Page 37 of Mine to Keep

It was hard not to be at ease around him, and there were moments she didn’t care how much she enjoyed his company.

“Have you eaten dinner yet?” he asked.

She shook her head as her stomach growled so loud he had to have heard it. She had some leftover pizza in the fridge, but that wasn’t overly appealing. There might be salad fixings she could put together, but that didn’t do anything to excite her taste buds.

What she really craved was a big, fat, juicy steak, mashed potatoes with sour cream and chives, and some grilled asparagus.

Damn, that made her stomach do a little dance.

“I was going to head over to this great little place on the water to grab a bite. I don’t mind eating alone but would prefer your and Zadie’s company.”

Bryn contemplated Jamison’s proposition for a long moment. Ever since Timothy had died, she’d decided to live her life by the cliché that if it was too good to be true, then it often was too good.

She wanted to believe that she was a stronger woman than she’d been when she met and married Timothy. Of course, he’d gaslighted her into thinking that she wasn’t worth shit. That she was useless and, without him, she’d never make it on her own.

Thankfully, today, she knew that to be total bullshit.

“I need to pay for my own meal.”

Jamison chuckled. “Dutch, it is.”

Like perfect clockwork, Zadie started to fuss over the baby monitor.

“Give me a few minutes to change her, and then we can go.” She stood and brushed her hands down the front of her jeans. “Am I dressed okay?”

“You look amazing,” he said. “I can’t believe you had a baby about a week ago.”

It was hard not to smile. “You’re sweet.”

“I have my moments.” He winked. “I’ll wait for you by your car.”

She blew out a puff of air and tried not to stare at his ass as he walked away, but that proved impossible. She should have just said “no thank you” to dinner and suffered with the leftovers in her fridge, but she hadn’t, so it was time to suck it up and enjoy whatever Lighthouse Cove had to offer.

Besides, Hatti had told Bryn the last time she’d seen her that this was her chance to have the life she deserved.

Jamison polishedoff the last of his steak and pushed his plate aside. He was quite impressed with how much food Bryn had managed to eat. Even more impressed by how she handled breastfeeding Zadie in public, and how Zadie barely made a peep.

Of course, he’d probably jinxed that by thinking how great the little girl had been.

He took a sip of his beer, trying to make it last a little while longer, knowing that when he was done, dinner was done, and therefore, it would be time to take Bryn and Zadie home.

“This has to be the best dinner I’ve had in a long time,” Bryn said as she stared out over the intracoastal. “And the view is amazing.”

“This is my favorite restaurant. I eat here at least once a couple of times a month if not more. If not physically right here, then I order out and bring it home.”

“Is this where we got that burger or the fish fry?”

“No. That’s a little place by my dad’s office. Just as good, but it’s not on the water. This is a little more decadent.”

“Yeah. You can say that again.” She waved her fork that had been loaded with some cheesy potatoes. “I’m full, but I don’t want to stop. I mean, I haven’t had food this good in months.”

“I think you’ve got baby brain,” he said. “I’m sure they have fabulous restaurants where you lived before.”

“I don’t remember ever having a meal this good.” She tossed her utensils onto her plate before pushing it aside. “It’s like having a little party in my mouth.”

He let out a hearty laugh. “That’s a perfect phrase to describe the food here.” The second his gaze landed on his ex-wife, Cheryl, his giddiness was cut short. He tried to look away but Cheryl lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers as she made a beeline across the room.

Fucking wonderful.

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