His brows knitted together in confusion, so I clarified.
“Those are the only reasons I’m not dragging you out of here right now to the back seat of your truck,” I whispered.
A grin like sunshine lit up his face. “You’re impressed, huh?”
I grinned back. “Yeah. I’m impressed.” Picking up my menu again, I pretended to peruse it before I set it aside and took a chance. “You’ve been impressing me since the night we met.”
He ran the toe of his boot along my calf beneath the table, and I clamped my knees together, grateful for the long tablecloth that hid his antics and my response.
The server arrived for our drinks order and to announce the specials. When she mentioned beef Wellington, Wyatt’s eyes lit up.
“Do you like Wellington?” When I nodded, he asked, “Wanna split one?”
The way he vibrated in his chair, like he was holding back from jumping up and down, decided me.
“Sure.”
Rubbing his hands together, he said, “Awesome!” Returning his attention to the server, he ordered escargot for starters and a shared green salad with strawberry vinaigrette. Conspiratorially, he whispered, “The breadsticks are excellent, and they come with the meal.”
The way the server smiled at him, one would have thought he was sitting at the table alone. Clearing my throat to remind her he had a date, I said, “I’ll have a lemon drop martini too, please.”
Blinking as though she’d come out of a trance, she said, “Of course,” and typed my drink order into the screen bracelet on her wrist. With one last wistful glance at my date, she turned and headed in the direction of the bar across the fireplace area from us.
A worried expression furrowed his brow. “Oh, fuck. Though I’ve never brought a date here before, I eat here whenever I can. The food is so freaking good, I got carried away and ordered everything for us. I didn’t mean to take over like that.” He blew out a breath. “I can call that waitress back over and change whatever you want.”
Guess my thoughts about the server showed up on my face. The fact that he seemed oblivious to her interest caused the corner of my mouth to tip up.
“I like everything you picked. But I am kinda surprised to find out you like snails.”
“The chef here is a rock star. I doubt Troy could cook anything I wouldn’t eat.”
“Octopus?”
“He calls it calamari, and his is so tender.” He paused as though his mouth watered at the thought. “Maybe I should call the server back and order that too.”
With a chuckle, I gave him a once-over. “Okay, this is a game we’re definitely not playing. Maybe you’re capable of eating everything on the menu, but I don’t feel the need to test it.”
In the low light of the café, his eyes twinkled. “Aww, and here I thought I’d found another way to show off for you.”
The server’s overly bright voice interrupted our conversation. “A lemon drop martini”—she set my drink in front of me—“and a chocolate stout for you, Bax. Anything else I can get you?”
With a fleeting smile, Wyatt said, “We’re good.”
For a second, she stood by our table as though she expected something else. When he didn’t say anything more, she spun on her heel and hurried away.
“Out of curiosity, how do you know the server? From coming in here on your own?”
“Never seen her before.”
“She referred to you by name.”
Raising a sardonic brow, he said, “Football player for the Conference Champs. Everyone thinks they know every player because they see us play on Saturdays.”
Leaning forward to rest my elbow on the table and my chin in my palm, I batted my lashes. “You’re saying I’m on a date with a celebrity?”
Color rode his sculpted cheeks. “Knock it off, Piper. You know that’s not what I meant.”
I blew him a kiss and lifted my drink to my lips.
