As they giggled together, Whitney’s heart felt lighter.
At precisely five o’clock, she heard the jingle of bells from Judas’s sleigh. She stood up and smoothed her skirt. “Well, I better grab my coat.”
“Have a wonderful time.” Havyn wrapped an arm around Maddy’s shoulders.
“Thank you.”
The ride back into town was relaxed. Whitney had never ridden in a sleigh that was so comfortable. Not only were the seats covered in thick cushions, but the bumps in the road didn’t seem near as rough as usual. She wanted to lean over the side and look at the runners but held her curiosity at bay. Whatever it was, it was the most pleasant ride she’d ever had.
Judas had ensconced her with heated bricks and several blankets, which made the trip almost as luxurious as sitting in front of the roaring fire at home.
“Thank you for agreeing to dine with me this evening.” Judas seemed relaxed beside her.
So far the conversation had been sparse as Whitney had settled and taken it all in. “I appreciate your invitation.”
“The weather continues to be frigid.”
“Yes. It does.” Should she say something else? How could a conversation with this man, whom she’d known forever, be awkward just because they were courting? That shouldn’t change things, right?
“How are your animals faring?”
“Quite well, thank you.” Was small talk the norm for an outing such as this? Thankfully, he seemed comfortable enough with the quiet.
Silence stretched for several minutes, and she turned to gaze out at the snow-covered landscape. It shimmered in the moonlight as the stars above twinkled. The air was fresh and clean. Not that she minded the scents of the farm, but she always appreciated the winter air. Almost as much as she appreciated a spring rain—how it washed everything clean.
Judas asked her questions here and there, but most of them required a simple word or two of response. Hopefully, things would improve, because she couldn’t imagine a life of chitchat.
As they drove into town, the charred remains of the Grand Nome Hotel made her catch her breath. Thank goodness the fire hadn’t spread. It could have burned down the whole town.
At the restaurant, Judas pulled up to the front door. It wasn’t just a storefront—this was an actual solid building of brick, with large windows that let out the warm glow from inside.
Whitney smiled. Lovely. She hadn’t been to this side of town since the restaurant had been built.
As he came around to assist her down from the sleigh, she looked up at the large staircase to the double-door entry.
“I hope you like it.” He held up a hand to her. “I had itbuilt hoping it would be reminiscent of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco.”
She’d forgotten that this was another of his businesses. How many did he own in Nome? Perhaps that was a question she could ask later in the evening. “It is very nice, Judas.”
He snapped his fingers and a man from the porch came running. “Please park my sleigh in the barn and make sure the bricks are reheated for when we are ready to take our leave.”
“Yes, sir.” The man nodded.
Judas held out his arm and Whitney took it. They walked up the steps, and then he opened the door for her.
The lush red carpet was a luxury for Nome. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling with little dangling crystals that caught all the light.
It was amazing.
“Your table is ready, Mr. Reynolds.” Another man in a fine suit bowed to them.
“Thank you, Reginald.”
They followed the man through the dining room to the back corner, where there was a dining area enclosed on three sides.
Whitney glanced around. It appeared every corner of the restaurant held one of these more private dining areas. She allowed Reginald to take her coat while Judas held out the chair for her and tried to keep her discomfort at bay. At least the room didn’t have a door that shut them off. That wouldn’t be appropriate. She could see how people could want to dine without having others overhear their conversations. Perhaps it wasn’t so bad.
“This is my personal table. I hope you like it.” Judas took his seat across from her and laid his napkin in his lap.
