Page 42 of Sultry Nights

"No, that's not it. See, I told you it sounded weird, but it's just…" she shrugged. "I don't know. I've just had this weird feeling all morning that someone was watching me."

"Okay. Well, do you need me to stay here for a while until you're finished with your day to make sure you're okay?"

"No. I mean...nothing's happened where I should feel this way. I don't know. I guess all this stuff with Isaac has just made me a little uneasy, and I don't know, I'm just going to try not to let it get to me."

He stepped forward and took her hands in his. "Hey, if you need me to stay, I can stay. If you need some assistance, I can find a cop to come and watch the place for you. And if you need to leave for the day, I'm sure your customers will understand. Tell me what you need and let me help you."

She squeezed his hands and looked into his eyes. "You know, you really are a nice man."

He said, "Well, I'm glad you feel that way. I think you're a nice woman."

She laughed, and he squeezed her fingers. "That's what I was looking for. So tell me what you need, and let me help you."

"I'm fine, really, I'm fine. And what I need right now is to put these beautiful flowers in water and let them grace my counter. They're stunning. Thank you so much."

He grinned. "That's what I was looking for. I was looking for that beautiful smile of yours."

"I'm sorry to be a downer. I didn't mean to do that. It's just, I don't know, you know, how some days are better than others."

"That I do." He grinned.

"All right. So today is just one of those days, I guess."

He said, "Well, let me help you with that, too. How about after work tonight, we have a nice, quiet dinner? I previously texted about a picnic on the beach, but I can try to cook at my place instead."

She laughed. "You want to cook dinner for me?"

"Well, I said I would try to cook dinner. I'm not the best cook. Actually, Jace is the cook of my friends’ group, but I've learned a couple things over time. I think I can manage an easy dinner if you're open to something simple."

She chuckled, "Simple is fine with me, and quite frankly, I'm more than happy to cook for you."

"Well, you cook all day. Bake anyway, which is sort of the same thing, but not. Let me do something for you. How about I pick you up tonight around six o'clock and bring you back to my place, and we'll have dinner?"

"That sounds like you have to make dinner, then put everything on hold to come and pick me up, and then take me back. So how about if I just meet you at your place at six o'clock?"

He grinned. Then looked around. There was no one in the bakery at this moment, so he leaned forward and kissed her lips lightly.

"That sounds like a great date. I'll see you at six."

She smiled. "That sounds good. I'm looking forward to it."

He turned and walked toward the door, but not before turning and winking at her.

Hopping in his truck, he felt elated, and now he was going to go over and ask Jace what he could make because he didn't really cook all that much.

He wanted to try and impress Hanna, but he was also not opposed to cheating a little bit to impress her. He turned his truck toward the Sandbar.

Feeling light-hearted, he pulled in the Sandbar parking lot and strode inside the front door.

Jace was cleaning the bar. "Hey, bud."

"Hey, Quinn. How are you?"

"I'm good. So I have a date tonight, and I need something quick and simple to make that, you know, something that I can make."

Jace laughed. "How about this? How about if I make you a nice dinner and package it up, and then you just swing by and pick it up? All you'll have to do is warm it up, put it on nice dishes, and voilà."

"That's the best plan I've heard all day," Quinn laughed.

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