Page 84 of Ashes of the Past
We pull out of the driveway and head into town.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she says as she raises an eyebrow.
“You’re right—I would. Guess I’ll just have to stick around and find out.”
I pull into the lot of the only real sit-down restaurant in town, a small steakhouse that’s been around for as long as I can remember. I park and move to her side of the truck, opening the door before she can do it herself.
She raises an eyebrow. “Chivalry’s still alive, huh?”
“Only for special occasions,” I quip. “And women in pretty dresses.”
She laughs, shaking her head as she climbs out. We walk inside, and the hostess—who’s known me since I was a kid—gives me a once-over before her gaze flicks to Brynn.
“Well, well, Jack. Haven’t seen you bring a date in here in, well… ever.”
“I haven’t lived here in, well, forever,” I answer with a laugh.
Brynn smirks, glancing up at me. “Guess I should feel honored.”
I lean down just enough for my words to be for her ears only. “You should.”
She sucks in a breath but doesn’t pull away, and I count that as a win.
We get seated in a booth toward the back, away from the handful of other patrons. The air carries the scent of grilled steak, baked potatoes, and warm rolls, and my stomach growls in response. Brynn must hear it because she snickers as she picks up her menu.
“Don’t even start,” I warn her, flipping mine open.
“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it,” she says, the humor still in her voice.
When the waitress comes by, we order steaks—medium rare for me, medium for her—and settle into a rhythm of playful conversation, exchanging jabs and teasing remarks like it’s second nature.
This is nice and a drastic change from us being at each other’s throats when we first met. I like both sides of her.
“Why haven’t you ever brought a date here?” Brynn asks after a while, pushing a fry through a puddle of ketchup. “I mean, you lived here before. You never dated anyone serious back then?”
I shrug, twirling my glass of whiskey in my hand. “I didn’t really date a lot in high school or after because I was always taking care of everyone at home. My older brother, well, he waskind of a mess, and mom was always working, so someone had to take care of Joanne.”
“I know the two of you are really close. Joanne speaks very highly of you and the role you played for her growing up. She told me about your brother, too. I’m sorry. So, was your ex-wife your first girlfriend?”
“Real girlfriend, I guess, yes, you could say that. After Savannah…” I trail off, sighing. “I haven’t been in a rush to let someone in again.”
Her fingers go still against the rim of her glass, her expression softening. “I get that.”
I study her for a second. “You?”
She hesitates, then shrugs. “Same, I guess. Clay was my first boyfriend, and then…I haven’t dated at all since we split up. Men aren’t always interested in the single mom, and they certainly don’t understand my responsibilities to the ranch and my business. I guess I get it and have just accepted love isn’t in the cards for me.”
Her eyes go down to the table quickly, and my chest tightens.
“You don’t believe that.”
She laughs drily. “I know it. I’ve seen what happens when you trust too much. When you love too hard.”
I reach across the table, my fingers brushing against hers. “You ever think maybe you just haven’t found the right person?”
She exhales slowly, her eyes locked on mine. “And you think you’re the right person?”
I don’t break her gaze, don’t even hesitate. “I think I’d damn well like the chance to prove I could be.”
