That grin should’ve been warning enough, but it was such an unexpected thing to see that Peggy didn’t have time to place the mischief or anticipate what might follow. She yipped out her surprise- an embarrassing little noise that she didn’t have time to catch behind her teeth- and the hands that had been loosely clasping shoulder and nape clutched reflexively at him, as if there might be the chance he’d drop her. It was instinct, not true fear, and she still couldn’t quite believe that Steve had stooped and picked her up like that in the first place. She hadn’t once thought he couldn’t, of course; he had size and muscle and more than the physical ability to match, but it was such a greatly daring thing to do… and most of Steve’s riskier choices had much less entertaining consequences.
Peggy couldn’t help but laugh, the full-bodied kind that dropped her head back and shook her shoulders. She didn’t make that noise often, not genuinely, but Steve had always been able to surprise her in ways both good and bad (and all places between). “First rate service,” she laughed, expression merry. “I do like the personal touch.” It was hard not to be impressed and a little flattered, especially when he was so careful with everything; mindful of the skirt of her dress, her legs, how to sit and move without pinching or bruising or accidentally bumping into anything. Steve, when he wasn’t thinking too hard, had grace and charm to spare.
Arms still wreathing his shoulders, though with considerably less force now that they were seated, Peggy reached up and ruffled fingers through fine, blond hair. “I like this better than the restaurant,” she confessed, and it was entirely true if only for two important factors: one, the privacy afforded by a home instead of a public venue, and two, because Steve was more at ease here and that truly did matter to her. She smiled and, pleased with being much closer to eye-level with him, tilted her chin up to catch another kiss. This one wasn’t as hurried, but it was no less heated for the loss of urgency.