Page 59 of The Ex Next Door
“We’re having cocktails and dinner.” He took her hand and pulled her up the plank. “Surprised?”
“Yes, I hadn’t thought of anything this fancy.”
“I think you look fancy.”
When he’d walked next door to get her, she’d been wearing a short blue dress that reminded him of the pink one he’d liked so much. Amy could definitely rock a dress like nobody’s business.
“Welcome aboard. I’ll be your captain tonight.” Noah Cahill touched the brim of his hat. “We’ll be shoving off shortly into some very smooth sailing tonight and cocktails will begin soon after.”
“Where are we going?” Amy asked.
Noah bowed. “Just a mile offshore where we’ll anchor out and dinner service will begin.”
“Oh, y’all added a dinner cruise to Nacho Boat Adventures!” Amy squealed.
“It was Twyla’s idea. She read it in a book and hasn’t stopped talking about it,” Noah said and motioned for them to gather on deck.
Within minutes, they were pulling away from the marina, on the deck rail facing the bay. Declan pulled Amy into his arms, tight around her waist, resting his chin on the top of her head. She was small but fit perfectly in his arms.
“This is so romantic!”
“You sound surprised I can be romantic.”
“Sure, it’s a lot more than I expected. I just thought we were going to a nice dinner somewhere on the coast. Maybe Galveston, but I didn’t think we’d literally be on the water.”
“Can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Good evening,” a voice said from behind them. “I’ll be serving y’all the cocktails.”
The voice was from Tee, the kid that worked for Noah and Finn. Most often he was in the boat shack where they sold and rented equipment, but Finn mentioned they were trying to give him more responsibilities.
“You should know I’m pretty discerning when it comes to cocktails,” Declan said, quirking a brow.
“Oh, dude, yeah. They’re the same ones you made and dropped off earlier.” He blinked. “I don’t think I was supposed to say that.”
Amy laughed. “No wonder you had so much to do to prepare before this.”
“Oh, you have no idea.”
Amy cocked her head. “There isn’t going to be a violinist, is there?”
“I couldn’t find anyone.” Declan shrugged. It wasn’t like he hadn’t considered it, but Finn had rolled his eyes and told Declan not to shoot so high on the first date or he’d live to regret it.
But he was serious about this and wanted Amy to know it. As a single mom, she wouldn’t want to waste time on anyone who would be a one-off. Fortunately, even if he hadn’t planned it, he’d told her on the day she moved in what he wanted. What he was looking for. Basically, he wanted what Finn had finally found. What his parents had enjoyed for almost thirty-five years. It existed. But it had to be with theright woman. Amy was that woman, and he grew to be more certain every day.
So, he had no violin, but he had flowers and mojitos—Amy’s favorite—and a great meal catered by the new head chef at the Salty Dog. Music that would be piped through the speakers through his Bluetooth.
Once they’d anchored out, Noah and Tee set up a table draped with a white cloth and chairs with a great view facing westward toward the cresting sunset. He held Amy’s hand as they sipped on their drinks and ate a delicious seafood dinner of Chilean sea bass with risotto and asparagus.
“Oh, I meant to tell you. You should have heard David bragging about you. He’s so single-minded about baseball now, so much more than he ever was with soccer. I guess I have you to thank for that. Along with so many things.”
“He’s a great kid. They both are.” He paused, remembering. “You know what Naomi told me the other day when I was over mowing the lawn? ‘Did you know books let you travel without moving your feet?’ I laughed about that one.”
“Should I be worried about her? Maybe she readstoomuch.”
“Nah, she’s fine.”
She blinked and lowered her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to talk about my kids on our date.”
