Of Mountains and Men: A Why Choose Romance

Chapter 28

The restaurant we go to isn't exactly a five star restaurant, much to my relief. To my discomfort, it's a steak house that doesn't usually allow children. We're placed in a room off to the back so the children don't disturb anyone. To my embarrassment Michael wants a picture with me and the kids all in our matching attire. I let out a big sigh of relief when we give our drink orders and the table is silent besides Priscilla and Charley talking about something quietly.

The starters menu is large, and I have a feeling they'll be ordering everything on it again. I see a baked brie, with hazelnuts and bread and know that's what I'm ordering for sure. There are a few things that Charley may eat, but not too much I wonder if the girls will complain or if they are used to eating bone marrow.

James squeezes my knee, "I'm just going to order all of the starters if there are leftovers we can put them in the kitchen of the hotel to snack on later."

I nod, "That sounds good. There's a lot of interesting things. Like buffalo cauliflower, I didn't know that was a thing."

James gives a soft chuckle, "It's all the rage for heathy food nuts."

I shrug, James quietly puts in the order to the waiter while we decide what sounds best for dinner. "What are you in the mood for?" Andrew asks me, eyes straying down my front over the table. Not that I'm showing any cleavage this dress is quite concealing in an elegant way.

"I was thinking the elk rack, I love elk and just usually don't get it." I say, "I think I'll order the mac and cheese for Charley."

Charley beams up at me from my left side, "Fries?"

"Yes, you can have fries as well." I tell him.

Andrew smiles at me, "That sounds delightful." After a few moments the waiter comes back for our dinner orders before bringing out the starters. "I'll have the Beef Cheeks Bourguignon please, and the mac and cheese with lobster for my daughter."

The waiter nods, going slowly around the table. Everything on the menu is over fifty dollars a plate, I am still in shock that they eat like this casually. They find it amusing that I'm always shocked that they enjoy spending their money.

Dinner ends up having far more food than I expected, and I can't even finish my own dinner. We will certainly have tons of leftovers. Michael pays the bill and helps me out of my chair to give me a quick kiss before scooping up Charley.

"We'll go ahead and take the kids back to the hotel. Have fun." He smirks at me, brown eyes glinting in the dim lighting.

I arch a brow, "I will thank you." I let Andrew take me out of the restaurant, we stroll for a block before he stops us in front of a store.

"I wanted to be in walking distance of the places I wanted to take you. I know it's a little chilly." He admits.

I smile, "I love the weather. That's why I always bring coats everywhere during spring, you never know when the temperature will drop and the snow will start back up."

"I hope you like this first place." He gives my arm a gentle squeeze.

I break contact with his more amber than brown eyes to look at the store we're outside of. I let out a little gasp of surprise seeing it's a bulk tea shop. "Let's go." I grab his arm and pull him inside. He's laughing but I ignore him as my eyes wander the canisters of bulk herbs.

"There is so much I have been wanting to put in my soaps." I tell him. I spin around to the register where a kind elderly man watches us.