“What’s wrong? You just got this funny look on your face.”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me,” he demands without moving from the truck.
“I was just noticing that it’s pretty busy and thinking that maybe we should go somewhere else less crowded.”
“This place is always busy. You don’t want to be seen with me? Somewhere so public where someone could start to ask questions?”
What the hell? Is he a freaking mind reader? “No. I just assumed we’d have a long wait.”
Jake turns in the seat, grabbing my hand in his much larger one. “Listen to me, darlin’. Don’t lie to me or beat around the bush. When I ask what’s on your mind, I want to know. If you’re worried about what everyone is going to think, then say that. We can go somewhere else, but promise me that you’ll be 100% straight with me all the time, even if it’s something you think I don’t want to hear.”
I realize that he’s right. Trying to sugar coat everything is one of my many flaws as a person. I’ve always been the people pleaser, the peacemaker. “Okay. I promise.” I take a deep breath and look in his crystal blue eyes. “Let’s go inside.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I can handle whatever this town has to throw at me.” Jake gives me a lopsided grin as he brings my hand that he’s still holding up to his lips. He places a feather light kiss on the outside of my hand.
“That’s my girl,” Jake says as he gets out of his truck and walks around to open my door.
“One more thing, I am not your girl,” I throw over my shoulder as we walk towards the front door of the restaurant.
When we step inside, I am pleasantly surprised there isn’t too much of a crowd waiting for seats. I walk towards the hostess stand with Jake right behind me. The girl looks up at me with a smile on her face. Then she seems to notice Jake and instantly frowns. “Jake Stevens,” she says with disdain dripping from those two little words.
“Hello, Lauren. We’d like a table for two, please.”
“Huh. Are you going to get cold feet halfway through the dinner and bail on her too?”
“Lauren,” Jake says with a look that means business. If he was interrogating me right now, I’d probably confess all my secrets just based off of that one look.
“Jake,” she spits back at him, narrowing her eyes into tiny slits.
I can’t believe the conversation I’m bearing witness to. To Jake’s credit, he’s trying to not make a scene, but Lauren does not seem to have the same self-control.
“Hi. Obviously you two know each other and that’s great and all, but I’m wondering how long of a wait it is for a table,” I ask the hostess, trying to redirect her attention.
She sighs dramatically as she turns her attention back on me. “It’ll be about ten to fifteen minutes.”
“Great. I guess you already know what name to put down on the table. Thanks.”
“Good luck, honey. He ain’t even worth a fraction of the rumors you heard about him,” she says as she turns to seat a couple in front of us.
I turn towards Jake whose jaw is tight with tension. “What rumors?” I ask in a whisper.
“I’m assuming she’s talking about the ‘easy, only looking for a one night stand’ rumors.”
“You were looking for more from her?”
“No. She was looking for the one night stand. I wasn’t interested. Apparently, she’s still a little upset.”
“Apparently.”
We make small talk until our name is called - called rather rudely if you ask me - and we’re shown to our table. Laverne’s Steakhouse has been a staple in Rivers Edge since it opened almost thirty years ago. Besides their signature steaks, they offer a wide selection of entrees including chicken, fish, and pork. Plus, their cheddar rolls are to die for!
I shuck my coat as I slide into the booth, cautious to not get myself tangled up in it. A few moments later, our server arrives with menus and glasses of ice water.
“My name is Chris. What can I get you folks to drink tonight?” she asks, pen ready to write our drink orders on her pad of paper.
“I’ll have a light beer. Whatever you have on draft is fine.”
“Same,” Jake replies.
“Appetizer?”
“Yeah, do the variety platter, please,” Jake tells Chris.
“I’ll be right back with your drinks and to take your orders,” Chris says as she turns to walk away.
“Light beer?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.
“What? Doesn’t everyone like beer?”
“No. No, they don’t. I don’t think I’ve ever been with someone who hasn’t ordered a big fruity drink.”