Bookstore princess

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Nadia

Lord, have mercy. This man is perfect is all I keep thinking to myself. He's been asking all the right questions, and engaging in conversation with me for the last twenty minutes while Natasha is waiting for our order to cook. As I'm thinking this his hand reaches out and brushes against mine, and I feel that familiar spark. He waits a moment and then he takes my hand fully and I can't help but beam a smile at him. He smiles back, and I can't help but think he has perfect teeth.
"Would it be too presumptive to ask for a second date now?" James asks, and I feel my face flush again. Everything in me is screaming to say let him ask, but a tiny little devil with a pitchfork is telling me to tell him to wait.
"You're supposed to wait for the end of the date" I giggle.
"I'll be busy at the end of the date, finding out what...." he starts to say when Natasha arrives with our superhero platters. I pull my hand away and I see a subtle frown on his face as he puts his hand to the side.
"I put extra pickles on yours as per your usual order" Natasha smiles. "Anything else for now?" she asks.
"No thank you" James says when I look at him for his response. She nods and walks away, and I bring my attention to my burger. It's huge, but I know how delicious it is. I grab a napkin and put it in my shirt since I know it gets messy, and I see James do the same thing. "Is this necessary?" he asks me.
"You'll thank me later" I giggle and pick up the burger. I take my first bite and the flavors meld perfectly in my mouth. I hear James make a hum of approval and give a slight moan at the same time. The diner never disappoints. A glob of ketchup falls from his burger onto his napkin, and he's too in the moment to notice. He also has ketchup on his face. I grab another spare napkin and reach across and wipe his face and his eyes darken looking at me. Just a simple look, and it feels like my panties are getting wet. It's not the first time he's done it either.
"Thank you baby doll" he says after he's done chewing.
"No worries, I didn't want you to get it on your clothes" I shrug and go back to my burger and fries. I let him enjoy his burger and we fall into a comfortable silence while we are eating. Normally first dates are awkward, but this one isn't at all. It feels like my soul has known him forever.
"You don't talk much," James observed.
"Not when I'm eating no, it's force of habit. I usually eat alone or with a cat that's trying to take food off my plate," I laugh.
"Do you talk to the cat?" he asks with a sly smirk.
"Obviously, it's usually to sass" I roll my eyes and pop a fry into my mouth.
"You've got something..." he leans forward and uses his thumb to wipe the side of my mouth and then licks his thumb clean. I blush and then smile at him.
"I guess we are even," I say, looking at his lips.
"Not by a long shot" he shakes his head and takes another bite.
"How so?" I ask him.
"I'll explain later, baby doll. There's too many ears here" he smirks.
"Alright, I'm waiting" I giggle.
The rest of the meal goes fantastic, with a dabble of conversation here or there. When we finish Natasha brings out a slice of strawberry cheesecake for us to share and James feeds me the first bite. There might be two forks, but he seems focused on each bite he takes, he feeds me the next one.
"Alright, you have me sold on the food here. I can't wait for Steve to get back. He's going to be a fan" James sits back with his full belly.
"Where did Steve go?" I ask him curiously.
"He had to go home to take care of a few things. They needed me, but I couldn't leave and miss out on a date with you" he leans forward and takes my hand again, I feel that spark again that I never want to end.
"You're sweet, but if your family needs you I completely understand" I tell him honestly.
"Only if it becomes necessary. Some of them are starting to move over the next few weeks, so I've got to make sure the transition is easy for them" he admits.
"Why is your whole family moving with you?" I ask him.
"Hmm" he seems deep in thought for a moment. "We are pretty close, and don't like to be apart" he finally explains. I'm still at a loss as to why they are all uprooting themselves because he wants to move, but I decide not to question him further. Maybe the more I get to know him, the more I'll understand. Natasha comes over with the bill and I notice she doesn't even charge for the cheesecake. I look at her confused and she winks at me and I giggle. Apparently she approves of what she saw. I go to grab the bill and get out my wallet but James takes out two crip hundred dollar bills and hands them to Natasha with the bill and gives his signature smile.
"That's too much," she points out.
"A tip for all the staff then" he shrugs. "Make sure to give yourself extra" he winks.
"Thank you" she says, and I can tell she actually means it.
"Come on baby doll, you promised me a walk around town" James starts to get out of his seat and I follow suit.