“He was a newer kid. I liked him, but I watched the video, and I’m pissed as hell. He shouldnothave been fucking around like that. Hell, he had his harness on, but it wasn’t attached to anything. That’s rule number one. Then there’s the issue of my lead framer not insisting he have his harness done properly. He’s gotta go now.”
I reach out and touch his forearm. “I’m sorry. Can I do anything?” I’m not sure what I could do about any of that, but I have to offer.
He sighs, telling me he’s been stressing about this. Looking over at me, he smiles. “You’re doing it. You’re here with me”—he nods at my outfit—“looking like a goddess. That’s all I need right now.”
Dinner is lovely. I know that’s an old-fashioned word, but it’s the best one for this place. Lovely. There are candles on the tables and soft piano music is playing in the background, being played by an actual pianist. The food is delicious, too. I chose the entrée with the salmon. Ordinarily, I’d skip fish, but this one said something about cream sauce and roasted fingerlings. I got it because I wanted to know what the heck a fingerling was and since Sam didn’t know either, I had to get them.
For the record, they’re potatoes. Yummy, buttery potatoes.
I chose well.
Sam ordered the biggest steak I’d ever seen. His came with mashed potatoes and a mix of vegetables. But do you want to know the best thing on the menu? The bread. If I had my choice, I’d have grabbed the basket of warm rolls and the dish with the butter and been content for days. Alas, I didn’t do that.
“You enjoying your dinner?” Sam asked between bites of his food.
“It’s wonderful.” And it is. Two thumbs up for the cream sauce.
At one point, he reached across our white-linen-covered table and held his hand open. I placed mine in his. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too.”
This is no lie. It is, hands down, the best date of my life. It’s even better than the one I had with the guy from a semi-well-known rock band. He took me to the zoo, of all places. I was twenty-two and thought it was the greatest thing ever. It was only one date, and he left in the middle of the night for his next gig, but whatever. That was fun, but this is something else. This is, well, real.
“Shall we?” After we’ve declined dessert, he stands, holding his hand out for me to take. Setting my napkin on the table, I slide my palm into his and stand also.
Looking up at him, I smile. “Thank you for dinner.”
“You’re welcome.”
And then he lifts my hand up while also bending closer, and he kisses it.
That’s right. That’s what I said.
He. Kisses. It.
And do you know what happened next? Hell. Do I even need to say it?
I guess I do.
BAM. My ovaries exploded.
Chapter Eighteen
There’s Been A Shift
At dinner, Sam told me more about his work. He didn’t dominate the conversation or anything. As a matter of fact, he asked me way more questions about my editing work, my education, that sort of thing, than I asked him. I did discover a few new bits of information about him, like the fact he’s college educated. His parents insisted he get a degree, so he earned a business degree from one of our state universities. Just like me. He worked construction all through college, even during the semester, knowing that’s what he was going to do when he finished school.
“Why construction?” I asked, sipping my wine.
“My grandfather was in the business. When I got old enough, I worked with him every summer. He taught me everything. My pops was a great man. He died when I was in college.” His smile was genuine. “It’s why I named my company after him. To honor him.”
I hadn’t thought to ask him the name of his company, but I’d seen him in a few tees with it printed on the front: Gladstone Construction. His story brought tears to my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. Instead, I continued asking questions. “Are you glad you went to college?” It sounds to me as though he probably didn’t need to go.
He nodded. “I learned a lot, and it gave me the confidence to start my own business, but if it weren’t for my grandfather, I don’t know what I’d be doing. Plus, Pops agreed that it’d be the smart thing to do.”
I loved hearing about his history. It made me feel closer to him. Like he was divulging a secret or two just to me, because I suspect this man doesn’t go around blabbing to everyone about the reason he does what he does.
With our hands linked, we walked out of the restaurant into the evening air. The temperature was perfect, in the low 70s, and I could see stars flickering in the sky. Honestly, the night couldn’t be more perfect, and I was sort of lost in the romance of it all when Sam suddenly stopped walking. I felt his arm sort of freeze up.
