“You lucked out. Rob Smith just canceled at the last minute.” He gestured for us to sit. Marco pulled out my seat.
“Have a good dinner. And tell your parents I said hello. Haven’t seen them since earlier in the summer.” Then to me, “Enjoy your dinner, and welcome to Seneca Lake.”
“Will do,” Marco said as I murmured my own thank you and the owner left us.
“Rob Smith,” I said. “I met his son, I think. At KC’s Taphouse. They own a bunch of stuff in Kitchi Falls, right?”
“If by ‘a bunch of things’ you mean half the town, then yes. He’s a great guy. Even if Owen was looking at you a little too hard for my taste.”
The comment was so unexpected I didn’t know what to say. The bar owner was a good-looking guy. It would’ve been hard not to notice him.
“Good evening. Welcome to—”
The waitress stopped. Looked at Marco, and I knew immediately.
She’d dated him.
“Welcome to the Dock,” she said to me. Then, “Hi Marco.”
“Since when do you work here?” he asked the pretty brunette.
“Since two weeks ago. Southpoint let go a quarter of its staff.”
“Sorry to hear that,” he said.
They seemed amicable at least. But still.
“What can I get you guys? Yuengling for you?” she asked Marco.
“Sure. Rae?”
“Your house cab is fine.”
The second she walked away, Marco apologized. “I had no idea she worked here.”
“Obviously. But it’s fine. It’s not like this is a date.”
“No?”
“No,” I said firmly. “For that reason,” I gestured to where our waitress had gone. “The boat captain’s sister. The waitress. I have a feeling anywhere you go in this town you run into an ex.”
Marco didn’t deny it.
“So that’s the reason you won’t go on a date with me?”
I actually smiled. “You really haven’t been paying attention.”
“Actually, I have,” he said, staring right at me.
How was it that I could be both repelled and attracted to him at the very same moment?
“Here you go,” Marco’s ex, aka our waitress, said as she put the drinks down on the table. “I’ll give you a minute since you haven’t looked at the menu yet. But I’d definitely recommend the surf and turf special.”
Marco and I exchanged looks. That did sound good to me. “Yeah?” he said, as if reading my mind.
“Yeah.” Then to the waitress, “Looks like we’ll take two of those.”
“Ok great. For your sides?”