I nod my head and look at him. Should I just invite him inside now and ride him like I’m at a rodeo?

“No, babe. I’m taking you out to dinner, then we can come back here for dessert.” He winks at me. It’s always the worst when a man knows he’s hot and the effect that he has on you. I’m so completely fucked.

“Yeah, we can take my Jeep.”

I enter the code and open the garage door. Dax follows me to the driver’s side of the car and opens the door for me. As I climb into the driver’s seat, I might bend slightly so he can get a little show of the cheeky lace undies I have underneath.

“Naughty little witch,” he says as he shuts my door and rounds the car, getting in the passenger’s seat.

“Where to?”

“Start driving toward North Grove.”

“We’re going out of town?”

“Yeah, unless that’s a problem,” he asks. Not seeming angry, but genuine, that if I didn’t want to leave town, he wouldn’t make me.

“No, it’s just been a while.” I reverse the Jeep down the driveway and press the button, shutting the garage door.

We’re quiet for a few moments as I drive toward the highway. Dax’s hand wanders over to my thigh and he draws lazy circles on my skin. It’s making me crazy.

“So, how old are you, anyway?”

He laughs, and it’s deep and gravelly. It has a central line to all my lady bits. “Older than I look, I suppose.”

“Hmm, cryptic. Not a vampire, definitely not an angel, maybe a mage?”

“Maybe,” he says, the pressure of his thumb increasing on my thigh.

“You’re really not going to tell me what you are?”

“Patience, pet.” He squeezes my thigh, and I can’t help the sound of pleasure that squeaks out of my lips. “Make a left up here,” Dax directs, and I turn on my blinker and turn onto the side road.

“Carly’s Crabs?” I ask.

“I probably should have made sure you liked seafood, but I assumed from your menu at Hex.”

I smile, the memories flooding me a little too quickly. “My Dad used to bring me here on my birthday.”

“He still around?”

“Somewhere, I only ever see him on my birthday.”

He frowns and his hand stills on my thigh. Probably not the best idea to drop your daddy abandonment issues on a guy who hasn’t been the greatest father.

“He sent money, but he just couldn’t be a good parent, so he did the best he could,” I say, and Dax nods his head. I can’t stop myself from the word vomit. “It’s not for everyone, being a parent. I know it’s not for me. But shit happens sometimes. It doesn’t make him a bad person.”

“Blair, babe, take a breath.”

I do and exhale, giving him a smile. “Ready to go in?” he asks.

“Yeah.” I go to open my door and he tsks at me. So I wait for him to get out of the Jeep and walk around and open my door. I was going to hop down myself, but he grabs me by the waist and sets me on the pavement. Carly’s is in the middle of nowhere. It’s half indoors, half outdoors, with a massive awning to protect us from the incoming rain. Dax keeps his hand firmly placed on my lower back as we walk up to the hostess stand.