Free Push the Envelope by Rochelle Paige Page B

your
favorite foods.”

 
    I could feel the heat from his body through his
jeans. His muscles clenched as he pressed the gas, and it took all my willpower
not to squeeze his thigh. My hand still tingled where he’d kissed it, and my
heart was racing. “It’s downtown, across the street from the library.”

 
    I sat in silence, darting occasional glances his
way as we drove to the restaurant. It was only a few minutes from campus and
served fantastic food. I’d been going there since I was little, so it seemed
like a safe place for our first date. When we pulled up in front, Drake opted
to use the valet service. He hopped out of the car and waved the attendant away
from my side of the car to help me out himself.

 
    I smiled up at him, happy that he had opened the
door for me. “Good manners. Your mom would be proud.”

 
    “I’m sure she would, but it doesn’t have anything
to do with the manners my mom taught me. Don’t need to give another guy an
excuse to get up close and personal to you.” Drake tugged me into his side as
we walked into the restaurant.

 
    The hostess who greeted us wasn’t one I recognized
from my previous visits. She was young, probably still in high school, and she
stared at Drake as he asked for a table for two with some privacy. He smiled at
her while making his request, and she giggled in response without looking my
way even once.

 
    “Right this way,” she sighed as she sashayed her
way to our table, swaying her hips while she walked in front of us. I glanced
over at Drake, expecting his eyes to be glued to her ass. I was surprised to
find him staring at me instead, a twinkle in his eye. He rolled his eyes at me
and shook his head as he glanced at the hostess. I felt so much better knowing
that he found her actions amusing instead of attractive.

 
    She gave Drake exactly what he’d asked for—a booth
in the corner, away from the other diners. As she placed the menus on the
table, Drake ushered me into the booth and squeezed in next to me. The hostess
huffed a little as she finally noticed me. She gave Drake a secret little smile
before walking away.

 
    “That happen often?” I asked.

 
    “What?” Drake acted like he had no idea what I was
talking about as he glanced at the menu. “Any recommendations for what’s good
here?”

 
    I shook my head and let him change the subject. It
wasn’t like he had control over how other people acted around him, and he
hadn’t done anything to make the girl think he was interested the way other guys
might have done. “Yes, anything with pasta.”

 
    Drake glanced down at the menu and scanned the
contents. “Babe, everything has pasta.”

 
    “Exactly. I’ve never eaten here and not liked the
food. You can order whatever you like. Trust me. It will be delicious,” I
quipped back as the waiter approached our table.

 
    “Alexa, welcome back!” Tony greeted me. “I didn’t
know you were coming in for dinner tonight. Is your dad joining you?” Tony
started working at Ciao Bella about a year ago. It seemed like he was always assigned
to my section whenever I came in.

 
    “Hi, Tony. No, Dad isn’t having dinner with us
tonight,” I replied.

 
    Drake draped his arm across my shoulders as we
spoke. Tony glanced his way and his expression seemed to fall as he realized
that I was on a date. “Ahhh, date night, huh?” he asked.

 
    “Yeah, man,” Drake practically growled in response.
“Could you bring us a bottle of Chianti to start?”

 
    “I’m sorry, sir. I can’t serve Alexa alcohol since
she isn’t twenty-one. May I see your ID? I can bring you some wine if you’d
like. Alexa, how about an iced tea?” Tony offered.

 
    Drake turned to me. “You’re not twenty-one yet?”

 
    “Nope. I’m only twenty. I have several months to go
‘til my birthday. Sorry,” I apologized.

 
    “No apology needed. Guess I figured you for older
with the whole pilot thing,” Drake said.