Page 13 of When Morning Comes Around

She gave him a mock indignant look. “I’m not generally a messy eater,” she protested. She looked down at the large stain on her shirt and shrugged. “But you really don’t know me, so I suppose it’s a fair assumption for you to make.”

Her smile faded when she realized the truth of what she’d said. They didn’t know each other at all, even though she’d managed to forget that for the last few minutes because she felt so relaxed and comfortable with him.

Dominic sat up a little straighter, and she regretted her words. It seemed as though she’d made him uncomfortable, too. Damn.

“So, since I managed to make things awkward by pointing out that, even though I dumped my sad tale on you, we’re still strangers, how about we get to know each other a little?”

She couldn’t read the expression that flickered across his face, but she got the impression that he didn’t want to share too much. She could understand that, so she hurried on.

“I mean, get to know the superficial details that strangers would normally exchange. Like, how long have you lived here?” She knew that she’d chosen the right track when he visibly relaxed.

“Not long, I moved here last year. My brother moved to Summer Lake a while ago, and I came to visit, and decided to stay. How about you? I know that you’ve been on the road for a couple of days, but I don’t even know where you’re coming from.”

“Denver.”

He let out a low whistle. “That’s quite a drive.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

His eyes filled with concern. “That’d be a tough drive to make by yourself at the best of times – and this doesn’t sound like the best of times.”

She shrugged. “I’ve always enjoyed time on the road. So, tell me more about your brother, and your nephew – if they’re safe subjects.”

He smiled. “They are, but I appreciate the thought. It’s hard to know what subjects to avoid when you don’t know much of anything, isn’t it?”

She nodded; she didn’t want to point out that she already knew to stay well away from the subject of his wife.

He gave her a slight nod but didn’t comment. “My brother, Damon, moved up here at the suggestion of an old friend of his. Damon went through a nasty divorce and was looking for a new start.” He smiled. “He found one, too – he met a really great woman named Jo. I’ve never seen Damon as happy as heis now. And my nephew is Damon’s son, Jake. He’s a good kid. Although, I shouldn’t call him a kid – he is in his early thirties. He served as a Marine, but he got out this year. He’s setting up his own business – as you know. He’s not really open for business yet, but I know he’ll be able to help you.”

“I’ll be happy to be his first customer.”

When Savannah stopped by the table to see if they wanted anything else, Sadie checked her watch and was shocked to see the time. They’d finished eating a while ago, but she hadn’t realized that they’d been sitting here talking for so long.

“Just the check, please.” She shot a look at Dominic. “And if this man dares to try and say a word, don’t listen to him. You bring the check to me, okay? Oh, crap! And do you have any of the sticky toffee stuff that Dad likes?”

Savannah laughed. “I sure do, I put him a slice in a to-go box as soon as I came in. Do you want to take it with you so that he can have it sooner?”

“Please, I’ll do whatever I can to get on his good side.”

Savannah laughed. “As if you need to, he adores you!”

Sadie smiled, wanting to believe her but not sure that she did.

“You don’t need to pay,” Dominic said once Savannah had gone.

She gave him a stern look. “Oh yes, I do! Please don’t argue with me, it’s the least I can do. I’ll feel terrible if you don’t let me get it.”

He shrugged. “Okay, then I’ll say thank you, but only because I don’t want to make you feel bad.”

The way he smiled reminded her of how she’d felt this afternoon in the grocery store. The lines around his eyes, the way his full lips turned up, the just… everything about him, she’d tried to avoid noticing it all evening, but to say that he was easy on the eyes would be an understatement – a huge one. “Thank you,” she mumbled.

~ ~ ~

When he pulled up in front of Harvey’s house, Dominic couldn’t for the life of him figure out what he felt nervous about. There was no need for it. It was only when Sadie turned in her seat to smile at him that he understood – something in the distant depths of his memory had registered this as a date. It wasn’t. It was nothing like that, but the way she smiled at him conjured images in his mind of leaning toward her to kiss her. Of walking her to her door and hoping that she might invite him in.

“Thank you again, thank you so much.”

He cocked an eyebrow.

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