“We just drove up for the day and thought we’d stop in to see the gallery.”
“What else do you have planned?”
“After this, maybe some walking around downtown before our dinner reservation. We’re checking out a pop-up restaurant tonight.”
“That sounds fun. Well, I’ll let you two continue with your afternoon. It was good to see you.” Brian backed away toward the door and waved his hand in parting.
“You, too,” Sutton said as the family friend slipped out the door. “That was weird,” he murmured aloud once the door closed.
“Why is that?” Lauren asked.
Sutton just shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Are you done here? What do you say we go get some ice cream and walk around for a bit? The weather is nice enough.”
“Sounds good.” Lauren grabbed one of the gallery’s business cards off the counter as they went to the door. “Just in case I get a place someday,” she said before stuffing it into her pocket.
Sutton didn’t know Lauren very well, but he was confident she’d need that card sooner than later.
* * *
Lauren had never been to a pop-up restaurant before. It was a relatively new concept—at least to her—and she was anxious to see how it worked. After Sebastian mentioned coming here, she’d looked up more about the restaurant online. Like hers, it operated primarily as a food truck. One Saturday a month, it would pop-up in a different brick-and-mortar location. Sometimes in vacant venues. Other times in operational restaurants looking to take a night off. And sometimes under a tent in an old K-Mart parking lot. This had helped the restaurant build a large, cult following and they were hoping to open a permanent location within the year.
It was an intriguing idea to Lauren. There wasn’t a lot of unused real estate in Royal, Texas, but there were some options. She just had to convince the property owner to let her do it. Oh, and find a way to come up with everything she needed for a fully functioning restaurant.
As they walked in the front door, she quickly realized her dream was really just a far-fetched fantasy. This was more than just a restaurant squatting in an old retail space. They had completely taken over the site and if you didn’t know what you were walking into, you might think this was their permanent location. That cost money.
Money Lauren didn’t have. She wasn’t the local lottery-winning celebrity. And all her extra cash went into keeping the trucks running.
This restaurant was experienced and had spared no expense with their design and implementation. The stark black-and-white theme carried through the space, punctuated by dark red roses in bud vases on each table. White fabric draped the walls, Edison lights hung overhead and black-and-white photography was placed with care every direction you looked. Two dozen black tables with pressed white linen filled the space, surrounded by chairs they probably rented each time from a party supply company.
Soft music played from speakers overhead and a golden light twinkled from the votive candles on each dinner table. The scent of roses and the candles lingered in the room along with the spicy and enticing scents of garlic, onion and simmering tomato sauce.
She loved Italian food and she was excited to find out what was on Mama’s Secrets menu tonight. Normally the food truck offered classic handheld favorites like meatball subs, chicken parmesan hoagies and fried arancini balls described as being the size of a regulation softball. Tonight, their website promised the same great tastes fans loved, but utensils would be required for a change.
Judging by the crowds, their dedicated customers had shown up in full force. While Sebastian checked in, Lauren noticed that every table was full but one and a few people were lingering around the doorway, awaiting their turn. That was good. Better people waiting for tables than tables waiting for people, she’d been told once by a wise mentor.
Luckily, their reservation put them ahead of the crowd. The one corner table that was unoccupied had been waiting for them. Sebastian placed his hand on Lauren’s lower back and guided her ahead of him to follow the hostess to their seats.
It was the first time he’d touched her—really touched her—today. He’d taken her hand to help her out of the car, but otherwise, he’d been very hands-off. Considering that Lauren’s nervous system was humming with excitement every time he got close, it was extremely frustrating. She almost hated to pull away from the heat of his hand to take her seat, but she couldn’t keep the hostess waiting.
Seated together, they both lifted the sheet of paper that served as the day’s menu. Lauren’s mouth was watering as she looked over the options. Osso bucco with risotto. Veal saltimbocca with a polenta cake. Cacio e Pepe pasta. Eggplant parmesan. Potato gnocchi with pork shoulder. There were so many amazing sounding options to choose from, she hardly knew what to pick.
Adding to her indecision was the distraction across the table. Lifting her gaze from the paper, she noticed Sebastian was watching her again. This new habit of his was unnerving. He’d never done it before the day at the food truck. Now, every time she looked up, he was watching her. Appraising her somehow. There was a hunger in his eyes that had nothing to do with Italian food. And yet, he kept his distance.
He hadn’t kept his distance that night at the club. He couldn’t keep his hands off of her.
What had changed, aside from the masks? Sebastian said he preferred seeing her without it, but his actions said otherwise. He seemed conflicted, both wanting her and distancing himself. It made all her insecurities flare up uncomfortably, sending the tasty menu items to the back of her mind.
“Have you decided?” she asked. He wasn’t looking at his menu, so it seemed a reasonable question.
“I thought I’d let you order for me. You’re the chef that knows all about food. I’ll let you pick.”
Lauren’s lips parted, ready to argue, but she stopped. If he wanted her to order, she would. No one had ever asked her to before, and this gave her the opportunity to show off her foodie knowledge. “Okay. Well, if there were two of me at this table, we would have the arancini, the gnocchi and I think...the osso bucco. Hopefully there will be room left for tiramisu.”
Sebastian laughed. It was a hearty and familiar sound, but not one she’d heard lately. It vibrated to her core, and released some of the tension she’d been holding in her shoulders. He’d been so serious when she first approached him. Perhaps he’d finally loosened up around her. His idea to leave town for a more casual date was a good idea, looking back at it.
When the waiter arrived, she ordered it all, adding a plate of fried squash blossoms for good measure and a bottle of red wine to compliment it all nicely.
“You’re going to have to roll me back to Royal,” he said. “Are we going to be able to eat all that? I expect you to hold up your side of this.”