Page 73 of Seasoned with Love (Prosperity Ranch 4)

“Wow,” Cara said. She found a parking place easily, then turned off the car.

“What are the chances?” Roman murmured.

“When were you last here?”

“Oh, uh . . . maybe ten years? I didn’t even know it was still around.” He popped open the door and climbed out.

By the time Cara had climbed out on her side, Roman had reached her. He threaded their fingers together. “Did I tell you that you’re amazing?”

“Not today,” she said.

He bent down and whispered in her ear, “You’re amazing.”

Warm shivers skated along her skin. “I think I like being your girlfriend.”

He laughed, then tugged her toward the restaurant. “My mom is going to be astounded.”

“You know, we can invite her to meet us here if you want,” Cara said. “I’d be totally fine with it.”

Roman paused before opening the door to the restaurant for her. “Next time I’m in town, I’ll introduce the two of you. Right now, it’s just us, okay?”

“Okay.” They’d already discussed this on the phone this week. Cara thought as long as Roman was in town, he should see his mom, with or without her. She didn’t mind. But Roman had been insistent that this weekend would be just the two of them, and the millions of people in California.

They walked into the restaurant, and the familiar scents of spice, tomato, pasta, and cheeses made Cara realize how hungry she really was. Local flyers were plastered to the front of the hostess stand, and she noticed one that advertised kids’ cooking classes.

“Wow, smells great,” Roman said.

Cara nodded absently, reading the flyer. The classes were in this restaurant, but it looked like they took place last fall.

“Can I help you?” a young, twenty-something waitress said, coming toward them.

“Two please,” Cara said. “Can we get a booth?”

The booths edged the restaurant, whereas the tables were scattered in the middle. Two other parties were seated, a group of four at one of the tables, and a couple at one of the booths.

“Sure thing,” the waitress said. “Follow me.”

“This is crazy,” Roman murmured as he looked around once they were seated with their menus. “I’d almost forgotten about this place.”

“What did you usually order?” Cara asked.

“Pizza or spaghetti,” he said. “I wasn’t too adventurous as a kid. How about you—what do you order here?”

“I’ve tried several things on the menu but keep coming back to the veggie lasagna.”

“The what?” Roman asked, flipping open his menu.

“It’s really good, you should try it.”

Roman looked up at her, clearly not convinced. “How about you order it, and I’ll take a bite?”

Cara laughed. “Deal.”

They put in their orders, and Roman asked for the spaghetti, which only amused her more.

By the time the meals came, Cara had caught him up on her work stuff, her family stuff, and how Holt had told her he wanted a report of how this weekend went.

“Well, I hope there are only good things to tell him,” Roman said, then paused. “I didn’t really take Holt for the busybody type.”

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