“Josh is on his way home with some take-out. I’m putting the kids to bed early and then we’re curling up on the couch to watch a movie and go to bed early. Big time fun over here,” she deadpans.
“Sounds like the newborn stage is kicking both of your asses.” I chuckle.
“I’ve never been so tired in my life,” she whines.
“Need me to stop by tomorrow to watch the kids while you get a nap in?”
“No, I’ll be good. Plus, you might have other plans to look forward to.”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” I tell her as I notice Lacey’s car pull back into the parking lot. “Gotta go, she just pulled back in.”
“Good luck tonight! Just follow her lead!” she reminds me before disconnecting the call.
I get out of the truck and walk the few feet to Lacey’s driver side. Once she’s turned the engine off, I reach for the door handle, opening the door for her.
“Thank you,” she says as she smiles up at me after stepping out of her car.
“You’re welcome. I took the liberty of getting us on the list for a table at a steakhouse chain in town, I hope that’s okay. I was just worried anywhere we try and go will have a long wait since it’s Friday night.”
“That’s perfect, and good thinking.”
“It was my sister’s idea. I was talking to her while you were gone.”
“Are you close with her?” she asks as I escort her to the truck.
“Yes, she’s one of my best friends,” I tell her honestly. If a woman I want to date has an issue with that, then the relationship won’t work for me.
“I love that. I don’t have any siblings, but Harper is my cousin and almost like a sister.”
“The two of you own the bakery together, is that correct?” I ask after we’re both in our seats and buckled in.
“Yes, she took over when her mom got sick, which was much earlier than everyone planned. I ended up needing a job in an emergency and she brought me in without a second thought. I’d worked there when I was a teenager since the bakery has always been in the family, but earlier this year we started talking about me buying a portion of it. Nathan, Harper’s fiancé, came back to town after being gone for ten years and they’ve been in a whirlwind romance ever since. They were friends in high school, never dated or anything, but finally admitted to each other they both had huge crushes on one another. Nathan made a name for himself out in California. Something in the tech world, I don’t really know all the details, I just know he makes my cousin very happy, and that’s all I care about. Even if he is taking her away from me.”
“So are you taking the business over completely, then?” I ask.
“Kind of, for now. Harper is going to stay on as a silent partner. If we were to somehow run into any financial issues, Harper and Nathan have promised they’ll be there to help. I’m not really worried about that since this town loves to support us, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
“That’s awesome. And you enjoy it?”
“I do. Baking has always been an escape for me. What’s that saying? ‘Do something you love and it isn’t work.’ Or however it goes.”
“I know what you mean. I love my job. I get to travel around the state but am home every night. I might not be the richest man around, but I have a good-paying job, friends to call, and an extended family that is always there when I need them, as I am for them. I’ll tell you up front that I’m close with my mom and sister and if that bothers you, then this can’t go any further than dinner tonight. I won’t push my family away for anyone.”
“I love that. My family is super important to me, as well, and to hear that from you makes me want to get to know you even more.”
“Glad to know we’re on the same page when it comes to the important things,” I tell her.
“Family is always first, and I won’t apologize to anyone for that,” she states.
We cover small talk topics, trying to figure out if we have any mutual friends since we grew up only about forty-five minutes from each other, but we can’t find any links back, which I find pretty funny because it always seems like everyone knows everyone in small towns.
“We just need to stop and drop this truck off and get mine from my work, and then we can head for the restaurant,” I tell Lacey as I pull into the parking lot at work.
“No problem,” she says before hopping out of the passenger side. I unlock my truck and get her settled before I run in and drop the keys off. I’m back out to my truck in under a minute, not wanting to keep her waiting. That, and I’m starving and ready for some good food.
The drive to the restaurant takes us another ten or so minutes, and by the looks of the parking lot, it’s a good thing I got us on the wait list when I did. We make our way inside, my hand on her lower back as I escort her. As much as I want to reach down and link our hands and feel her skin against my own, I know it’s too soon for that.
“Hi, how can I help you?” the young hostess asks.