I open the truck door for her, grabbing her ass in the process of helping her into the cab. She laughs and swats at my hand.
Once I’m settled behind the wheel, I drive us out to the falls. The Douglas family opened the Chateau about six years ago, and it has an incredible view of the waterfall our town was named after. It’s one of the nicer restaurants in Pine Creek Falls, and is the perfect place to go for a date night.
We drive for about twenty minutes before I park in front of the massive A-frame log cabin. The lot is unsurprisingly packed for a Friday night.
Gia gracefully climbs out of my truck, holding my hand. “Oh, wow. The waterfall is beautiful.”
The moonlight makes the streaming water sparkle. “Is this the first time you’re getting to see our town’s namesake?”
“Yeah. We wanted to hike it when my friends and I were here over the summer, but we never got a chance.”
“It used to be a tiny bit of runoff from the mountains—hence the creek part of our name—but over the century it’s grown into a massive waterfall. You can swim in it in the summer. It’ll freeze your tits off, but it’s fun.”
“I think I’ll keep my tits, thank you.”
I bark out a laugh. “I’d rather you keep them too.”
We get inside the restaurant, and I give the hostess my name for our reservation. Within a few minutes, we’re seated at one of the booths along the edge of the room. The Chateauhas that golden glow of an intimate dining room. The white tablecloths and brown leather chairs blend seamlessly into the modern decor, so the stars of the show are the people rather than the restaurant itself.
“This place is gorgeous,” Gia says as she takes in the room.
“They have an event space that faces the falls. It’s pretty popular for weddings and whatnot.”
“I can imagine.” Gia bites the inside of her lip, but before I can ask her what’s wrong, the waitress comes up to take our drink orders. We both get cocktails, and I order a plate of their fried mac and cheese bites.
At Gia’s questioning expression, I explain, “They’re the best damn thing on the menu. I could probably eat twenty of them.”
She grins at me. “What else do you recommend?”
We walk through the menu, discussing what we want to get. We end up deciding to split two different entrees when Gia can’t choose which one she wants more.
After our food order is placed, I finally ask her what was on her mind before we got interrupted.
She takes a hefty sip of her cocktail, visibly building her courage. Then her dark blue eyes meet mine. “Have you thought much about getting married again?”
Her question surprises me, although it shouldn’t, given we were talking about the Chateau’s event space. “I honestly haven’t. Dating has only recently come on my radar. I’m not necessarily opposed to the idea. I could see myself being willing to get married again for the right person. What about you?”
Gia shrugs. “I was never the girl who fantasized about finding her Prince Charming and getting married. I was the girl who wanted to climb mountains and slay the dragons herself.”
I grin. “That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.”
“As I got older, I still didn’t see the appeal of letting some boy have dominion over me and my choices. I’d rather live a solitary life than a miserable one with the wrong guy because society told me that’s what I had to do.” She pauses, a secretive smile quirking the side of her mouth. “Then I met a man who seems to buck tradition and lives his life the way he wants—not how society tells him he should. It’s made me wonder if marriage would be different with that guy than the way I’ve always imagined it.”
I’m oddly pleased that I’m the guy who has changed Gia’s outlook on relationships. “Life with me would definitely be different than with anyone else. If you factor in my girls, my in-laws, and my family, you’re walking into a mess of people with a ton of opinions.”
“I like your girls and your family, but maybe I should hold my judgment until I meet your in-laws.”
“You’re teasing, but I’m not. I’m a complicated mess over here. Hitching your wagon to this loaded cart may not be in your best interest.”
Gia shrugs. “Maybe not, but you’ve more than proven that it would be worth it to try. The important thing is that we’re on the same page about the direction this could go. If one of us was dead set on never getting married, would that be a deal-breaker?”
“Not for me. As long as we’re committed to each other to the fullest, I think I’d be fine to never get married again.”
“I’m not against the idea, but…” Gia hesitates. “I don’t want kids of my own. I’ve never wanted them, and I don’t think that will change. If you were hoping to have more one day, it’s not going to be with me.”
This whole conversation makes a whole lot more sense now. If she wasn’t for or against marriage, I didn’t understand why she’d ask if I was. Now, I realize she was leading into thereal issue. I reach out to grab Gia’s hand. “Would you be able to love my girls like they’re your own?”
“If they were anyone else’s kids, I’m not sure if I’d be able to, but your girls are special, Holt. They’re brilliant and kind, and I wouldn’t have any issue loving them with my whole self. I’m basically there already.”
