Page 27 of Finding Romance
He chuckles. “Oh, I know.” He presses his large hand to the small of my back as we exit the building. And something about that feels oddly reassuring.
“So, where to?” I ask as I look up and down the street for a clue as to our destination.
“You said a movie and dinner. So first up is dinner,” he announces as he guides me to the right and we begin walking down Hearts Lane.
With the park one building down to the left, it’s quiet in this section of the city. No cars can pass through here as the street dead-ends into the park entrance with its wrought iron arch at the start of the walking path. It’s a quiet fall evening. Leaves are starting to turn colors on the trees and fall flowers pop with color in window boxes and planters, giving the street the feel of a sleepy suburb instead of a bustling city thoroughfare.
“We’re walking there?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, my car is parked just here.” He motions to a very large, black SUV. If I had imagined the car that most perfectly describes Kasen, this would be it. Not flashy. Large. Practical, although not super practical for city parking. And non-descript.
“No garage?” I ask because I know my aunt keeps her car in the garage underneath the building. It’s not enormous but enough for one car per apartment and then a few guest spots.
“I pulled it around front for you,” he says as if the answer is obvious.
He hits the unlock button of his fob and opens the door, holding out his hand to assist me. I accept it and slide into the seat. He waits until I’ve secured my seat belt before shutting the door and walking around to his side.
He pulls us out onto the street and heads in the direction of the water. I don’t ask where we are going but, instead, take in the city as night begins to blanket it in a comfortable darkness broken up by streetlights. I look up as the buildings get taller. We drive through downtown and then a block from the waterfront. He pulls into a small parking lot behind an equally small building.
“Is this the part where you murder me and toss my remains into the water?” I ask.
He leans over the center console, and I can smell his cologne. I take a deep breath. He searches my eyes. I watch the skin around his eyes crinkle as he grins.
“Nah, not tonight,” he says and hops out of the car.
I unbuckle my seat belt and he’s already opening my door when I go to exit the car. He places his hand on the small of my back again and guides me around the building. I see that it’s an Italian restaurant. And it has a beautiful deck next to the walkway along the water. Little fairy lights run in strips crisscrossing the area and space heaters are turned on. There’s no one out there and I wonder if they aren’t serving outside this evening. It is a little chilly by the water but still unseasonably warm.
We walk inside to the hostess.
“Reservation for Saddler, party of two,” he says. I see the young woman do a double take of Kasen before grabbing menus.
“Of course. Right this way,” she says as she walks past us and right back out to the patio. I grin.
We follow her outside and she shows us to a table near an outdoor pizza oven along the walkway. We sit and she takes a drink order and then leaves us to peruse the menu.
“Is this OK? Are you too cold?” Kasen asks.
I shake my head. “I was hoping we could eat out here,” I admit with a little shrug.
“I may have called in a favor with an acquaintance. A friend’s brother is the chef here.”
I nod and look down at the menu deciding on my meal. After I make my decision, I gaze out at the water. It’s calm, the crests of the little waves glisten with the lights of the walkway.
“You like the water?” he asks, following my gaze.
“Yes,” I reply.
“But you said you don’t swim well.”
I nod. “I’m not a strong swimmer. If you dropped me in the middle of the ocean, I wouldn’t last long.” I look back out at the water. “I was just remembering snorkeling in Belize a few years ago. Mom took us there. She ran a small race on an island and then we got to go out to the reef for two days. I used a floatation device. It was beautiful.” I pause and smile at him. “It reminds me of your tank.”
He grins. “Belize has a great reef. I’ve gone there to dive a few times.”
The waitress brings our drinks and takes our order, and we go back to a comfortable silence as we watch a boat go by in the distance.
“I miss having a boat,” he admits.
“You had one?” I ask, enjoying the fact that he’s sharing something with me.
