Page 5 of All I Need (Hearts of the South)
In the car, silence and cool air flowed around them. The quiet wasn’t uncomfortable, so she didn’t break it during the scant minutes it took to reach the diner. She found a spot on the street close to the door and met him at the front of the car. A young couple exiting the diner greeted Emmett with smiles and curious glances at her.
Emmett returned the pleasantries and held the door, ushering her in with a gesture. The interior, decorated in campy, fun fifties-retro style, was packed with patrons, but they managed to find a small table in the second dining room. Savannah smiled up at a black-and-white poster of Marilyn Monroe, all pouty lips and sex appeal. “This is great. A little like that place inPulp Fiction.”
“Yeah, it’s a fun place.” Emmett reached for the laminated menus tucked behind the napkin dispenser and handed her one. “They have live music most Friday nights.”
“I’ll have to remember that.” She perused the standard diner fare offerings—burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches—and pursed her lips. “What’s good?”
“Just about anything.” His voice emerged huskier than normal, and she glanced up to catch his gaze on her mouth. She smiled and dropped her attention to the menu again.
After they’d ordered and the server had brought their drinks, Savannah folded her hands on the table. He’d stretched his leg out to one side and rubbed idly at the muscles in his thigh. The lights overhead glinted off his thick hair, the kind a woman wanted to ruffle. “So, grad school while you’re recuperating.”
“Kind of.” He shrugged, broad shoulders rolling under white cotton. “I’d already started the online program part-time before, and I figured it was a good time to start taking a full load.”
She sipped her water. “May I ask what happened?”
“Got shot working a domestic. I’d been cleared to go back on light duty, but then I got an infection and needed another surgery.” He tilted his glass, gaze on the lemon floating among the ice cubes. “And sometimes I’m afraid I’m pretty much out of a patrol car for good, but I’m working toward it, although I doubt it’ll be at Coney’s PD. Small department, and they couldn’t hold my car open forever. My physical therapist says my progress is good, though.”
“I’m sorry.” She’d spent enough time with her sister and brother-in-law to realize how much personal identity got wrapped up with a law-enforcement career. “It’s hard when things out of our control throw our lives off course.”
“Tell me about it.” His chest moved with a deep breath, and he shook his head on a smile. “I put in my resume for a couple of administrative jobs today.”
“I wish you the best. I hope something works out for you.”
The server arrived, arranging plates of before them. Savannah shook out her napkin and laid it in her lap. The food looked good—basic, but fresh and well prepared. Emmett reached for the pepper and sprinkled it over his fries. “So you’re in medicine?”
Savannah speared a blueberry from the fruit cup accompanying her chicken wrap. “ER doctor.”
One eyebrow lifted, he eyed her a moment. “What are you doing here?”
“Having dinner and getting to know you.” She winked, then shrugged. “The hospital system I work for bought out several smaller medical centers. Chandler was one of them, and they transferred me over to smooth the transition in the ER. So here I am. My sister’s here, though, so that’s good. Do you have siblings?”
“A sister. She and her husband live in Tallahassee.” Eyes going a little cool and guarded, he bit into his burger. “My parents recently retired to Orlando of all places.”
“My mom keeps trying to get my dad to retire. He won’t give in.” She lifted another bite of fruit. “Not even for the promise of twenty-four-seven golf.”
They indulged in leisurely conversation while they ate, swapping likes and dislikes. They paid separate tickets, and outside on the sidewalk, Savannah rummaged in her bag for her keys.
“Do you mind if we walk a minute first?” Emmett massaged his outer leg. “Sometimes I need to stretch out the muscles after sitting.”
“Of course.” The heat had dissipated somewhat, leaving behind an evening perfect for a twilight stroll. The town square offered a variety of storefronts to peek into while ambling along the sidewalks, and they weren’t the only couple taking advantage of the late-evening breeze. Only they weren’t a couple, Savannah reminded herself. He walked beside her, leaving a decorous distance between them. It was okay—a girl needed friends too. Even if this particular friend was attractive as hell. She’d focus on his skill at conversation and his sly humor rather than wondering how skilled he was at other activities.
A bright display of beach reads in the bookstore window caught her eye. Among them was her favorite suspense author, mainly because she could count on there being no romance in the text. “Oh, look, they have the new one by Clarissa Penrod in paperback. I wanted a copy to read by the pool, but I don’t like to take my tablet near the water. Do you mind if we go in?”
A quick grimace, gone before she was sure she saw it, crossed his face before he reached for the door. “Sure.”
Inside, scents of lavender and sage wrapped around them. Muted light gleamed on polished wooden floors and plush couches offered a spot to relax and preview a book, and Savannah sighed. “This is wonderful.”
“Yeah.” A tight note invaded his voice. “It’s a nice place.”
She darted a quick glance at him. “Should we—”
“Can I help you…oh, Emmett. Hey.” The sweet female voice shifted from welcoming to extremely uncomfortable in record time. Savannah glanced from Emmett to the young blonde, who was brushing her hair away from her face in an awkward gesture.
Yep, they’d been a couple at one time, and apparently that breakup had not been pretty.
“Hey.” Emmett tucked his hands in his back pockets. “Lacey, this is Savannah. She was interested in one of the books you have in the window.”
“Awesome.” Lacey latched on to the change of subject, her expression clearly relieved. She turned a bright smile on Savannah. “Which one?”
