Page 35 of How I Love You

“Where’s home, then?”

“Right now, it’s the Charlotte Oaks B&B,” I said with a shrug. “After that, we’ll get Austin back where he belongs, and then I guess we’ll see where the next job takes us.”

Her eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place. Maybe disappointment? I wasn’t sure. “What about roots? Don’t you kinda wish you had some?”

“Not in the slightest,” I replied, the words coming out more firmly than I’d expected.

“I can’t imagine that. But, hey, different strokes for different folks, I guess.” She leaned back in her seat, seemingly contemplating my response. Then, out of nowhere, she perked up again. “Are you hungry?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but her hand was already up, signaling for Norma to come back over.

I was hungry, but I hadn’t expected her to invite me to dinner. Was she suggesting we eat together? The thought rattled around in my head as I glanced over at her, wondering if she’d meant it in the way it felt.

“Norma,” Dakota said as the server approached, “can we please get a couple of menus?”

I shook my head. “We don’t need menus.”

She looked at me, surprised. “We’re not gonna eat?”

“Somethin’ wrong with the food here, stranger?” Norma asked, one hand planted firmly on her hip, her no-nonsense gaze piercing right through me.

I gave her a small smile, trying to reassure her. “Nope, the food’s great. I just already know what I want.”

“How do you know I don’t need a menu?” Dakota asked.

Norma let out a laugh that was almost a bark. “Dakota Jolene, the menu hasn’t changed since before you were born. You need a menu like I need a few more wrinkles.”

“Fine, but he didn’t know that,” she whispered fiercely, jerking her chin in my direction.

I shrugged, keeping my grin in check. “I had a feeling.”

Her eyes narrowed into a glare as I gestured for her to order first. She rattled off her choice, and I followed up by ordering the same thing I had the day before.

Norma’s eyes sparkled with amusement, but she didn’t say anything as she walked away.

Dakota tilted her head, her dark hair falling slightly over her shoulder. “How’d you know what to get without lookin’?”

“I’ve got a good memory,” I said, lifting my coffee to my lips. Then, after a brief pause, I added, “So, you’re really planning to stay here forever, then? No urge to leave? See the world?”

She held up a finger, mock seriousness on her face. “I left once. For nursing school.”

“Where’d you go?”

“Nashville.”

I tilted my head, smirking slightly. “Isn’t that a couple of hours away?”

“Yes, judgy,” she replied, drawing out the word. “It is. And it was great. Far enough to feel like I was on my own but close enough to come home for Sunday suppers with the fam. Notto mention lettin’ my momma do my laundry so I didn’t have to worry about anyone mixin’ up my scrubs with theirs at the laundromat.”

I pretended to shudder, playing along. “Oh, the horror.”

She glared at me for a second before her lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “I’m gonna pretend you’re not bein’ sarcastic.”

“Pretend away,” I replied, tossing her a wink just for the fun of it.

Dakota looked away, but not before I caught the flush that crept up her neck. Her eyes wandered around the diner like she was seeing it in a whole new light, her smile softening into something more serene. “You really can’t see yourself settlin’ down in a place like this, can you? You too cool for small-town livin’?”

I leaned back, taking in the diner’s surroundings—vinyl seats, chrome edges, a steady hum of conversation from the locals. Nothing about it screamed home to me the way it clearly did for her. “I think I’m too private.”

---