Page 24 of Matthias’s Protective Embrace (Cardinal Falls #3)

Chapter Fifteen

FRANK

Even if we do nothing but drive around in Matthias’s fancy BMW , this will be my best date this year. That’s more sad commentary on my life than an assessment of how this is going.

Matthias pulls away from my house, and I finally catch my breath. Even if they run after me now, they’ll never be able to catch up.

“You okay?”

“Just checking the mirrors.” I need to be sure. I know it sounds crazy, but I don’t trust that my mom isn’t tailing us in the family minivan, crying about a forgotten pan of cookies.

“I think we’re safe.” I hum my agreement. “I hope you like Chinese food.”

“Sure, that’s fine.” I haven’t had it in a long time. In part because it’s hard to find things I can eat there. There’s plenty of chicken and fish, so I suspect there are good choices. There’s always rice.

“It’s a new vegan Chinese place a client mentioned to me. It sounds interesting, and since everything there is vegan, you should have plenty of options. If that doesn’t sound good, let me know, and we can find somewhere else.”

My throat tightens until all I can do is nod, which is stupid because it’s dark and he’s driving, so he can’t see.

All the frustration I had earlier about him not planning for this is gone, replaced by an overwhelming amount of gratitude.

I can find something to eat almost anywhere, though it can be hard and limited.

Often, I get stuck with a side salad instead of a real meal.

Nothing says joy like a bunch of wilted lettuce drowning in Italian dressing.

No one ever works to find places with reasonable options, let alone plans the night around ensuring I can eat everything on the menu.

I don’t know the last time I went into a restaurant without being worried, trying to decide what I can order that won’t leave me in pain or kill me. If Matthias wasn’t driving right now, I’d throw my arms around him and kiss him senseless.

“That’s okay, right?” He glances over at me a few times.

“It’s perfect,” I choke out.

A few minutes later, we pull into a parking lot at the back of a building. The place doesn’t look like much, but the best places never do.

Before I can move, Matthias comes around and opens my door for me. It’s like I’m in some sort of fairy tale. With my hunky prince waiting on me. Or maybe he’s the beast? Either way, I’m happy to be swept off my feet.

“Frank, you’ll need to put your shoes on.” Oh, right. I’m still in my socks from sneaking out of the house. I shove my feet into my sneakers and tie them quickly. Matthias watches me closely the whole time; his gaze is serious and focused.

“Ready.” I pop out of the car and follow Matthias to the front of the building.

The door jingles as we walk in. The interior is dimly lit, with numerous colorful lamps and fabric throughout.

Each table appears to be in its own little world, separated from the others through the creative arrangement of furniture and drapes.

“Matthias, you made it.” My head snaps up, hearing the host use Matthias’s name.

“Of course, sorry we’re a little late.”

“No problem,” the host says, grabbing a couple of menus and leading us to a table in the back.

All the tables look private, but this one is particularly intimate.

The host pulls a reserved sign from the table and hands us menus.

The chairs are an eclectic mix of different shapes, sizes, and colors, all with cushions to make them more comfortable.

“Your server will be with you in a minute.”

“Thanks, Nick,” Matthias says.

“This place is so cool. Thanks for bringing me here.”

“I’m glad you like it. Hopefully, the food’s good. Nick’s other restaurants are great, but I haven’t had the chance to try this one.”

I turn back to catch a glimpse of Nick returning to the host stand at the front of the restaurant. “He’s the owner?”

“Yep. He owns four restaurants around Cardinal Falls. This is the only vegan one, but I think the others have decent choices. We can look through the menus sometime.”

He’s already planning future dates? I’d swoon, but it’d probably kill the mood. I start to say something, but I’m interrupted by the arrival of our server. “Hi there, I’m Stephanie, and I’ll be your server tonight. Can I start you off with a drink tonight?”

I haven’t even opened my menu yet. “Water,” I say. While a beer would help with the nerves, I want to be at the top of my game tonight.

“Same,” Matthias says.

“Great, I’ll be right back with that. Let me know if you have any questions about the menu. I do recommend sharing a few things. Everything comes ready to be served family style.”

“Thanks, Stephanie.” Matthias grins and opens his menu. When she’s out of sight, he turns to me and says, “Why don’t you pick out a couple of items from the menu for us?”

I do as he requests, going through the menu and figuring out which items sound best. It’s fun to look through and pick what I want rather than what I’m able to eat. I get a little choked up part-way through.

