She smiled back and handed them menus. “We’ve got some good specials.”
After she left, Jewel perused the options. “Well, it’s nice that Sweet Springs has a little more variety now. Although I’ve noticed there’s no sushi restaurant here yet.”
He frowned. “You really like all that raw fish stuff?”
“It’s not all raw fish. And yes, I do like it. My daughter adores sushi.”
He just laughed. “Not me. I’m mostly a steak and potatoes guy.”
“And Italian?”
“Simple stuff. Like spaghetti and meatballs.” He closed his menu. “Or lasagna. Beyond that, I’ll pass.”
“Seafood linguini.” She pointed to the item on the menu. “Sounds good to me.”
“To each their own.” He wrinkled his nose. “Sounds like you like seafood.”
“I do.”
He laid down his menu. “What other kinds of things do you like?”
She assumed he meant food, but something about the twinklein his eyes suggested more. She was about to say how she loved Mexican cuisine and how wonderful Marta Orosco’s tamales had been the other night but realized that could open a whole other can of worms. “I like all kinds of ethnic foods,” she told him. “San Jose had a great assortment of restaurants. I guess I’ll miss that.”
“Well, you can always go into the city. Portland’s not that far. And there’s a lot to choose from, if you like that sort of thing. I’ll admit I missed some of the perks of living in the big city when I first moved back here. But I’m surprised at how quickly I adjusted. Guess I’m just a small-town boy at heart.”
“Then you’re in the right place.” She sighed. “It’ll be an adjustment living in a small town again.” She looked out the window where traffic along Main Street was moving along at a leisurely pace. “Although I’ll admit Sweet Springs seems to have grown a little. And it’s probably a good place to raise kids.” She looked curiously at him, wondering once again what his relationship with his boys was like. “Will your sons come out to visit you?” she asked. “I mean, since it’s summer?”
“Nah. My ex has them in sports camps for most of the summer.”
When the server made it to their table, Jewel studied Aaron as he confidently ordered a bottle of merlot without even asking her preference. What kind of man was he, truly? And what was she doing here with him? Clearly this was a date. And perhaps even more troubling, she wasn’t sure why she was so concerned about what Miguel Orosco must be thinking of her right now. Really, what difference did it make?
The wine showed up shortly after they ordered. She was not a merlot fan, especially with seafood, but she kept her opinion quiet and told herself she just had to get through this meal as graciously as possible, then make sure Aaron understood their relationship was strictly business from here on out.
“Don’t you like your wine?” he asked midway through the meal.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “I’m not really a red wine girl. Especially with this.” She pointed to her pasta with its crab, shrimp, clams, and mussels. “But I must say this is absolutely delicious.”
“Glad you like it.” He refilled his own wineglass. “My lasagna is good too.”
“My mom makes really good lasagna,” she said absently. “I should get her to teach me how.”
“You don’t cook much?”
She shrugged. “I’m a bit out of practice, but I plan to hone my skills.”
“My first wife was a good cook.” He swirled his glass and studied the wine. “But it showed on her hips.” He laughed. “Cooking was about all she had going for her.”
Jewel felt unexpectedly defensive of this woman, or maybe she felt for any woman who was divorced and had children with a checked-out father. “Isn’t she a good mom?”
“Devoted. She just wasn’t a good wife.”
“Oh?” She narrowed her eyes slightly. “You were a good husband, I suppose.”
He smirked. “Okay, you’re probably right. I wasn’t much of a husband either.”
“How about your second marriage?” She knew she was prodding too much, but she couldn’t help herself. Besides, did she really care if he decided she wasn’t good date material? Wasn’t that her goal?
“My second marriage?” he echoed. “Well, Rita was a pretty good wife. To start with...” He took a sip of wine.
