After she bustled away, Danny fidgeted with his water glass, condensation making his fingers slick. “She’s joking, right?” He glanced toward the counter. “Please tell me she doesn’t really put hot sauce on pie.”
“No, she doesn’t.” Ash stretched his legs under the table, his knee brushing Danny’s. “Come here with my brothers sometimes. She’s good people.”
“Brothers?” Danny perked up. “How many?”
“Two. Warren and Aiden. Both pains in my ass.” Affection bled through despite his words. “Warren’s the youngest. Thinks he knows everything about everything. Aiden's the middle child, acts like it too. Always getting into trouble then charming his way out.”
Danny laughed, the sound bright in the dim diner. “And you’re the responsible oldest?”
“Someone had to be.” Memories surfaced—teaching Warren to tie his shoes, bailing Aiden out of detention, making sure they had food when their parents worked late. “What about you? Siblings?”
“One sister. Laura. She’s...” Danny’s expression went soft. “She’s basically sunshine in a bottle. Always checking on me, making sure I’m eating enough, but still somehow managing to be a pesky sibling.”
The protective note in Danny’s voice when he talked about his sister made something in Ash’s gut tighten. Family meant everything to him too.
“Sounds like my kind of person.” He took a sip of water, watching his mate over the rim. “Maybe I’ll meet her sometime.”
“Maybe.” Danny’s voice grew quiet, almost wary. Like he wasn’t sure they should be talking about meeting family when this was only their second date. Ash wouldn’t rush him. He’d prefer to keep his brothers away from Danny for now.
They were good men but a bit much. Their lively personalities might make Danny question his relationship choices. But Ash would be his last dating choice. Not that he would become overbearing. Whether Danny knew why he felt so drawn to Ash, he felt the pull. That’s why his mate kept seeking him out.
And why things felt so easy between them, regardless of whatever trauma his honey bear was hiding. Ash would give him safe space to be himself, to let Danny blossom instead of wither. To drop those walls and trust Ash to protect him.
Their food arrived in a cloud of steam and grease, Mama Lou setting down plates with practiced ease. Danny’s eyes went wide at the triple-decker sandwich spilling over with turkey and bacon.
“Enjoy, boys.”
After she left, Danny picked up a fry, examining it like it held secrets. “Do you come here a lot?”
“Couple times a month.” Ash bit into his burger, savoring the familiar taste. “More when I need to think. Something about the drive clears my head.”
Danny cocked his head like a curious bird. “What do you think about?”
Everything. Nothing. You. “Business stuff. Family drama. Whether the Bears have a shot this year.”
Hint dropped. Pun intended.
Danny took a bite of his sandwich and made a sound that shot straight to Ash’s cock. Low and appreciative, his eyes fluttering closed as he chewed.
Jesus. If Danny made sounds like that over a sandwich, what would he sound like when Ash claimed him? He couldn’t wait to find out. It was taking great restraint not to pull his mate across the table and end him over, pounding that tight little ass as Danny begged for more.
Sit. Now Ash had a boner. Thank fuck the table hid it.
“Oh my god.” Danny covered his mouth, still chewing. “This is insane. How is a sandwich this good?”
Don’t you dare turn that filthy.
“Mama Lou doesn’t believe in doing anything halfway.” Ash forced his mind away from his guttural thoughts, focusing on his fries. “Wait until you try the pie.”
His mate checked over his shoulder like he was afraid she’d pop up out of nowhere. “Swear there’s no hot sauce in it. I don’t have an iron gut like you.”
“I might joke around, but I’d never lie to you, honey bear, especially about something that would harm you.” Ash was taking a chance with the sauce, but it elevated the pacemaker burrito to new heights. Without it, he was just eating a bacon-loaded wrap. Not that he had to worry about clogged arteries. It was the Scoville rating that had the potential of knocking him on his ass.
“Okay.” Danny gave a slight nod. “I believe you.”
They ate in comfortable quiet for a while, Danny occasionally making those little pleased noises that were slowly killing Ash. His mate attacked the sandwich with enthusiasm, a drop of mayo catching on his lip. Ash’s fingers twitched with the need to reach over and wipe it away.
To lean across the table and lick it off.