MATTHIAS

We order the items Frank picks from the menu. I recognize most, but not all, of the dishes. I’m a creature of habit, always ordering the same sweet and sour chicken from the place down the street, so it’s nice to broaden my horizons.

“Tell me more about your family.” I got a glimpse today, but I’m anxious to hear more about the situation. They seem loving and fun, but also a lot. Given that Frank rarely wants to go home, I’m guessing there’s more to the situation than meets the eye.

“There’s not that much to say.” He shrugs and takes a drink.

“You’ve got a brother, too, right? Are you close?”

“Fuck no.” He slaps a hand over his mouth. “Sorry, I mean, we’re different. He’s older and lives about ninety minutes away.” I sense some hesitation in answering that one. “He’s the golden child in the family. Works in a big firm doing… something. He goes on and on about it.”

I always thought it would be nice to have a sibling, a built-in friend around the house and on family trips.

Some of my childhood friends had older brothers, and I thought it would be nice to have someone around to look up to.

They always seemed so cool. Looking back, I can see a few of them were more bully than friend, pushing us around and making us do things for them.

I’m about to ask a few more questions when the food arrives at the table. It’s all so colorful and plated like artwork. Steaming plates full of tofu and vegetables, all with sauces that smell incredible.

“Oh my God, that’s so good.” Frank grabs the first bite of a bright red dish. “I didn’t know tofu could be this good.”

Me either. I’ll eat it, but it never brings me any real satisfaction.

It’s nice to see him enjoying it. I know food’s a big issue for Frank.

Not only because of his allergy, but because of how much of our social lives revolve around eating.

Constantly explaining why he can’t eat certain things while watching others eat what he can’t must be exhausting.

It’s part of why I chose this restaurant.

It means we can share everything in front of us without any concerns.

He says he doesn’t care, but I would feel like the world’s biggest asshole if I was sitting here eating a ribeye in front of him.

“So how long have you been back in school?”

“Well, this is my second semester at Cardinal Falls Community College, but I have some credits from my prior school that transferred over.”

“Where did you go to school before?”

“At this small school down in Alabama.” My expression must give away my shock.

“I know, a bit of a weird choice. My best friend from high school was going there, so I figured, why not?” He shrugs like he’s still not sure how exactly the decision got made.

“It’s near some of his family and was pretty nice until I got sick. ”

Fuck . I feel so bad thinking about him there, all alone, dealing with this.

He would’ve been nineteen or twenty, barely old enough to take care of himself and dealing with a serious medical condition.

Not only did he lose so much of the food he loves, but he also lost his position in school and his social life.

“That’s when I moved home. I don’t want to stay with my parents forever. It was the only real option.” I can hear the defensiveness in his voice.

“I didn’t think you did.”

“It’s a lot. Working, trying to go to school, and figuring out everything else.

I pay them rent, but nothing like what it would take to get my own place.

” He doesn’t have to say that tuition isn’t cheap, and finding work when you’re young and don’t have a degree or experience is a real challenge.

I know how many people we interview every time there’s an entry-level job opening at our firm, and that doesn’t even represent a tenth of the people who submit applications.

“I’m glad you found your way back to school.

” It’s clear he’s smart and driven. I got the luxury of going to school and not focusing on anything else.

I worked a few internships, but never because I needed the money.

Even then, I frequently found myself tired.

I can’t imagine what it’s like balancing that with a full-time job.

“Me, too.” He grins.

We enjoy the rest of the meal, making a good dent in the food we ordered, though there will be enough leftovers for another meal.

One I’m looking forward to, which shouldn’t be a surprise given my knowledge of Nick’s restaurants.

Neither of us has room for dessert, so I pay the bill and steer us toward the car.

“I had a really nice time,” Frank says as I open his door.

“So did I.” Not that there was ever a doubt.

I lean in, giving him plenty of time to pull away, but he doesn’t. Instead, he rises onto his toes to be closer to my height.

Last time, the kiss came as a complete surprise.

This time, I’m ready for him. It does nothing to prepare me for the way he gasps when our lips meet.

I don’t intend for this to be anything but chaste.

We’re in a strip mall parking lot, after all.

Not romantic or private. It’s hard to keep it that way, especially with the lingering sweet and spicy taste on his tongue.

“Come back to my place?” I ask, hoping he’s as ready as I am to continue this part of the night.

“Yes. Please.”