Free Nic's Devotion: An Endless Series: Book One by Sara Hess Page A

so
casually relaxed and witty.
         Landon leaned back as well and his hand dropped under
the table. Shifting in his seat his hand did something below the table that had
him grimacing. My face heated and I looked away catching onto what he was
doing. Some guys weren’t as discreet about the act, adjusting themselves openly
so everyone could see.
         Thankfully, I saw a waitress coming our way. She was
maybe mid-twenties and with shoulder length brown hair. She walked up to the
table and smiled at Nic. The look she gave me was a little more circumspect. 
         “Hey there Nic, what can I get you? Do we want to start
with something to drink or are you ready to order?”
         “Hey, Tina.” Nic smiled cordially. “I want a large
chocolate milk and water. Carrie, what would you like?”
         “Can I get an ice tea with lemon?” I gave Tina a smile
and her smile turned less cautious.
         “Did you want to place your food order also? I know you
had practice today so you’re probably starving.” She asked.
         “Carrie hasn’t had a chance to look yet.” Nic
countered.
         “I just want a basic hamburger with no cheese or
onions, with fries.” I replied swiftly.
         “Well in that case, I’ll take the third pound burger
with cheese and bacon, an order of fries, and a bowl of your clam chowder.” Nic
leaned toward me. “Have you tried the clam chowder here? If you haven’t you
should, it is the best I’ve ever had. Thick and chunky with a hint of a kick to
make your lip sweat.” 
         I grinned at the description. “I’ve never tried clam
chowder before, but I couldn’t eat that plus my entrée.”
         Nic had a look of incredibility on his face. “Never had
clam chowder, it’s like my favorite of all soups. You have to try it. Tina,
bring her a cup.” He commanded good-naturedly.
         “I’ll tell the kitchen to put a rush on it.” Tina
chuckled and walked away.
         Nic’s autocratic behavior had me wanting to mess with
him. “You know, I could be allergic to seafood.”
         He narrowed his eyes at me as if reading my face.
“Nope, no seafood allergy. I’m betting you aren’t allergic to anything.”
         I raised an eyebrow. “You would be wrong. I’m allergic
to Neosporin.”
         He frowned. “Really, Neosporin?”
         I shrugged. “Whenever I’ve used it in the past it’s
only made the wound worse. But I’m okay using Triple Antibiotic. Go figure?”
         Nic leaned forward and grinned mischievously. “So
Carrie, you’re a prodigy. Getting into college at the age of sixteen,
seventeen?”
         I shook my head in amused exasperation. “You guys have
been hankering for my age since day one. Don’t you know it’s bad form to ask a
woman her age?”
         “That’s only if she looks older than twenty-nine. If
she looks younger than eighteen than it’s a mandatory question. Some
identification is required the way some high school girls are looking these
days.”
         I raised an inquiring brow at that interesting report.
         He shook his head and held up his hands. “Not me, but a
friend of mine almost had a close call about a year ago. She was sixteen,
looked twenty. Thankfully, her friend let it slip. If he’d taken her up on her
offer and it had gotten out he would have been kicked off the team. Not to
mention the legal ramifications.”
         I winced in sympathy. “Wow. Yeah I can imagine that.
Well, I’m eighteen…and a couple months so you’re safe.” I said cheekily. A
weird look crossed his face, and I suddenly realized what I might have been offering.
I could feel myself turning several shades of red. “Not that I’m implying that
you and I…I mean…I like you, you’re really nice, but…” My stuttering trailed
off in mortification. I was just making things worse thinking he was interested
in that , it was kind of presumptuous.