Grant snorted.“Unless I really fuck up tonight, I thought that was already just aboutguaranteed on a first date. I think I’m going to need something a little moretempting.”
Carter coughed tocover his laugh. The offense in Grant’s voice was the funniest thing he’d everheard. Glancing over at Grant, he tried not to smile. “Guaranteed, huh?”
“We’ve talked alot. I haven’t sent any dick pics or anything offensive. I took you to a nicerestaurant, and I have something else fun planned, too. Oh, yeah, I get a kissgoodnight. It’s in the bag and you know it.” Grant grinned and lookedincredibly pleased with himself. Coming from a man who looked like the leaderof a motorcycle gang, it was an odd combination when talking about a kiss.
“I’m not sureabout that. For argument's sake, I’ll concede the issue.” Ignoring the wickedgrin coming from Grant, Carter glanced out the window again. He was already encouragingthe crazy, but how much more was he going to play along? It’d been so longsince someone was interested in him that even with Grant’s sledgehammerapproach to flirting, he still questioned it.
Grant was quietwhile Carter’s mind worked through the options. He didn’t automatically giveCarter an out, but they’d driven around the same section of downtown threetimes, and Carter knew he was running out of time. If he wanted to play, he wouldhave to step up, or Grant was going to let him out of it just by parking thecar.
“How about I letyou pick out what I wear when we go up to the club?” Carter held his breath andwaited to see what Grant would say. It was a ridiculously over-the-top bribe,but he wanted Grant to know he was interested but reserved, not blowing himoff. And he’d already promised Wyatt he’d go, so he might as well let someonedress him who knew what would be appropriate and sexy.
Grant growledunder his breath and actually reached down to adjust his cock. Then he lookedover at Carter with a naughty, satisfied grin. “I like that. You know how tobribe a man.”
Carter knew he wasblushing again, so he looked out the window, trying to pretend he wasn’tembarrassed. “So where are we going?”
“I thought we coulddo the night market. I haven’t had a chance to go there in ages, and I heardthat you haven’t ever gone.” Grant’s voice was pleased, like his team had justmade a touchdown.
“Oh.” That soundedpromising. Even though he’d been in Richmond quite a while, he hadn’t gone tothe farmer’s market that was held in the summer evenings. Most of the time hewas either busy with work or so tired he’d just wanted to go home and curl up.“That should be fun.”
“And the websitesaid they even have a craft market and some antique vendors there tonight, so Ithought it could be interesting to see what else is out there.” Now Grantsounded a little less sure of himself.
“That’s a greatidea. I like seeing the different things other businesses find. I’ve even madesome good contacts at similar events. Thank you for thinking of it.” Glancingover at Grant, Carter could see the smug expression back on Grant’s face. TheDom loved being right.
Needing to get backat him just a little, Carter returned to looking out the windshield. “Are youready to stop driving around in circles now and actually park?”
Grant laughed. “Ihad to make sure I got my bribe.”
“Would you havekept driving around until I gave in?” Carter shouldn’t have asked; he already knewthe answer.
“Of course, orunless you said you didn’t want to play.” Carter saw Grant’s casual shrug outof the corner of his eye.
Not sure what tosay, Carter just shook his head again. Grant was going to make him batty. Thankfully,they parked before he could figure out how to respond. As they got out of thecar, Grant surprised him by taking his hand. The skirt and everything, andGrant still didn’t mind.
As they walkeddown the street and turned into the local park, Carter could see the stalls andbooths that were set up. There were lots of traditional fruit and vegetablevendors, but there were also flowers and crafts and a variety of other things.
Meandering throughthe crowded walkways, Grant showed him some pictures he liked by a local artist,and Carter pointed out some antique vendors that were a few rows over. WhenGrant dragged him over to a booth selling brownies and cookies, Carter had tolaugh.
“These are my favorites.They look like regular chocolate chip cookies, but they have a brownie inside.”Grant looked like a kid on Christmas morning. “I can either only get a coupleto eat now, or enough that Brent can steal a couple when he comes over. He’s asneaky bastard and can smell cookies no matter how well you’ve hidden them.”
He was so seriousthat Carter coughed to cover a laugh. Oh, the problems when you had a largefamily that didn’t hate you. “I’ll keep that in mind. How many are you going toget?”
Carter hadn’t thoughtit was a difficult question, but Grant took it very seriously. After a quickinternal debate, he looked back at Carter. “A couple for us now, but can Ileave the rest at your house so they won’t get stolen? The last time I boughtsome, Brent came over the next day and they were gone. I didn’t even see himsteal them. I went to get something out of the bedroom, and he and the cookiesvanished.”
It had to be thefunniest thing Carter had ever heard, but he was trying to take it seriouslybecause Grant was clearly concerned. “Yes. You can keep them at my house. I’lleven keep them away from Wyatt if he comes over.”
“Yeah, he can’tkeep a secret.” Grant nodded seriously, and then turned to the vendor who wasnearly dying while trying to be professional. “Two dozen, please.”
After gettingtheir treats and promising one more time that he could keep them safe, they setoff toward the other side of the park where the furniture and used items werebeing sold. He recognized a few other shop owners from around the area andstopped to say hello.
The ones he’d metbefore were used to his more colorful personality, so they didn’t even blink atthe skirt, but Grant made them a little more cautious. Not because he wasintroducing himself as Carter’s boyfriend, which Carter still wasn’t how totake, but because even in his work clothes, he still looked out of place.
Bikers did not buyantiques or date men in more feminine clothing, evidently.
Carter finallystarted introducing Grant by bringing up Grant’s business first, then lettingGrant butt in to say they were together. Hearing the ties to a well-known localbusiness seemed to smooth things over faster. Grant seemed used to thehesitation from the other owners, because as they left one very skittish olderwoman who was selling antique clothing, Grant leaned down to whisper in his ear,“That’s why Garrett or someone else does most of the Chamber of Commerce stuffor the public face of the business. I make people nervous.”
“I don’t see why.I knew right away you were sweet.” Carter wanted to add “and a terrible tease,”but he thought that might get them off track.
Grant smiled downat him and squeezed his hand. “I liked that you weren’t hesitant about spendingtime with me.”
