Giada blinked away a few surprise tears and nodded. “You’re right.”
“I know I am. I’m not always, but about letting kids be kids… I got that covered.”
She nodded again.
“You hungry?”
“Starving.”
“You like steak?”
“It’s been so long since I had a really good steak.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. Prepare yourself, this place is the best this side of New Orleans.”
Chapter 12
Giada took Ronan’s hand when he offered it to help her get out of his truck. She hid a soft smile when she caught his gaze sliding down her body appreciatively. Ronan realized he was staring when she gently pulled her hand free and straightened her clothes, while giving him a little bit of side eye along with a smirk.
“Sorry. I forgot myself for a minute,” he said, clearing his throat as he glanced around the parking lot.
Giada tugged her hair out from beneath her coat and pulled her coat closer around herself. “It’s okay. It’s been a long time since I felt like a woman.”
He placed his hand at the small of her back and began their walk into the restaurant. “That’s a damn shame.”
“What is?” she asked, looking up at him.
“The fact that you haven’t felt like a woman in a long time. Someone should be reminding you every single day of how beautiful, and smart, and desirable you are.”
“Someone might someday. I wouldn’t even mind if it was only a few times a year.”
“A few times a year? No. It needs to be every day, and not always spoken.”
“Not always spoken?”
He opened the door to the restaurant, but instead of allowing her to step inside first, he blocked the door with his body and looked around for a few seconds. He lifted his chin just slightly and seemed to sniff the air. Satisfied that there was no threat inside, he stood to the side and gestured for her to enter as he picked up the conversation where he left off. “Words are great — there would be a lot of misunderstandings without them. Butsome of the most meaningful communications are made without words.”
“Oh,” she said, her hand instinctively flying up to press at her chest just below her throat.
He smirked down at her as she looked up at him wide-eyed.
“May I take your coats?” the hostess asked.
“Please,” Ronan said, moving behind Giada and gently taking her coat from her shoulders. He waited patiently as she shrugged her arms out of it, then added his own and handed them both to the girl.
“Your name?”
“Ronan McCullen.”
“Oh, yes. Party of two.” She signaled a waiter standing a few feet away surveying the dining room, who responded immediately. As he approached the hostess introduced him. “This is Justin. He’ll be your waiter for the evening.”
“Hello,” Justin said.
“Hi,” Ronan answered.
“I’ll put your coats away under your last name, Mr. McCullen. I’ll send a claim tag to your table momentarily,” the hostess said.
“Thank you.”
