“Sorry, baby. I’ll do better.” Lifting a hand at a nearby waitress in a floral top and skirt, I gestured to my empty end of the table.
She smiled at me then hustled back into the kitchen. A few seconds later, she returned with a place setting and wine glass. “Bula, Mr. Holt. Would you like wine like Ms. Tate or something else to drink?”
“No alcohol. Sparkling water, please.”
“Yes, of course. I’m so sorry, I forgot. And for dinner tonight, you have a choice between a chicken tagine or a spicy tuna rice bowl. I believe Samu and some guests caught the tuna today.”
“The tuna.”
“Vinaka.” She bowed her head and left the table.
“So…” Saylor stared at me then shook her head like she couldn’t believe I was sitting there. “This is awkward.”
I tipped my head. “Awkward was what I walked in on here. Can’t believe they don’t have room service.”
“Not true. You can get dessert delivered to your room.” Saylor laughed.
I laughed with her, watching the way her eyes sparkled with life. Blue eyes had always been my weakness.
“Yeah, but considering I’ve only had airplane food for the last eighteen hours, I couldn’t survive on chocolate alone. Although it has gotten me through the last few days.”
I tipped my head. But before I could comment our waitress came back with my water. “Thanks.”
She smiled and set my glass down. “Your meals will be out in just a few moments.”
“Thanks.”
Once she left, I turned back to Saylor. “So where are you from?”
She rolled her eyes. “Las Vegas. And I’m guessing from the way everyone welcomed you here, you’re someone famous.”
“You didn’t look me up?”
She hitched a shoulder. That she had more important things on her mind was implied.
I mimicked her shrug. “I have a few fans.”
She nodded but didn’t press for more information. “Thank you for earlier. I didn’t really think about traveling as a single woman. I haven’t been single for…forever. High school really.”
“You don’t look like you’re long in the tooth exactly.” I smiled. “Be honest—how long ago was high school?”
“I’ll have you know I just finished my bachelor’s in education.”
I muffled a groan. “So you’re—what? Twenty-two?”
She nodded and raised her eyebrows as merriment danced in her eyes.
“Fuck me,” I mumbled through my fingers as I rubbed my hands over my face. “I didn’t think you werethatyoung. I’m old enough to be your daddy.”
She snickered. “I mean, I’ve never had a daddy kink, but if ever there was a guy made for it…”
I dropped my hands from my face and stared at her with wide eyes.
Her light blue eyes sparkled back at me and she tipped her head. “Oh, come on. You’ve never wanted to hear a girl call you daddy while you held her hair from behind while you…you know?”
I struggled for a second time to muffle my groan. I was uncomfortably hard in the middle of the dining room with her innocent eyes twinkling at me.
Maybe not that innocent…
