Braxton

 

“Did you have a reservation?” the teenaged girl asks.

“Yes, under Callahan,” I reply, pulling Cara closer. I can’t believe the nerve of this chick and feel like I need to take a shower after she finishes running her eyes up and down my body.

Before I can say anything, Cara leans in and says, “You might want to watch your eyes, honey. Some women might take offense to you eye-fucking their men in front of them.”

Holy fucking shit! My girl’s got some sass! And... the hard-on that I had willed away thinking about polar bears and glaciers? It’s back. Fuck my life.

“I’m sorry?” the hostess questions. As if she didn’t know exactly what Cara was talking about!

“She’s a lot more polite than me, sunshine. So I’ll be a little clearer, okay? Their eyes are not below their belts,” DJ says. And... not that I’ll look, but I’m sure Hatch is in the same predicament I am right about now.

“Is there a problem, Braxton?”

“Hey, Gino, yeah, we’ve got an issue. Or rather, our women have one.”

“What seems to be the problem, ladies?”

“Your hostess was rudely eye-fucking our dates,” DJ replies. “Totally inappropriate and I would apologize for the language, but there’s no other word for what she was doing. It’s not only unprofessional behavior, but it’s rude.”

“Alicia, we’ve discussed your unbecoming behavior before. Clock out. You’re done here,” Gino tells the teenager. “My apologies, ladies, will you follow me?”

I’m blown away. I met Gino when we first came to Corinth to check into things and he was instrumental in the MC finding the schoolhouse that we converted to our clubhouse. He loves to ride but declined the invitation to join the MC, saying he was too old. But, we get him out for the runs we do and he has a good time which is all that matters. “Gino, is that necessary?” I quietly ask him. “She’s just a kid, likely working to earn mall money and shit.”

“Unfortunately, your women are not the first to complain about her behavior towards their dates. That is not the kind of atmosphere we wish to convey here at The Barnhouse. She was warned that the next complaint would result in her termination.”

“I’m sorry,” Cara softly says. “I hate that she was fired because of us.”

“She was fired because of her behavior,” Gino replies. “Now, please, enjoy your evening here, I would like your honest input.”

Cara smiles at him as he pulls the chair out for her, saying, “Thank you, Gino.”

“You’re most welcome, pretty lady,” he replies before pulling out DJ’s chair for her.

While we wait for the server to bring us menus and take our drink orders, I lean in close and whisper, “You have no idea how your sassy mouth turns me on.” The blush that covers her face has me grinning before I tuck one of her wayward curls behind her ear and drop a kiss on her temple. I am going to wear her down one way or another, that’s for sure.

“Braxton?” a male voice asks.

I look up and see Gino’s son, Stephan. “Hey, Stephan, your dad has you working, huh?”

“Yes, sir. What can I get for you to drink?”

“Ladies, they’ve got a black raspberry frozen margarita that is really good,” I say.

“I’d like to try one,” Cara replies. “Can I also have an ice water?”

“Make that two, please,” DJ interjects.

“What about you two gentlemen? And do you want me to tell you the specials for the evening or just order off the menu?” Stephan asks.

Because I’m driving, I won’t drink, so I say, “Sweet tea, Stephan.”

“I’ll take whatever you have on tap,” Hatch adds.

“Can we hear the specials?” Cara asks. I listen to his spiel already knowing I want the surf and turf. Maybe if she gets something different, we can share?

“It all sounds so good,” she says, looking at me. “What are you getting, Braxton?”

“I usually get the surf and turf, sweetheart. If you have a taste for something else, we can always share.”

“The parmesan-crusted chicken looks good and so does the grilled shrimp.”

“Well, if you’re game, I’ll get what I generally do, you get that and we’ll share between us,” I tell her. “Fair warning, though, I don’t share my asparagus.”

She starts laughing and says, “It’s all yours, handsome. I don’t care for asparagus that much. They’ve got grilled green beans so I’ll go with those and yes, I’m okay with sharing since I like steak and lobster as well.”

Once DJ and Hatch order, we sit back and wait for our drinks to arrive. I’m enjoying being out with my woman. Thinking back to Daria, I realize that I was never in love with her, more in love with the idea of having something that was just mine. She wasn’t happy when she got pregnant and until she left then finally divorced me, I remained faithful. Hell, she terminated her parental rights to Lily, something that still blows my fucking mind. At least, if this goes where I’m hoping, Cara can adopt Lily so we all have the same last name. I made up for that four years of celibacy as soon as I got the final documents, going through women so fast that even my mom was appalled. But no one, until Caraleigh, had captivated me to the point I was making long-term plans, at least in my head. I could picture her lush curvy body beneath me, flushed with desire and passion. Swollen belly holding a child we had lovingly created. Teaching my daughter and her son and any children we had everything they needed to know to become fine, upstanding citizens.

I’m brought out of my thoughts when Stephan returns with our drinks. I’m anxious to see what Cara thinks of the drink. I know it’s one of Mom’s favorites which is why I recommended it to her and DJ. Seeing she has taken a sip, I ask, “What do you think?”

A beaming smile turns my way and she replies, “It’s delicious! I usually like strawberry margaritas, but this is a great addition to the adult beverages I am willing to drink.”

“Glad you like it, Cara,” I tell her as I drink some sweet tea.

A different server brings out our salads and we start eating. I’m watching her, paying attention to every little thing she likes and when they bring out the warm honey wheat bread, I take the cutting board and slice it before asking, “Which part of the loaf do you prefer?”

“Don’t laugh but I like the ‘bread butts’ on loaves like this, even though I throw them away on regular loaves of bread!”

I can’t help it—I start laughing. She’s so damn serious and the earnest look on her face has me enraptured. “I told you not to laugh,” she says, lightly touching my arm.

“Honey, that’s kind of funny if you think about it.”

“How so? On this kind of bread, you put on butter and it melts in and gets all gooey and yummy. Regular bread does not do that at all.”

As our dinner progresses, the conversation flows and I find out more about the woman I have my eyes set on. Once we receive our entrees, I take the extra plate and cut half the steak for her, then break the lobster tail and scoop out half the meat. “Braxton, that’s too much!” she exclaims, even though she’s done the same with her chicken and shrimp for me.

“Whatever you don’t finish, we’ll take home.” No big deal. If she wanted both meals, I’d let her have them.

“Okay, if you’re sure,” she replies, handing me my plate.

Once dinner is done, I’m eager to head downstairs to dance, wanting to feel her close to me. Seeing Stephan approach, I motion for the check and he crouches down next to me. “Dad said that tonight is on the house for the earlier problem you had.”

“Can’t do that, Stephan. We’ve got drinks on the bill as well.”

“You can take that up with him, I’m just the messenger. He wanted me to ask if you wanted dessert served up here or down on the dance floor? He has a booth set aside for y’all.”

Fuck me. How did I get so lucky? “Yeah, we’ll do that, can we order it down there or what?”

“Either one, he’s told the waitress at that section that the drinks are on the house as well, so whatever you decide, just let me know.”

Hatch, catching onto what Stephan is saying, pulls out his wallet and pulls several twenties out and hands them to Stephan. “What’s this for?” he asks.

“Just because your dad is comping everything tonight doesn’t mean we don’t take care of the waitstaff,” Hatch tells him. I give him a chin lift because he’s correct. We aren’t stiffing our waiter or the waitress downstairs just because everything is on the house tonight.