Page 48 of A Fowl Match

“What’s on the secret menu?”

“I don’t know about you, but I love a good thanksgiving plate in the spring. You can order turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and the works. All you have to tell the waitress is, ‘the fixin’s meal.’ She’ll know what that means.”

“I’m getting that.”

“Me too.” I pause to give the waitress our order and she spins away to the back.

“Do you ever want to travel anywhere? If you had the chance to go anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?

“I always wanted to go to Alaska. I love the snow and the cold. You can always bundle up more layers, but you can’t take them off. Well, you can if you’re into indecent exposure in public,” I joke. “Seriously though, looking at pictures of the northern lights, mountains, stretches of nothing but wildlife. I think it would be a dream to go there one day. What about you?”

“I never had a desire to travel anywhere, but after hearing you talk about Alaska like that, seeing the light in your eyes when you think of going there…I know that's where I would want to go. With you of course.”

I grab his hand across the table, intertwining my fingers with his. The heat in his stare has me feeling something more than like. But is it love?

“That would be nice.”

“So you never really came to town when you visited as a child?”

“No, only on occasions. My grandparents would take me to Jacks Bar, before it was renamed to Roosters. Every establishment in town is renamed multiple times. I think the new names give them all character.” He runs his thumb across my hand. “They would sneak me in to watch The Heartbreakers play. It was the highlight of my stay.”

“No way! I used to go with Darcy. I bet we even crossed paths at some time. I’m sure of it.”

“We had to have. I used to hang out with Mason all the time, since his parents owned the bar.”

“I used to sit with Mason and Olive and watch them play. We may have even sat at the same table.”

“It’s a small world.”

“More like a small town. You’re bound to cross paths.”

“You’re right about that. I think I know everyone now.”

We clean our plates, devouring all of the food, laughing and conversing over the next hour. We learn so much more about each other. I don’t know what it is about a restaurant environment, but it makes me feel like I can share anything in the world with him. We both end up refusing dessert after being too full to even fit another bite.

“That was really nice.” He takes my hand in his as we walk down the sidewalk towards my shop.

“We should do it again sometime.”

“I think I can arrange that.” His smirk is so devastatingly handsome.

By the time we reach the front door of my shop he sweeps me off my feet with a heart-melting kiss. As our lips brush, my insides melt into a puddle. Every time we are together my walls come down a bit more and I just want to tell him everything. I want this to last, but I don’t want to ruin the moment.

Chapter 34

Dustin

One month later

It’sbeenacrazywhirlwind of a month. I still haven’t made any decisions on whether I will stay or take up Nolan’s offer. I’ve been so busy with work on the farm. It’s been constantly storming and raining. We’ve had to do a lot of fence mending with the strong winds. Calving season has been in full swing so it’s a constant battle.

Then Violet and I’s relationship has been in full swing. We’ve gone on dates. We normally just eat at Gram’s or go out to the diner. I’ve spent every waking moment of free time with her. I don’t even know how I functioned before without her. And I spend every moment without her, thinking about her.

DUSTIN

Do you want to come over to my place for dinner tonight and have movie marathons?

VIOLET

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