The CEO is a Softie?

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight:

Paisley's POV:

The hostess guided us to our table for the night and asked if we needed a high chair which I responded with a 'yes'. Once that was brought, I placed Hayden inside the wooden high chair.

"Can I have the diaper bag, Tatum?" I asked knowing Hayden wouldn't sit still and be quiet for long with out something to occupy him.

"Color, Mommy!"

"Inside voice, Hayden. We are at a restaurant." I warned as I searched through the bag finally finding the coloring book and crayons and placing them in front of Hayden.

"Paisley, I was thinking about the whole you living and working with me. I don't want you to work for me anymore, I just think it would be best for Hayden if you stayed home to watch him, home being my place because I still want you to live with me." Dallas explained to me. He didn't even look up from the menu that he held in front of him.

"How will I pay you for living with you? I'm not just going to live there with my child and not pay-" I was interrupted by our waiter.

"Hi guys I'm Joseph, what can I get you for drinks?" The waiter asked from behind me.

"Can he-" I asked referring to Hayden,"-have apple juice, but could you please only pour a bit of apple juice in it and then the rest water? Thank you. And I'll have a lemonade." I gave him a smile before turning to Dallas who was sitting on my other side. Tatum was sitting across from me and I'm not sure if it was just his long legs or not, but his feet were in my space and I accidentally kept kicking him. It was annoying.

"I'll take a water." Dallas said and set down his menu and leant back in his seat. Even when he was relaxed he was still intimidating with how much power you felt from him when you were in his presence.

"Coke or Pepsi, which ever you have." Tatum said and I accident kicked his ankle again.

"Sorry." I apologised to Tatum with a sheepish smile. Dallas looked over at me confused. "I accidentally kicked him." I explained and Dallas took a quick glance under the table and came up with an annoyed expression.

"Well of course you keep kicking him, his feet are on your side." Dallas explained and placed his arm on the back of my chair. What the heck was he doing?

Trying to make conversation I turned to Tatum and asked,"What is your job?"

"I have my own business as well. Actually Dallas and I are competitors in the field." Tatum answered with a smile as he leaned over to Hayden to see what he was coloring. "That's a nice whale you're coloring." He complimented and I couldn't help but smile.

Once our drinks were brought and we ordered our food, I felt a bit hot and shrugged off my sweater and set it behind me on the chair. Again, Dallas' hand laid in the back of the chair, but I felt him run his fingertips up my arm and over my shoulder. A shiver raked through my body, his hands were cold, well that's the excuse I was going with.

"Your hands are freezing." I commented and unwrapped Dallas' arm and placed his hand in my lap with my warm ones holding his. My small hands barely covered his large one, but I made it work because for some reason I loved the feeling of holding himself hand in mine. Dallas didn't try to escape my grip, maybe he liked it, too.

"Mommy, color with me." Hayden said with a toothy grin and I smiled back at him and reluctantly let go of Dallas' hand, but Dallas kept his hand on my thigh.

"Okay, buddy." I agreed and picked up a blue crayon and helped him color a small portion of the whale, even though his coloring was making huge loops and lines everywhere. "Wow, Hayden! You are great at coloring!" I told him with a grin and reached out smithing down his brown curls. He was so adorable. And he was mine.

After a couple of minutes our food was brought and set in front of us. Hayden got four chicken fingers. We all dug in, my baked ziti was tremendous. I finished everything on my plate and every once in a while I'd give Hayden a few bites. The thing that shocked me was, even through out eating Dallas kept hims hand on my thigh which made my stomach fill with nerves at the thought of it. I interlaced him fingers with him and gave him a small smile as he continued eating his fettuccine alfredo. Dallas was such a great friend to have, especially when he doesn't even think twice to bring Hayden and I into his home.

The dinner ended soon enough and everyone was fighting over who got to pay. I was going to pay after everything today.
"I'll be back, I've got to use the restroom." Lie, I was going up to our waiter.

"Hi, I'm front the group over there. Can I have the check now please, I don't want the others paying?" I asked with a polite smile and he handed the book over to me and I placed my credit card inside and handed it back. After that was situated I walked back to our table with a smug smirk on my face. I sat down and said,"I win."

I took Hayden from the high chair and set him in my lap as he played with me necklace. Dallas and Tatum looked at me with confusion until the waiter came back and handed me the book with me credit card. "Thank you." I said and placed it back in my wallet.

"Paisley! Why did you pay?" Dallas exclaimed as he stood up and reached into his wallet. "How much was it? I'm paying you back."

"No, I'll pay her back, I was set on paying anyway." Tatum argued.

"Guys, I wouldn't of payed if I didn't want to, now put your wallet away because you aren't getting the amount out of me." I said and pulled Hayden's jacket on him and then my sweater. Hayden was starting to fall asleep, since it was around his bed time and I cradled him to my chest as I picked the diaper bag up which Dallas took from me.

"Next time, let me pay. I'm the guy, I pay." Dallas whispered in my ear and I shook my head with a grin as we all stepped out into the frigid air of the night. I pulled Hayden closer to my chest to make sure he was warm as we began the trek back to the truck which was at the park. It was freezing, and I shivered in the small sweater I had on and Dallas wrapped his arm around my waist pulling me against his side. God, he was warm. I huddled into his side as we got back to the vehicle.

"I drive!" Tatum called and waited for the keys to Dallas' car.

"What? The vehicle is mine!" Dallas protested as he gripped the keys in his hand.

"Please! You got to drive the whole way to the park, it's my turn!" Dallas finally gave up and handed the keys over. They were a bunch of kids. I buckled Hayden him and kissed his forehead before getting into the back seat next to him. Dallas begrudgingly got into the passenger seat and buckled himself in. A yawn escaped from me as I leaned back in the seat.

It was a long day.

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Hi guys! Thank you for the votes and comments! I'm sorry it's taking so long, I'm still on vacation!

-Lauren