Sunshine followed suit.
I wasn’t going to tell her to sit and wait for me to come around. That seemed dumb. But I would have gone to open it for her if she’d stayed put. Did she need to know that?
I got out of the car and closed the door, then came around to her side and reached for the food.
“I’ve got it.” She clutched the bag to her chest.
“Okay.” I chuckled and closed her door, taking a moment to click the lock button on the key fob. I scooted around her so I could get to the door and unlock it. I held it open. “Welcome.”
She flashed a grin at me as she slid past and stepped into the kitchen. “Thanks. This is nice.”
“I like it.” I gestured to the small island. “You can put the food down there. I’ll get plates.”
“Okay.” Sunshine set down the food and moved through the kitchen to peek into the room where we played poker when I hosted.
I didn’t leave the game table up. It was set up as a den. I had the big TV in there and my game console. I probably spent more time in there in the evenings than anywhere else.
“This is cozy.” She crossed the room and peeked down the hall. “What’s down there?”
“Living room and the front door. You want a tour first or to eat?”
“Oh, food. For sure.” She came back into the kitchen. “How can I help?”
“Do you want to grab a soda out of the fridge?” I nodded toward the appliance as I transferred her food from the takeout container to a plate, then repeated the process with my own meal. I frowned at the garlic bread and mushrooms, then went back to the cupboards for bowls.
“This is quite the collection.” Sunshine stared at the shelf dedicated to various sodas.
“I just had the guys for poker. I overbought.” Although that was a bit of a lame excuse. I often ended up with the shelf looking like that. I enjoyed soda—probably a leftover from my days as a programmer. “I’ll take something with no caffeine. There should be options.”
“Orange or lemon lime?”
“Let’s live dangerously and do orange.” I wasn’t the biggest fan. Why had I bought that? Oh, right. Noah was on a kick.
Sunshine carried two cans over to the small table that sat pressed against the wall. I set her plate down at one spot and mine at the other before returning to the island to grab the bread and mushrooms.
“Forks?” She pulled out her chair.
“Right. Duh.” I chuckled and went to get them. Why were my palms sweating? We’d eaten together a lot on the boat. And the island. Basically the whole time I’d been with her, we’d had three meals a day together.
They just hadn’t been a date.
And this definitely was.
I sat and reached for her hand. “Would you like to say grace?”
“Sure.” Sunshine bowed her head. “Thank You, Jesus, for a safe flight. For the fun time the girls and I had in the islands. And for this time I get to spend with Wes. Guide us and keep us in your will. Bless the food and the hands that prepared it. Amen.”
“Amen.” I tightened my hold on her hand.
“I need that to eat.” She laughed and tugged on her fingers.
I grudgingly let go and picked up my fork and knife. “How long can you stay?”
“I don’t have any firm date in mind. I thought I’d play it by ear. I don’t want you to get sick of me though.”
“Not possible.” I looked up from cutting my chicken.
“We’ll see.” She shrugged. “Can I hang out at the dive shop with you during the day?”