“It’s really a swell restaurant.Great atmosphere, and the food and service are terrific.”
“Oh, good.It’s awful to go to a place that has great ambience, but the food isn’t great.”
“You’ll love it.They even have rib-eye steak fajitas.”
“Oh, now that sounds good.”
“They’re out of this world.”
“So what did the other guys say about you going out to dinner with me?”She knew he had told them that he was.
Rory chuckled.“We were told about your ex-boyfriend stalker and that you might not want to go out with anyone for a while after that trauma in your life.So when I told them I was going out to dinner with you and taking you to the Christmas dance, I got a couple of slaps on the back in good humor.They said they knew I was up to no good when I got to Ted first and asked to pick up our Friday morning breakfasts.”
She smiled.“I have to admit that once the Muellers said they would take the trackers to Denver, I was feeling more comfortable about getting on with my life.Still, I was afraid that if I started dating anyone, even if it was just short-term, and Timothy learned of it, the guy I was dating would be in just as much danger as I’ve been.”
“I would have taken care of the menace.”Rory sounded serious, and she figured he would have confronted Timothy, but who knew how her ex would react.Badly, she was certain, unless he was only a menace to women and couldn’t deal with a man confronting him.
When they arrived at the restaurant, she loved the exterior.Tile porch, orange walls, blue doors, a water fountain, though turned off now for winter weather.For the seating outside, all the chairs were painted in different colors.Rounded arches were painted orange, with pink trim.It was delightful.Then they parked and went inside the restaurant.
A bar was covered in pretty Mexican tile, and murals of charros on horseback and women dressed in colorfully embroidered traditional shirts and skirts were painted on the walls.Sombreros lined the wall above them.Spanish music played in the background.
Water tumbled down a fountain wall, making her feel as though she was outside enjoying the pleasant sound of a waterfall.A glowing fire in the fireplace warmed the room.A Christmas tree sporting red chili peppers, red bows, and red and green Christmas lights was tucked into one corner of the room.They were seated in a booth, and she loved the atmosphere.Most of the tables were taken, indicating the restaurant's popularity.
Several people smiled and acknowledged them.She wasn’t used to going into a restaurant where everyone was so friendly.They probably all knew Rory and were curious about her.
They ended up ordering the rib-eye fajitas for two.
She had expected a little taco shack, so she was really impressed by the place's beauty.She was glad she had suggested coming here.
Once they had their margaritas, hers with sugar on the rim, his with salt, they toasted to a delightful dinner and new beginnings.Their fajitas were served, and they began eating them.
“Ohmigosh, these are so tender and delicious.”She had never had such tender meat in a fajita before, and she knew where she would come for her fajitas from now on.
“Yeah, when they began serving them like this, though they have the cheaper cuts also that are more affordable, the guys and I began ordering the rib-eye fajitas.”
“I can see why.So are you from Colorado, born and bred?”
“Yeah.I came from Breckinridge.Though I love skiing, I love working on a horse ranch in a cougar-run town even better.Speaking of cougars, do you want to run as big cats after dinner?”
“Oh, sure, I would love to.I couldn’t run as a cougar where I was living before.”
“Well, we can run anywhere out here.We have strict no-hunting laws in the area.Not that we don’t have issues with hunters from time to time, thinking that the rules don’t apply to them, but for the most part, we’re safe.”
“That would be great.”
“At some time, I’ll drive you out to the ranch, and we can run out there.But I’ll take you in the woods here this time, where it’s closer to town.”
“Okay, perfect.”She called Mrs.Fitz, just to let her know she might be coming in a little later because they were going running as cougars after dinner.
“Oh, my, that sounds like fun.”
“Do you want to go with us?”Lacy wondered if Mrs.Fitz ever got out to run with other cougars.
“Oh, no, dear.You two have fun.”
“Thanks.The food is incredible here at Jose’s Taco Shop.”
“I love their rib-eye fajitas.”
