“Thanks for coming.We picked the right day for it.”He jerked his chin toward the sky above the lake that was starting to change color.The few scattered clouds were already touched with pink and yellow.He hoped that very soon they’d be treated to one of Summer Lake’s classic crimson and gold sunsets.
“I know,” she agreed.“Isn’t it beautiful?And I’d guess it’s going to be spectacular.I’m surprised at you, though.”
“Why?”
“Don’t look so worried – I mean it in a good way.I’m surprised that you appreciate the colors in the sky – the sunset.”
He chuckled.“See, we really do need to spend more time together.If you don’t already know that I love a good sunset – and a good sunrise maybe even more so – then you can’t claim to know me at all.”
She laughed with him.“I wouldn’t say that I don’t know you at all, but …”
He loved the way her eyes shone.She had that carefree look again, and he wanted to see that look on her face more often.
He sat up straighter and gave her a mock stern look.“But you don’t know me well enough – not yet.I think we should fix that, don’t you?”
He shifted in his seat when her nostrils flared.She thought he was talking about getting to know each other in the physical sense – he could tell.And of course, he wanted that, but … He winked at her.
“I don’t know what thoughts just crossed your mind, although I could maybe guess.But for now, I won’t embarrass either of us.I’ll just say that when I said we should fix it, I meant that we should talk about it – tell each other more about ourselves.What do you think?”
She nodded slowly, looking far less enthusiastic than he’d hoped.She met his gaze.
“There’s not much to say about me.You know my story – I grew up here, lived here my whole life.”
He pursed his lips.He knew a whole lot more about her than she realized, but he didn’t think he should tell her that.He could see how she might not like him knowing her history better than most people, but he hadn’t intentionally gone digging for information about her.It was just that Josh was his housemate – Josh who happened to have grown up with Savannah.They’d been neighbors, friends.Gone to school together.And to Jake it sounded like they were pretty much family.Even Josh’s grandpa, Harvey, thought of Savannah as family.
“But I’ll tell you, if you want.”
When she said that, he realized that he’d been quiet for too long.He hated that she was prepared to share with him because he hadn’t spoken.Did she think he was mad at her?
“That’s okay.”He met her gaze.“I’m not going to play dumb, though.If you don’t want to talk about yourself, that’s fine – for now.I’ll go first.And I’ll keep going until you feel safe enough to tell me more about yourself.”He gave her a wry smile.“Or until you tell me to shut the hell up because I’m boring you stupid.”
Her hand came up to cover her heart.“Aww, thank you.It’s not that I don’t want to share with you, it’s just that … I don’t … I don’t know.”
“And you don’t have to – not until you want to.So, go ahead – what do you want to know about me?”
He loved the small smile that played on her lips as she studied him before she spoke.
“You can ask anything you like,” he said after a little while.“I’m an open book.”
She nodded.“You are, aren’t you?But you know what?I don’t think asking a bunch of questions is the best way to get to know someone.I think that only really happens by spending time with them – seeing how they behave more than listening to what they say.”
“You’re right,” he said with a grin.
“Are you laughing at me?What do you look so pleased about?”
He chuckled.“You just gave me the perfect reason to ask when I can see you again.”
Her lips quivered.“We’ve not even started our date yet.”
“I know, but it’s like you just said – the only way to get to know each other is to spend time together.”
She laughed.“I didn’t mean it like that.I wasn’t trying …”
“I didn’t think you were, but I am.What are you doing this weekend?”
“I don’t know yet.I don’t have my hours for the restaurant.And I promised Tiffany that I’d do something with her, too.”
He met her gaze.“You’re not trying to put me off, are you?”
