“It is,” said Jake, and he put his hand on the small of Savannah’s back as they followed Booker to a quiet table by the windows in the back.
“Thanks,” said Jake, looking around.He seemed to realize, like Savannah did, that this was one of the best tables.
Booker grinned at them.“You guys are awesome, and you’ve both been good to me.Why wouldn’t I give you the best table?”
Savannah’s hand came up to cover her heart.“Aw, thank you.”
He nodded.“No — thankyou.I know you tried for me over at the diner, and that meant a lot.I’ll never forget that.”He smiled at Jake.“And I owe you big time for all your help teaching me how to keep Gramps’s truck in shape.”
He glanced back at the host station.“I better run.I’ll check in with you guys when I can but have a great time.”His smile faded.“Oh, shoot.Are you on a date and I’m here running my mouth at you?”
They both laughed.Jake shook his head, and Savannah assured him, “It’s all good.It’s good to catch up with you.”
“It is,” Jake agreed.
As they watched him hurry back to the host station to greet a couple who had just come in, Jake reached for her hand.“Did you try to get him a job at the diner when he first came to town?Is that what he meant?”
She nodded.“I did.He looked tired, cold, and hungry when he came in, and I felt for him.And you could just tell he was a good kid, you know?”
“I do know.I felt the same way when I first met him.He is a good kid.”
She chuckled.“And you know damn well that he’s good people if Max Douglas is letting him use his truck.”
Jake chuckled.“Yeah, I might not have the same kind of history around here that you do, but even I know that Max Douglas’s word is like an official endorsement.”
While they sat there eating, talking, and laughing, Savannah kept coming back to the moment — wanting to make sure she remembered every second of it.This was the best date she’d ever been on.If she were honest, it had to be the best night of her life so far.
Jake was such good company.He was funny, and the stories he told about his time in the Marine Corps made her like him all the more.It wasn’t that he made himself out to be some kind of hero — more because hedidn’tdo that.He told her about his friends, the men he’d served with, and little bits about situations he’d been in.
She loved hearing how he used to load his pockets up with candies to give out to the kids where he was patrolling.She’d only ever thought of war as something terrible, and it didn’t feel good to admit — even to herself — that she thought of the people over there, wherevertheremight be, as the enemy.Not as real people who were just going about their own lives.And certainly not as children who had no idea what was going on.
She gave Jake’s hand a squeeze, loving him all the more knowing that he’d shown children that kind of kindness, even in those circumstances.
She caught her breath, glad he couldn’t hear what she was thinking: She loved him all the more?If it was too soon to sleep together, it was sure as hell too soon to go anywhere near the L word.But as she watched him drink the last of his beer before setting his glass down with a smile, she knew that too soon or not, she wasn’t just falling for him.
She’d already fallen.
Chapter Sixteen
When they left Giuseppe’s, Jake felt as though he was walking on air.Tonight was the best date he’d ever been on — no question about it in his mind.He didn’t think of himself as a romantic, but the low lighting and the candle on the table had been the perfect setting, even though he’d thought Booker was going overboard when he came over and lit the candle.The restaurant had been quiet since it was early, but that just made it feel more special.
He held his arm out to Savannah and wrapped it around her shoulders when she leaned against him as they walked.
“Thanks, Savvie.Tonight was so good.”
She curled her arm around his waist and gave him a squeeze.“I’m glad you think so.I didn’t know if I should tell you, but I can’t not say it.That’s the best date I’ve ever had.And more than that… it’s the best night of my life.”
He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, knowing she absolutely meant it — and hating what that said about her life so far.But then again, it was true for him, too, and he needed her to know.
“It’s the best night of my life so far, too.”
He met her gaze and held it, hoping he could somehow convey how he felt about her — just how deep his feelings already ran.
He felt a little disappointed when her gaze flicked away from his and she looked over his shoulder for a moment before turning back to him and saying, “I’m so glad.I know we haven’t been seeing each other for long, but…”
A small ball of disappointment settled in his stomach when she looked away again before continuing, seeming as though she’d lost her train of thought.“And I had such a good time tonight.”
He might not be a romantic, but the way she was acting left him feeling kind of flat.It felt so different from how she’d been over dinner.Maybe he’d bored her.Maybe he shouldn’t have talked about his time in the Corps so much.
