Page 72 of When Morning Comes Around

“I am.”

Her dad started to open the bag, but Sadie gave him a stern look. “Don’t you think you should eat first?”

“What do you think I’m going to do with the toffee? Stick in my ear? I’m going to eat it, honey bun.”

She made a face at him. “You know damn well what I mean. You don’t exactly eat the healthiest diet as it is. At least have your pizza before you start on the toffees. If I know you, you’ll eat them and nothing else if you start now.”

Her dad rolled his eyes at Jake. “She’s probably right.”

Jake chuckled and took the bag from him. “You know she is. What do you think, should I go and put the oven on? The sooner we eat the pizza, the sooner we can get to the toffees.”

“I knew I liked you, kid. Yeah, you do that.”

Sadie could only laugh as she watched them. Any concerns about how their evening might go had already flown out the window.

Her dad winked at her. “I’ll be good.” He turned to Dom. “Thanks for bringing him over. You and I both know that I’d be fine by myself, but this works out. It means that Sadie can relax and enjoy her evening with you and not be worrying about me, and young Jakey will get to see Savannah when she comes home from work. So, don’t you kids worry about rushing back, will you? I’ll take myself off to bed as soon as I’m ready. That way, no one has to think of anyone else – you can all enjoy yourselves.”

“Thanks,” said Dom. “And just so you know, Taryn already told me that she’ll be sending another toffee dessert back with us for you. It’s the kind that’ll keep until tomorrow.”

Her dad chuckled. “It’ll have to, unless I decide to go raiding the fridge in the middle of the night.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Sadie warned him.

He laughed. “You know I’m only pulling your leg. But go on, you two don’t need to be spending your evening here. Get on your way. We’ll be just fine – and I promise we’ll eat the pizza first. It’s the one with the sausage on it, isn’t it?”

“It is. It’s your favorite.”

“Thanks, honey bun. Now go, get out of here. Go and have fun.”

~ ~ ~

When they got to Four Mile Creek, Dom parked in the lot closest to the café. He usually parked behind the lodge, but unlike the last couple of nights, he wasn’t here to work.

Sadie had mentioned that when she stopped to see Taryn the other day, it had been the first time that she’d been over here. Byparking near the café, he could kill two birds with one stone. If she wanted, they could take a walk around the shopping plaza, and even if she didn’t want to do that, they’d still have a little time before they reached the restaurant – and were faced with Taryn. He wasn’t really afraid of Taryn; he just wanted a little time alone with Sadie first.

He took her hand as they set out, and she smiled up at him. “In case I forget to tell you later, I had a great time tonight.”

He chuckled. “We’ve not even started yet.”

“I know, but even if we had to turn around and go home right now, this has been wonderful.”

He stopped walking and tugged her hand to draw her closer. “I feel the same way. But we’re not about to turn around and go home.” He dropped a kiss on her lips. “We’re going to have a good evening. You just need to decide if you want to go straight in there or if you want to take a walk and look around first.”

She laughed. “Are you serious? I feel like this is a test.”

“A test? What kind of test?”

“You know; like you’re trying to find out if I’m easy to be with, or if I’m going to be a pain in the ass and drag you around looking at stores when all you want is a beer.” She laughed, but he didn’t see the humor in it.

She sobered up when she noticed that he was frowning. “It’s not that kind of test?”

“Nope. As far as I’m concerned, only an asshole would set up a test like that. So, I think I know where you got the idea from. But just so we’re straight; I offered because I thought you’d liketo look around. You mentioned that you haven’t had the chance yet.”

“I’m sorry. I was only trying to make a joke. I wasn’t insinuating that you…”

He felt bad. “I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at the way you’ve been treated that makes you think the way you do.”

She shrugged. “Honestly? I thought it was normal. I mean, can you seriously tell me that you enjoy poking around the stores?”

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