“Sorry. It’s been a bit since I’ve driven an American car.”
“So long as you stay on the right side of the road, I won’t judge.”
He hit me with a smirk. “Here’s hoping.”
Finding a barbeque restaurant in my town was not hard to do. However, finding the kind where one might feel comfortable on a first date—that is, where one didn’t eat off a picnic table or suck on ribs—was a bit more challenging. Something told me Simon wasn’t exactly the get-a-T-shirt-for-eating-a-full-rack-under-five-minutes kind of guy. And the last thing I wanted myself was to have to eat something messy with my hands while Brexy watched.
So, I’d chosen a steakhouse which served great barbeque and was a little upscale. We’d engaged in small talk along the way there, but mainly he’d concentrated on the road. Watching him drive had been a treat. The man was sexy as hell while controlling the sleek black Mercedes.
After the valet opened my door and I got out of the car, I noticed Simon’s hand rested on the small of my back as we walked into the restaurant. I liked it. A lot. I also enjoyed that while I stood over five foot eight when in heels, he was still taller, clearing at least six feet.
I smiled when we stepped into the entry, and the owner greeted me by name. Ernie was a large man with a heart to match. When Jen and I had lost our parents years ago, he’d dropped off meals at the house for months afterward. He’d ensured we knew he was only a phone call away if we’d needed him. Hell, half the town had done the same, rallying behind us like family during the darkest time of our lives.
“Hello, Peyton, my dear. How lovely to see you.”
I loved his deep Southern accent. “How’ve you been, Ernie?”
“Good, good. Your sister and Kevin were here last night. Said you were babysitting the girls.”
“Yes, I was. It was a lot of fun.”
Ernie’s gaze fell to my date, and I quickly introduced him. “Ernie, this is Simon. Simon, this is Ernie. He owns the best restaurant in town.” It wasn’t an exaggeration, with the beautiful wooden floors, gorgeous, stained-glass windows, and intimate tables. It was quintessential old-school charm meets down-home food.
Simon took his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Let me get you two a good table.” Ernie motioned for the hostess and pointed to a window view in the corner.
We took our seats, and I noticed Simon’s amused look. “What?”
“Does everyone know you here in town?”
I let out a small sigh. “Pretty much. Aside from growing up here, I have a sister who is very active at the schools, and my brother-in-law manages the bank two streets over.”
“Does your sigh mean you’re not a fan of small-town living?”
“Most of the time it’s great. You’ve never seen a town rally around their own the way this one does. Then other times it’s embarrassing, such as when the checkout woman tells a stranger that you’re quite single ‘cause everyone knows it.”
He chuckled at my reference to Laverne.
We were interrupted when the waitress came over to take our drink orders and handed us menus. Although I didn’t mind sharing my thoughts about this town and how good they’d been to me, on a first date I wasn’t ready to have the heavy conversation about the loss of my parents.
I watched as he carefully folded his napkin in his lap and straightened his silverware, setting it perfectly in line. I doubted he even noticed he did it, but the action had me smiling. Of all men in the universe to meet, one who preferred things neat, tidy and orderly was not what I would have expected.