Page 105 of Resting Beach Face
“Thanks. You look really good too, but then you always do.”
He smiled ruefully. “I’m predictable.”
“Not today. I didn’t expect you to say you’d stay.”
“How could I not?” he asked, eyes boring into mine. “You kept breaking down all my barriers.”
“Oops?” I said.
He chuckled. “You’re not sorry.”
“No, I’m not.”
Declan had the boat waiting out at the dock. I had no idea where he’d take me for a date, but I was a little surprised when he pulled up outside The Drunken Worm.
“Is this okay?” he asked. “The Savory Swallow seemed too snooty for your tastes, but I didn’t want to take you to the pub where you hang out with friends or ask you to spend even more time at the resort, where you work. We could go over to Swallow Beach if?—”
I leaned in and kissed him. Declan’s rambling put me at ease. I wasn’t the only one here who was nervous.
“This is great, Dec. Anywhere we go together is great.”
He drew in a breath. “Sorry. Just a little nervous. This is a big deal for me.”
I stroked his cheek. “It’s a big deal for me, too. I’m not used to dating. Hooking up casually, maybe, but this is different.”
“It better be.”
“You know it is.”
His expression shifted, softening a fraction. “I do. I know. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. We’re both a little nervous. That’s good, right? Shows we care. But I’m all for the portion of the evening where we drink margaritas and eat burritos.”
“All right, let’s go.”
The restaurant was as bright and loud as usual, and Declan’s expression gave away that this choice was very much for me.
I’d been here many times before. Sometimes with friends, sometimes to grab a drink and hook up with a stranger. Maybe that should have been weird, but it wasn’t like Declan could take me anywhere in town that I hadn’t been before.
Instead, it felt significant.
The Drunken Worm was the same, but I had changed.
Instead of cruising at the bar, I sat down at a cozy little booth with my boyfriend on our first official date. The first of many, I hoped.
We spent the first few minutes studying the menus. The Drunken Worm had an extensive margarita selection, but I knew what I liked. When our server Reba stopped by to take our orders, I asked for a mango margarita, and Declan asked for a Dos Equis amber beer.
Finally, we were alone, and I had questions.
“I thought that call today was a job offer in Chicago,” I admitted. “I thought you wanted to have dinner to break the news.”
Declan reached for my hand and squeezed my fingers. “I’m sorry I gave you that impression. I’ve been trying to figure out what I should do. If I stay here, I have to find remote work. I originally thought I’d be able to work for my friend Nate, but he didn’t take it too well when I backed out of the development plan.”
I winced. “I didn’t know that plan was with a friend.”
“It wasn’t his development plan or anything. He was just helping me out with his connections. He works with a lot of investors. But he got really angry. So angry I’m not sure we’re even friends anymore. Either way, the job with him is off the table.”
“I’m so sorry.”
