Page 6 of If We Never Met

"Then I'll get the tacos." She already wished she could change her answer about having a meal. But it was just dinner. She'd survive.

While Danny took several more minutes to study the menu, she glanced at Dante. He'd finished his burger and was sipping the last of his beer. He gave her a nod and a small smile. She kind of wished he'd throw her a life raft, because she could really use one.

She turned her attention back to Danny. "What are you going to go with?"

"Still thinking. I'm torn between the Thai noodles and the Cobb salad."

"Very different choices."

"What to do, what to do…" He drummed his fingernails on the table as he debated.

Five minutes later, she was still waiting for him to decide. If it took him this long to make a menu decision, she couldn't imagine how long it had taken him to decide to quit being an attorney. In fact, she was kind of shocked he'd actually done it.

"What made you change careers?" she asked. "Was it a quick decision or did you think about it for a long time?"

For a moment, she thought he might pick up on the irony of her question, but instead he set his menu aside. "It was a decision that was years in the making. I went into law to follow in my father's footsteps. I didn't like being a lawyer, but I just hung in there, thinking it was what I should do. After my dad died, I went into work one day, and I realized I couldn't do it anymore. I had to do something I was interested in."

"Then your dad's death was the impetus."

"It's not like he forced me to be a lawyer; I just didn't want to let him down."

"That makes sense. At least now you're doing what you want."

"I think so. My mom is a great writer, so I have it in my genes."

"I didn't realize your mother was also a writer." His father died, so he quit the job that he'd done to follow in his father's footsteps and now he was following in his mother's footsteps. It seemed like he was better at following than forging his own path.

"She writes historical fiction, so we're in different genres." He glanced back at the menu. "Maybe I'll get those fish tacos."

"You said you don't like fish," she reminded him.

"But you said they were good."

"They are, but not if you don't like seafood."

He shrugged. "I like it if it's done well."

He liked it because he couldn't make a decision on his own. She tapped her fingers restlessly on her thighs, sending another look in Dante's direction. He had just paid the check. He was leaving. It was just going to be her and Danny now.

"Maybe I won't do the fish tacos," Danny said. "Salad might be better. It's warm tonight."

She bit back a frustrated groan. At this rate, they'd be here until midnight.

As a shadow fell over the table, she looked up, surprised to see Dante standing next to her.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," he said. "But there's a problem at your shop, Keira."

"What?" she asked in confusion.

"The burglar alarm is going off. You need to take care of it."

She looked at him in astonishment. She didn't have an alarm, so she knew it wasn't going off. "Okay. Thanks for letting me know." She looked at Danny. "I'm sorry. I need to check on my store."

"Someone else can't do that?"

"I'm the owner." She grabbed her purse and stood up. "It was nice to meet you."

"I'll text you."

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