Lord Have Mercy (The Southern Gentleman #2)(43)

I frowned. “Ummm…”

She burst out laughing, throwing her head back and really letting go.

I watched her, loving the way her hair was flowing around her face, and couldn’t help myself.

I had to kiss her.

And I did.

Right on the mouth that was still covered in barbeque sauce.

I licked my lips once I pulled back, and her eyes followed the movement.

My eyes dropped down to the dot of barbeque sauce, and I had to physically grab ahold of my chair with both hands to keep myself from leaning forward and licking it off.

I wasn’t a big fan of barbeque sauce, but coming from Camryn’s skin? I most definitely was a fan of that.

“I think that she’s jealous of me,” Camryn murmured, sounding breathless. “She hates me.”

I looked over at Nivea, who was playing on her phone while also glaring a hole into us each time she lifted her gaze to aim toward our table.

“Maybe,” I shrugged. “But I told her from the beginning that we weren’t going to be anything more than what we were. I’m not sure why she’s acting like this, to be honest.”

“Let’s put it this way.” Camryn lifted her napkin to her face and cleaned her skin free of any sauce. “If you were standing next to someone and a person was choosing between you and that someone to win a million dollars, and the other person won it because she’s cooler, would you be mad?”

“Are you thinking that I’m the million dollars?” I asked. “And did you just say that you were cooler than Nivea?”

Camryn grinned. “If the shoe fits.”

I just shook my head, unable to help the grin that tilted up the corner of my mouth. “Did you decide what you were having yet?”

She looked at the appetizers that were still half-eaten in front of us and shrugged. “I was thinking about a steak, but then I saw the chicken fried chicken and the barbeque cheese fries.” She paused. “But then I saw the dessert menu and decided that maybe I should go with something that’s a little bit smaller so I can eat the brownie explosion sundae.”

I flagged down the waiter and he rushed toward us, stopping at the end of the booth with a welcoming expression on his face.

“Have you decided what you’d like to eat?” he asked pleasantly.

I ordered myself a steak, salad, and mashed potatoes. Then I ordered Camryn the steak, salad, and baked potato. I also made sure to place the order for the dessert once our dinner had been brought out.

“I’m never going to finish a sixteen-ounce steak,” she said with a shake of her head.

I snorted. “I know. But I will eat what you don’t finish, not to mention it’ll drive Nivea crazy to see me sharing steak off your plate.”

“Why?” she questioned.

I sat back and watched her break a piece of bread in half and slather it with the honey butter.

“Because she always used to try to eat off my plate and I wouldn’t let her.” I paused. “Then when she’d offer me her food, I’d always decline.”

Her brows rose. “Why?”

“I don’t like sharing my food with people.” I paused. “And I also don’t like eating off of people’s plates. It’s unsanitary.”

“You’ve eaten off of mine plenty of times,” she pointed out.

I nodded once. “I have. Which makes you different.”

“What’s so unsanitary about it?” she pushed.

“Do you remember when I suggested you use my old toothbrush and you said that was ‘gross?’”

She took a bite of her bread but made an agreeing sound with her throat.

“How is that any different than sharing food? It’s all touched your teeth in some way,” I explained.

She shook her head. “That’s the most back-ass-ward shit I’ve ever heard, but I can definitely see how you feel that way.”

Before I could reply to that, my chief walked up to the table and offered me his hand.

I took it and said, “How’s it going, Chief?”

He shook it back, eyes going to Camryn as he said, “I’m out with my wife for the first time in years without kids. I’m doing pretty goddamn good. Who’s this, Flint?”

Camryn offered him her hand, and he dropped mine to take hers. “I’m the girl that rear-ended Flint’s cruiser…”

The Chief’s eyes went wide before understanding dawned. “Let me get this straight. You ran into his cruiser, caused him to get written up, and he dates you?”

Camryn looked over at me in horror. “You got written up because I rear-ended you?”

“He got written up because he didn’t turn the correct paperwork in, causing us to drop your ticket because it wasn’t done in the correct way,” the Chief said. “But now I can see why he might have been distracted in normal protocols.”

Camryn snorted. “More like he was trying not to turn around and kill me and forgot what it was that he was supposed to do.”

The Chief laughed. “I like you, kid.”

Camryn blinked. “I wish my students liked me. They think I’m mean.”

I grunted. “Technically, you kind of are. I’ve walked by while you were teaching class once and was outside when a young girl came out crying because you yelled at her for putting on makeup during the middle of your lecture.”