike on that matter.”
“Why?” he asked before putting a piece of steak into his mouth. It had been cooked just the way he liked.
“Because I want to ask a favor of you.”
He gazed across the table at her, held captive by her beautiful green eyes. Swallowing his meat, he asked, “And what favor is that?”
“You’re the most experienced man I’ve ever met, and I’d appreciate it if you could teach me everything there is to know about it while we’re together. It’s something I’ve put off doing for a while.”
