Page 43 of Mine to Love

“He told you that?” That’s a lot of personal information for only knowing someone for twenty-four hours.

“Yeah. I think it’s sweet how he dotes on her. He’ll be an amazing uncle.” There is adoration and respect in her eyes when she talks about Doug, but I don’t detect any chemistry between the two.

The jealousy percolating in my gut settles, and I relax into my chair. “What do you think of Texas so far?”

The waitress comes over and sets a heaping platter of ribs, corn bread, and mac and cheese in front of us, then leaves.

“Well, it’s true. Everything is bigger in Texas.” The lift in her brow and lip tells me she means to throw me off balance.

I like that, a little too much. She’s more than welcome to flirt and toss around sexual innuendos, as long as they’re tossed in my direction. We eat our ribs while she entertains me with stories of her father, and I tell her about some of the adventures my brothers and I got into when we were kids.

When there is nothing left on the plate but bones and a heaping pile of dirty wet wipes, Reese slouches in her seat. “You’re going to have to roll me out of here. That was amazing.”

Oh, I’d gladly roll her around, but preferably in my bed. “How about a walk along the lake?”

She perks up, and a genuine smile spreads across her lips. “I’d love that. I have an amazing view of the water from my hotel room. I had planned on jogging along the path this morning, but I’d stayed up too late working on my presentation.”

I shake my head. “We were told no shop talk.” Which is good for us. It forces us to talk about more personal topics. Something I’m not very good at.

“Let’s get going before it gets too dark.”

“I don’t think it ever gets dark in the city. The lights are stunning reflecting off the lake.”

The waitress stops by with the bill and with Doug’s dinner I had asked her to box up. When Reese reaches for her purse, I stop her.

“It’s on me.”

“I have a meal allowance.”

“Which indirectly comes out of my wallet anyway,” I say with a sly grin.

I guide her out of the restaurant and to my car. When she’s buckled in, I start the engine.

“I like your car.” She looks up at the roof. “I’ve never ridden in a convertible before.”

“Do you want the top down?”

“Really?” Her voice is filled with a childlike joy, and I can’t help but chuckle.

I press the button I’ve only used once before, when I test drove the Audi, and watch as her face lights up like a kid on Christmas day.

“That’s so cool.” She turns her body looking behind us as the top settles out of sight.

For a moment I feel like the king of the world with my queen by my side, driving down the boulevard, and then the commercial on the radio ends and the talk news resumes.

“Your taste in music clashes with your taste in cars.”

“What do you recommend we listen to?”

“May I?” She extends her hand to the console and turns the dial, stopping on a classic rock station. “I don’t know if we need Red Hot Chili Peppers or...” She turns again, stopping at a country song.

Eric Church is one of my favorite country artists.

“When in Texas,” she drawls, poorly, “even though Mainers are diehard country fans as well.”

“Whatever you want to listen to, sweetheart.” The endearment and the drawl slip out before I have time to think about it.

Reese taps her fingers against her jean-clad thigh and lifts her chin to the sky. She’s so carefree and intelligent and beautiful at the same time. Too soon we reach the hotel. I hand the valet my keys then guide Reese across the road to the trail by the lake.

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