When A Man Loves A Woman(29)
Blue Donahue
Chapter Five
By the time Wednesday night rolled around, Delilah had been anticipating her date with Mac for what seemed like forever. He had called her last night and told her to wear something casual and comfortable. That was the easy part! She was dying to know what Mac had in store for her. Although the curiosity had been killing her, she hadn’t asked him any questions about their date over the phone. At seven o’clock on the dot Mac showed up at her door, looking very ruggedly handsome in a pair of khaki pants and a forest green shirt. As she sat in the passenger side of his truck all of her first-date jitters seemed to evaporate. They made small talk which flowed seamlessly without any awkward pauses or breaks. As they drove past Breezy Beach, Delilah couldn’t help but think about the other day and Betty breaking down on her. She didn’t think she would ever forget Mac coming to her rescue at the perfect time.
She let out a little sigh that earned her a quick look from Mac.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Would you like me to turn the air down? I always keep it cool in here.”
She smiled at him, admiring his strong features in profile as she focused on the road. “No, I’m fine. I have my sweater.” She’d worn her favorite pair of leggings, accompanied by a red shirt and a white button down sweater. Her new white sandals with the gold starfish in the center jazzed the outfit up a little. Although Mac had said casual, she had still wanted to look pretty for their first date.
Just past the main entrance to the beach, Mac pulled into the lot and drove as close as he could to the beach itself. He parked the car and turned it off then hopped out so he could open up Delilah’s door for her. As he reached for her hand and helped her down she asked in a teasing voice, “Is this our final destination?”
“Possibly,” he teased back, taking her hand and leading her toward the wooden stairs that led up to a little bluff on the stretch of Breezy Beach. It was one of her favorite little spots in Breeze Point. When you stood at the top you could see the wide expanse of beach, endless miles of ocean and Breezy Harbor. If you turned around in the opposite direction you could see The Cove Restaurant sitting up high on the cliff.
Once they reached the top, Delilah sucked in a shocked breath. A beautiful table for two had been set up complete with elegant China, linen napkins and two wine goblets. A white lantern surrounded by hydrangeas graced the table. A waiter dressed all in white stood a few feet away beside a cart containing covered dishes. Two bottles of wine sat on the cart.
“How did you do this?” she asked. She could hear the awe in her own voice.
Mac grinned. He put a finger to his lips. “Shh. It’s a secret.” He took her by the elbow and led her to the table. The waiter stepped forward and pulled out her chair with a flourish. Delilah looked over and admired the stunning vista. It was as if they had a bird’s eye view of the most jaw dropping view in town. Mac sat across from her, watching her for her reaction.
“T-This is unreal,” she sputtered. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I had an ulterior motive. I like quiet, so this seemed like the perfect place to enjoy each other’s company without loud noise or interruptions.” Mac’s expression was sheepish.
“It’s perfect,” she gushed, her gaze straying towards the miles of ocean stretched out before them. She cast a quick glance at Mac. He was looking out across the water with a look of contentment etched on his face.
“There’s nothing more peaceful and perfect than nature in all its glory,” Mac said. “This will all be here long after we’ve left this world. It’s timeless.”
“I often think that same thing,” she said. Mac swung his gaze in her direction and their eyes locked. Just then the waiter stepped forward and placed pear salads down in front of them. They ate in companionable silence. As the main course was brought—glazed salmon in a citrus sauce, savory rice pilaf and kale—Delilah and Mac dug in. They had their choice of red and white wines to complement their meal. Although Delilah didn’t think she would be able to eat another bite, she couldn’t resist sampling from the elaborate dessert platter. She enjoyed a mini key lime pie and shared a chocolate mousse tart with Mac. Throughout their meal, soft music streamed in through small speakers.
Mac had planned such a beautiful, elaborate dinner. Everything had been sheer perfection. After they finished eating Mac suggested a walk on the beach. With a big fat moon sitting proudly in the sky and illuminating their path, they set off to walk the beach. Once they reached the rocks they sat down side by side in the sand and stared out across the black patch of ocean.