Out of all the locations Jake could’ve taken her, he’d chosen the simplest, most natural, lovely place. How did he know that it was exactly the type of thing she loved? There were lots of other places in the Outer Banks—mini golf, go karts, shopping—but he’d chosen Bodie Island Lighthouse. It showcased what the Outer Banks was really about: simplicity. The coastline itself was so amazing that she could sit all day and watch the tide rolling in and out like it had done for generations.
“How could you ever want to sit inside when you could look at a view like this?” he asked.
She smiled. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“I don’t want to take you home yet,” he said. “Are you hungry? Wanna get something to eat?”
“I am hungry,” she said, the thrill of his admission that he wanted more time with her lifting in her stomach. She absolutely wanted to do something else with Jake, but she wished she could stay and take in the view a little longer. It was nice being with him. Being up here, completely removed from everything and everyone else, it felt like it was just the two of them.
“Great. I figured you might be. I’ve already made reservations.”
“Oh?” The idea that he’d taken time to work out where to take her, he’d called and made arrangements—it seemed very sweet since they were only out on a casual first date. But that was what she liked about him, how unfussy he seemed. Especially knowing now that he had a lot of money, he didn’t flaunt it; it didn’t define him. She really loved that he painted and built things, spent time with the other locals. Faith wondered about this place he’d planned to take her. It must be very popular to need reservations. Although, most beachside restaurants were quite busy. Perhaps he didn’t want to have to wait for a table, although, in her experience, the wait was never longer than forty-five minutes, and they could get a drink at the bar.
“Yep. Somewhere I think you’ll really like. But we’ve still got some time to kill and I have somewhere else I’d like to show you.”
She was intrigued and couldn’t wait to see where he’d take her.
NINE
The display windows covered nearly the whole front of the small building. It was shingled, like the cottage, but low to the ground since it was far enough inland to be safe from the floods. Jake held the door open for Faith as she entered, and what she saw was like heaven. Every space was covered in secondhand books, some of them even turned sideways above other books to allow them space on the shelf. There were so many books; she had difficulty knowing where to look first.
Faith wandered along the narrow aisles created by bookshelves, the smell of old wood and used books thrilling her senses. It was a place she’d never been before, but judging by the look of the building, it had probably been there when she’d vacationed at Nan’s cottage as a kid. How she would’ve loved to peruse these shelves back then.
“There’s a section at the back that has well-known authors,” Jake said over her shoulder into her ear, sending goose bumps down her arm. “I used to buy my copies of Hemingway here. They were only fifty cents and I could use my grass-cutting money to buy them.”
She loved the idea of Jake saving up his pocket money to come here and buy books. It sounded like something she would do.
They stopped at the back of the shop and Faith let her eyes roam the shelves. She knew exactly what she was looking for. As she searched, Jake pulled out a few different books, thumbed through them and put them back on the shelf.
“I haven’t been here in ages,” he said.
“It’s amazing! I love it.” She really did. It brought back the desire to read for herself again.
“We don’t have enough really good book stores in the Outer Banks.”
She nodded in agreement and then, when she looked back at the shelves, she saw it: the Robert Frost section. There were only three books, and one of them she knew like the back of her hand. She turned her head to read the spine—it was newer than her copy. She’d had to tape the cover back on several times, but it had kept falling off. Finally, she’d just left it. It was still at home on her bookshelf. Faith reached over and pulled it off the shelf, opening it to her favorite spot and reading those familiar words. It filled her with the same joy that it used to as a child.
“May I help you?” she heard from behind her and they both turned around.
“How much is this?” She held up the book.
“A dollar.”
“I’ll take it,” she said brightly. Turning to Jake, she added, “I’ll bet you can’t get Frost for a dollar at that new fancy book store I saw on the bypass. This place is much better than those big stores.” Instead of looking amused, however, Jake looked thoughtful, and she wondered what he could be thinking about.
“Where are you taking me for dinner?” Faith asked, not looking back at him but focusing on the steps as she made her way out of the bookstore.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Why?” she giggled. “I probably haven’t been there anyway.” She’d never been anywhere at the beach where she’d had to make reservations.
“You definitely haven’t been there.”
“Is it new?”
“Yes.”
“So then you can at least tell me the name.”
