Page 40 of Gwen's Delta

“Not really. I’m not picky,” Merlin answered. He didn’t care what he ate as long as he got to spend time with her. They could be spun up tomorrow, and every minute with her counted.

“There’s an Italian restaurant on Eighth Street. Tuscany Trattoria. It’s only about ten minutes away, and the food is delicious. You can follow me if you want.”

“How about I drive, and I can bring you back here after dinner?”

“You tried that last time, and it didn’t work. What makes you think it will work now?” Gwen asked with a hint of laughter.

“Can’t fault a guy for trying.”

“I guess. You get to follow me this time. I promise not to lose you.”

“I appreciate that.” Merlin grinned. The guys would be surprised to see him laughing so much.

“What are you doing?” Gwen asked as Merlin followed her to the parking lot.

“I’m walking you to your car.”

“You don’t need to. I do it all the time.”

“When I’m around, you won’t. Is it a problem?”

Gwen stopped at her car and looked up at him. She’d put on sunglasses when they left the bookstore, and without seeing her eyes, he couldn’t read her expression.

“No, it’s not. Just not something I’m used to,” she answered with a smile

Relieved she wasn’t going to argue with him, he held the door as she got in. “Give me a minute to get to the truck,” he said as he closed the door. Then he jogged over to where he’d parked in front of the bookstore.

The restaurant was as nice as Gwen said. He let her select their meals, and she’d nailed it. When the food arrived, his stomach had rumbled. She giggled, and it was nice to see the clouds had left her eyes.

“What do you think?” Gwen asked as she watched him take his first bite.

“It’s delicious. This is Northern Italian? I’m used to spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, or fettuccini Alfredo. I’m glad you suggested it,” he said.

“Yes, it is. I get takeout from here if Grams doesn’t give me some of whatever they’re having. I’m a lousy cook. Just to warn you, if I turn the oven on, Sir Galahad hides under the bed.”

Merlin had just taken a drink of wine and almost choked. “I seriously doubt it,” he said after he stopped laughing.

“Oh, it’s true. You won’t get any home-cooked meals at my house and live to talk about it.”

“It’s okay. I like to cook, and I’ll make sure you don’t starve, princess.”

Her cheeks flooded with color and made him want to kiss her. “I didn’t—”

“You’re not going to scare me away. I like you, Gwen.”

“I like you, too.”

“Good. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s finish eating so we can go back to your house and make out on the couch.”

It was Gwen’s turn to choke on her wine. The following flash of desire in her eyes had him squirming to adjust his erection before the zipper did permanent damage.

“You okay, princess?” He’d already warned her that he went after what he wanted, but her innocence worried him. He didn’t want to shock her.

“I wasn’t expecting you to say that.”

“If it’s too fast, all you have to do is tell me. But when I’m around you, I want to kiss you until you can’t think straight.”

“Really?”