Jake parked the truck outside Giuseppe’s and turned off the engine.When he turned to smile at her, Savannah chuckled.“I feel like we’ve been here before.”
He laughed with her.“We have, but hopefully this time we’ll be able to get a bit farther.”
Savannah inhaled sharply.She needed to stop thinking like this.She hadn’t slept well all week because she kept having sexy dreams about Jake and about what the two of them might do together – and soon.She just didn’t know how soon was too soon.For him, or for herself.Pretty much everything he’d said so far tonight had felt like an invitation.And knowing that Josh wasn’t home…
She wondered if he knew exactly what she was thinking, given the way he smiled.She was almost tempted to ask.She kind of liked having things out in the open between them.Well, most things.She hated that she still hadn’t been open with him about Rick.
She reached for the door handle.“If we make it out of the truck, we’ll get farther than we did last time,” she told him with a smile — then froze at the sound of his phone ringing.
He cringed and shot her an apologetic look as he took his phone out of his pocket.“Shit.I can’t believe this is happening again.I…” He smiled when he checked the screen.“Oh, it’s okay.It’s my dad.But if you don’t mind, I’ll just take it quick to see what he needs.”
“Of course.”Savannah didn’t mind in the least — especially knowing that it was his dad.
“Hey, Dad,” Jake answered.“…Yeah.No, it’s all good.”He glanced over at her.“Yeah, I’m out with her tonight.”
Savannah gripped the strap of her bag a little tighter, hoping Jake’s dad didn’t disapprove of her or something.
“No, it’s okay.We just arrived at Giuseppe’s.We’re going to eat early.”
She relaxed a little when she saw the way he smiled.
“Yeah, I’d love that.If she can — I’ll ask her.”His smile faded slightly as he glanced over at her again.“But she might be working… Okay, yeah, I’ll ask… Okay.Love you, too, Dad.I’ll talk to you tomorrow.See ya.”
He ended the call and opened his door.“Come on.I’ll tell you on the way in.I’m scared if we sit here, I’ll get another call, and we’ll have to go out on a job.”
As she got out, she couldn’t help loving the way he’d said ‘we’dhave to go out on a job.’Last time, she’d immediately assumed she should find her own way home and let him get to work.Now it seemed natural that of course they’d go together.
But as he took her hand to walk across the parking lot, she was glad there was no job for them to go out on.
“Dad was asking if you want to come over on Sunday afternoon.We’ve all been hanging out together — Dad and Jo, Sadie and Uncle Dom, and Harvey, Josh, and me.This weekend, Dad and Uncle Dom want to try out this new grill that Jo bought Dad, so everyone’s going to their place.”
A rush of warmth filled Savannah’s chest.She missed hanging out with Sadie and Harvey, and from what she knew of Jake’s dad and his uncle, she liked them.
Jake grinned.“Does that smile mean it’s a yes?”
She sighed.“I wish — but you were right.I am working.”
“A split shift?”he asked.
She nodded.“Yeah.It’s like doing penance for having tonight and tomorrow night off.”
He lifted a shoulder.“Never mind, then.I’m just grateful we get two nights in a row.Although, you know… Dad’s place is only five minutes from the restaurant.You could come hang out there during your break instead of driving all the way home and back again.”
“Thanks.I’d like that.”
When they entered the restaurant, Savannah grinned when she saw Booker standing at the host station.He was such a good kid.She’d wanted to hire him when he first arrived in town.She was still working at the diner over the hill in Hidden Valley when he’d come in looking for work, wanting to wash dishes or do anything he could just to make a few bucks.
She’d run it by Alan, who owned the diner, but he’d said no — in no uncertain terms.He didn’t want that scruffy kid in his kitchen.
It had worked out better for Booker in the end.Tino had taken him under his wing and started him out in the kitchen washing dishes here at Giuseppe’s.Since then, Booker had become something of a fixture, and he’d even been kind of adopted by an older couple in town.
“Hey, Booker.How’s it going, bud?”Jake greeted him with a smile.
She probably shouldn’t be surprised that Jake knew him — or by how pleased Booker seemed to see him.
“Hey, Jake, I’m doing great, thanks.How about you?How are things at the garage?”He turned to her.“Hi, Savannah, it’s good to see you.”
He picked up a couple of menus.“Is it just the two of you?”
