“No, I’m coming back later.”
“I thought I made sure to take you off the schedule Friday and Saturday night – you know, just in case you might have other plans.”
“You did, thanks so much.But Tia was asked out on a date tonight, and since she’s working tomorrow night and can’t go to The Boathouse, I felt bad that she’d have to miss out on both, so …”
Taryn shook her head.“You need to look out for yourself more than you look out for everyone else.Tia’s always switching shifts.”
Savannah shrugged.
“I’m not mad at you – just disappointed.So, are you going to hang out here in between?Ask Julio to make whatever you want to eat if you are.”
“Thanks, but I’m going home for a while.I’m still here because I was about to call Harvey before I leave.We’re trying to figure out when I can go over to have lunch with him.And it won’t be this weekend now.”
Taryn pursed her lips.“I feel bad – I thought I was doing you a favor giving you lunch shifts for the weekend.”
“No, please don’t feel bad.We’ll work something out.It’s just with him working during the week …”
Taryn’s eyes lit up.“And he works with Jake.Why don’t you see if they’ve had lunch already?You can take something for them if they haven’t.”
“Oh, no!Thanks, but …”
“But what?Are you telling me you don’t want to see Jake?”
She shook her head.
“That you’d deprive Harvey of a free lunch?”
She had to laugh.“I wouldn’t do that – he’d never forgive me if I did.Not because it’s free but because he loves the food here so much.”
“Well, then.You’d better call and see what they want to eat.”
Savannah looked down at her phone – she’d already had it in her hand, ready to call before she left.She’d love to see both of them, and it struck her that she wasn’t even worried that Jake might feel like she was crowding him.He’d been as sad as she was to say goodbye last night.She’d only seen him briefly when he dropped her car off this morning, but even though it was early and he had to get to work, he’d lingered longer than he needed to.
Taryn laughed.“The sooner you call, the sooner you’ll get to see him.”
It wasn’t long before Savannah was loading a couple of insulated bags onto the back seat of her little Ford.When she’d spoken to Harvey, Taryn had insisted that she should take lunch and dessert for all three of them.
Apparently, Jake was on his way back from an errand, and Harvey expected that if he wasn’t there before Savannah arrived, he wouldn’t be far behind her.
When she pulled up in front of the garage, she got out and breathed in the familiar air.This place still smelled the way she remembered it – of pine and lake and engine oil.She’d read once that smell was the sense that triggered memories, and she knew that was true.The smell of this place reminded her of the few happy times in her childhood – the days she’d spent here with Art.
She glanced over at the spot where she’d parked that first time she brought Sadie over here – the first time she’d met Jake.He and his Uncle Dom had come out to greet them, and after that she didn’t remember much, apart from feeling so drawn to Jake.
Sure, he was a good-looking guy – gorgeous.But it wasn’t just his looks that appealed to her.He had this air about him; he wasn’t one of those flashy, good-looking guys.He wasn’t exactly a charmer, but he was … warm.He felt like this steady, reassuring presence.Maybe that was what she found so attractive about him – he wasn’t like anyone she’d known before in that respect.She didn’t feel like she had to be on her guard around him – even on that first day.
She turned when she heard a vehicle turn in off the road and gave him a little wave when he spotted her.He stopped his truck in the middle of the yard and jumped out.
“Hey!It’s good to see you.”His smile faded a little.“Is everything all right?”He glanced toward the office.“Is Harvey okay?”
“He is.I spoke to him a little while ago.We’ve been trying to find a time to have lunch together, but between our work schedules, we haven’t managed to fit it in.When Taryn heard that, she insisted I should bring lunch here.”She looked down at the bags over her arm.“For all three of us – if that’s okay with you.I can just drop them off and leave you to it if you’re too busy.”
He came to her and took the bags, setting them down on the ground before sliding his arm around her waist and drawing her to him.“Please stay.”He dropped a kiss on her lips.“This is the best surprise.I almost stopped at the bakery to pick up some sandwiches on my way back through town, but I wanted to get back.”
“Because you’re busy?”
He gave her a small smile and glanced toward the office again.“No.I don’t like leaving Harvey by himself for too long.”
“Aw.You’re so good to him.”
