Page 51 of The Estate
Rachel felt her cheeks flush, hoping Cal didn’t notice. There were a dozen reasons she should say no. But perhaps it was time to try to do something a little outside of her comfort zone. It was just lunch, after all. Decision made, she grinned. “I’d like that very much, Cal.”
Chapter Seventeen
Let Me Show You
Cal couldn’t believe he’d asked her out. One moment they were talking and laughing, then he just blurted out the invitation. The truth was, he wanted more time with her like this. It wasn’t about the estate or his parents; it was just them talking like friends.
Yes, friends are what they are. Or could be. He certainly didn’t ask her out because he wanted more than that. Absolutely not.
Whatever it was, he’d done it. And now they were going. After she said yes, he tried to think of where to take her. In the end, he wanted her to see one of his favorite places. It wasn’t fancy, but the food was good and the view was outstanding. The weather was nice enough that they could even sit outside.
Cal volunteered to drive, helping her in the passenger seat and closing her door before getting in. He started the car and then froze.
“Wait,” he faced her. “Tell me you like seafood. Do you? Although they have a few items that aren’t, this place is known for its seafood.”
She placed her hand on his arm, and he felt himself flush with warmth. Just that simple touch and his heart was pounding.
“Seafood is great. I don’t like raw anything, but there are several other seafood dishes I enjoy.”
“Whew,” he said, putting the car in drive and leaving the estate. “Panic moment there. So, where I’d like to take you is a casual place. More like a joint than a restaurant. It’s small, but the food is outstanding. And if you’re up for it, eating out on their deck provides the best view.”
“It sounds perfect. And being outside today would be great.”
She was right. It was fortunately not too warm. One of those beautiful September days that tells you fall is right around the corner.
Deciding against taking the highway, Cal turned onto Route 1 that meandered along the shoreline, weaving in and out of towns. It would take a few extra minutes, but today felt like a back road kinda day.
As he drove, they talked about music and books. He couldn’t contribute much in the book department, but he was pretty animated about his musical choices. He admired that she had opinions and wasn’t afraid to voice them. Seeing the restaurant come into view saddened him. They seemed to be in their own special bubble in the car. Talking and laughing. He was enjoying himself so much. Hopefully lunch would be as interesting.
Examining the outside of the place with fresh eyes, he was surprised she didn’t refuse to get out of the car. The restaurant resembled a little ramshackle shack with a dirt driveway, peeling paint and a sign out front that had seen better days. After he parked, he turned and held up both hands. “I promise it’s worth it. Don’t let the outside put you off.”
He watched as Rachel took in the exterior. He held his breath, waiting for what she’d say.
“I think it looks like a joint. And probably has the best food within fifty miles.”
He relaxed. She got it.
“You may be right. Shall we?”
They were seated immediately on the back deck that jutted out over the Patchogue River, almost where it flowed to the sea. Rachel lingered momentarily, looking around before sitting across from him. He watched her face as she took in the marshland, the small pier for local boaters, and all the wildlife.
“Cal,” she breathed when she sat down. “You were right. This is beautiful. From the front, you have no idea this little slice of amazing is just sitting back here.”
Cal let her enjoyment wash over him, warmth filling his chest. It was nice to be out with someone who appreciated the small things.
“I’m glad you like it. It’s been a favorite of mine for years.”
“I can see why,” her gaze rested on him for a few moments before returning to the view.
Cal laughed. This view had that effect. “Well, here’s your menu. Let’s try to get something on par with this environment.”
In the end, she ordered a white fish Rachel sandwich with a glass of chardonnay. He ordered his usual, the cold lobster salad roll and a beer. Thankfully, the conversation during lunch was as easy as the drive down.
Hesitant to ruin the pleasant time they were having, he avoided asking about topics that she steered away from, like her family, especially her sister, who somehow knew lots of people and vendors related to events. Rachel was nice enough to do the same when he shied away from talking about his own family.
He did ask briefly about her job, wondering what her most interesting project had been. Her answer surprised him.
“Well, actually, this is my first project with the client services team. I mean, I’ve been with the company for years,” she assured him. “But I always wanted to work more hands-on with clients.”
