“Nerds?” Hunter’s nose scrunches. “Really?”
“You’re not very good at this game, you know?”
I’m trying to think of my next question when Sarah comes back with our crab cakes. “Are you gentlemen ready to order?”
It seems like it takes forever for us to drag our eyes away from each other to look at her.
“Sure are,” Hunter says, finally pulling his eyes from me. I don’t do the same. I watch him until he’s done ordering. “I’m gonna have the filet—medium rare, a loaded baked potato, and mac and cheese.”
Finally, I manage to stop staring at him and look at Sarah. “I’ll have the same, but asparagus tips instead of mac.”
Sarah collects our menus. “I’ll get this in for you.”
We both thank her, and when she walks away, Hunter leans closer to me. “And you made fun of me for meat and taters.”
“I didn’t make fun of you.”
I smile, and Hunter laughs. “You ready to eat some of these?”
Nodding, I pick up my fork. There are four crab cakes arranged on the plate in front of us with what looks like remoulade.
Hunter cuts a small piece off, then dips it into the sauce, and I’m about to do the same when he holds it in front of me. “Here.”
My heart skips a beat, and I open my mouth. He places the crab cake on my tongue, and I close my eyes, enjoying the flavor. Fuck, it’s so good. Creamy and sweet and slightly salty with a hint of spice from the sauce.
“That’s delicious,” I say when I’m done chewing.
Hunter’s watching me with open heat burning in his gaze. “I love watching you enjoy things. What’s your next question?”
I blink at him as he gathers a forkful of the crab cake and puts it in his mouth. He lets out a little sigh while he’s chewing, and I say the only thing that comes to my mind. “What are we?”
He swallows hard, then sets his fork down on the table. “What do you mean?”
I wave a hand over the table. “This. You and me? What is this? What are we doing?”
His lips curve into a little smile. “I’m pretty sure we’re fallin’ in love. Or maybe that’s just me.”
My heart flutters in my throat. “Not just you.”
His smile grows. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all night, gorgeous.” Hunter reaches across the table and takes my hand in his, stroking my palm with his thumb. “This is a date, I think. Our first one. Hopefully not our last.” He winks. “And I’d like for us to be in a relationship.”
My mouth is dry for some reason, so I pick up my water and take a couple of sips. That honestly sounds like a dream. Being in a relationship with Hunter. For me, anyway. It would probably be a nightmare for him. “I want that too,” I say softly. “But I’m worried.”
Hunter tilts his head. “About what?”
I sigh. “I’m not fixed. My brain still sucks.” His eyebrows draw together. “And I can’t help but feel like you’re getting the short end of the stick here.”
He doesn’t say anything for a long minute. “Can I be honest with you?”
I nod. “Please.”
My heart’s starting to tick up, beating so hard I can practically hear it whooshing in my ears.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve had feelings for you since the night I found you with Lila. Before I touched your skin. Before I slept with you in my arms. Before I knew anything about you, really, outside of knowing that you’re the kind of person who would keep a baby goat company in the middle of the night just because you heard her crying.”
I swallow hard, my throat convulsing. That’s… Wow. Swallowing again, I nod. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
