Worth It All(81)
She and Jake shared one side of the booth. Casey, all grown up with her Shirley Temple, sat on the other. Jake colored on Casey’s children’s menu, conveniently losing all the games.
They ate fresh salads and warm bread, then creamy lobster bisque and crab claws. Casey declined on the claws. She also wasn’t too excited about the vegetable portion of her meal.
“Eat five green beans if you want dessert.”
“Five?” Casey carefully counted out the smallest ones and pushed the rest to the side.
“Oh, wow. Paige, look at that.”
Paige turned toward the window, expecting a boat or an exciting animal. She didn’t see anything, and when she looked back, he and Casey were smiling.
Her gaze dropped to Casey’s plate, now with suspiciously less green beans. “Did you just eat her vegetables?”
Jake and Casey sat in allied silence.
“Jake.”
“You know what I think about your serious Mommy voice,” Jake said, his own voice low and full of innuendo.
“That you’re about to get in trouble?” Casey offered.
Jake sent Paige a hot look. “Yes, I’m in trouble and—”
“Fine.” Paige cut him off, distracted by his mischievous grin that had her insides quivering. “No dessert for either of you.”
“What!” They both protested in unison.
Casey made it halfway through the dessert that came with her children’s meal before falling asleep with her head on the table. Jake slipped out and gently laid her on the bench, then came back, scooting in closer than he’d been before.
They took their time eating, sharing food off each other’s plates, talking about everything from books to movies to music. She’d remember this day always. The beach, the luxurious room, which Jake said was for her first real vacation. And mostly him.
“I have good news,” Paige said when they got a second drink.
Jake laid his fork down and gave her his full attention. “Really? Let’s hear it.”
“I got an A in my class.”
“That’s awesome.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m proud of you, but I had no doubt.”
“Thank you.” She was proud of herself and it felt good. It felt good to share it with Jake. “And, I’m enrolled in three more classes for the fall.”
“Mmm. Sexy. Are you a naughty college girl?”
Paige laughed and slipped a bite of her chocolate cake between his lips. “I’ve been talking to Hannah, and she’s really got me thinking about physical therapy. I don’t know how I could manage it, but…I think I finally know what I really want to do.” She picked at the cake on her plate. “It took me awhile to get here, but it’s a start.”
“Don’t. Don’t do that. Don’t minimize it.” He covered her hand with his own. “It’s more than a start. You’ve done everything you needed to do in just the right order it needed to be done.”
She looked away, but smiled, feeling warm inside and enormously happy because of the man beside her. It meant more than she could ever explain or maybe even understand that Jake cared about what she wanted, that he understood what she needed.
She pressed a quick kiss to his lips because his face was right there and because she couldn’t resist. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“I’ve been wanting to take you out on a date. I hope to do it again.”
“I’d like that, but I meant all of it. The dinner, the trip, the beach, everything.”
“You’re welcome.”
The waitress came over to refill their tea and paused with a smile. Paige understood the touch of wistfulness in her eyes. It was the same way she felt when she looked at couples in love.
Or couples who looked in love. Is that what they were? Her stomach dipped, knowing she was falling. Had fallen. She didn’t know when or exactly how she’d come to believe that the fairy tale actually existed, that she could possibly have it, but with Jake she absolutely did.
When they’d finished and paid, Jake carried a sleeping Casey out of the restaurant. The girl at the hostess stand smiled as they passed. “Your little girl is such a sweetie. Letting her parents have some alone time.”
Jake didn’t correct her and neither did she as they walked out into the perfect night that still wasn’t over.
Of course Casey was wide awake by the time they got back to the bed-and-breakfast. She and Jake did the bedtime routine together, both of them anxious and trying not to rush. Casey asked for one more story, one more song, a glass of water. Then she needed a different shirt because hers was scratchy and on and on until Paige was giggling uncontrollably at the pained look on Jake’s face.