“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” He reached to take them back. “I’ll get rid of them.”
“No.” She pulled them back to her. “They’re beautiful, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness. If I don’t get too close to them, I should be fine.”
Judging by her initial strong reaction, he wasn’t convinced, but who was he to say anything? “Next time, I’ll remember. Any other allergies I should be aware of?”
“Cefaclor, but I doubt you’ll ever need to know that.”
He furrowed his brows. “What is that?”
“An antibiotic that makes me break out in hives.”
“I’ll tuck that information away for the future.” He allowed his gaze to travel over her, lingering at the small swell of her stomach. “You look great, by the way.”
“Thank you.” Her shy smile reappeared, and she lowered her gaze to the flowers. “I’ll put these on the counter, then we can go.”
After several hitches—the allergic reaction and locking his door—they were on their way. He drove off the side roads and onto Highway 24, following it beyond Camp Lejeune and going into Swansboro.
“How far are we going?” Sybil watched out the windows, taking in the sunset’s reflection on the water.
“Not much further.”
Their destination came into view—The Riverside Bistro. Thirty seconds later he pulled into a small parking lot to the side of a two-story house which had been converted to a restaurant. Reservations were required, not from a lack of space, but due to the owner’s wish to maintain a private setting for patrons. Jared had been lucky to call the restaurant minutes after they’d received a cancellation.
“This is beautiful.” Sybil’s gaze shifted from the restaurant to the White Oak River it sat beside. “I’ve never been here, but every time I pass it, I think how beautiful and romantic it is. The candles lit in the window, and the gently rippling water make it a scene straight from a movie.”
He dared sliding an arm around her waist as they walked through the gravel. “I’m glad you approve.”
“I would have enjoyed any place you chose.” She cast a fond smile his way, and his heart responded with hard thuds against his chest.
Slow down. You’re still in a learning stage. Taking a calming breath, he kept his arm around Sybil, escorting her up the stairs and into the entry.
Once inside, they followed the hostess up a gorgeous winding staircase. Each floor had only five tables, and there were two outside on the deck. He would have preferred dining inside and walking on the pier afterward, but the canceled reservation was for outside on the second-floor balcony, and beggars couldn’t be choosers.
When their hostess led them out the rear door and onto the deck, Sybil’s smile broadened.
“I love outdoor dining, especially when the weather’s this perfect.”
Thank You, Lord, for being in the details.“I’m glad you like it.”
After they’d been seated, he picked up the menu and skimmed it. “Their steaks are hand-cut and all the seafood is locally caught when possible.”
“I’ve heard nothing but great reviews about it.” She inhaled and released the breath at a slow pace. “The smells coming from the kitchen are making me hungry.”
“Would you like an appetizer?”
“I’ve always had a weakness for crab dip, and I bet it’s amazing here.”
“Your wish is my command.” He paused and twisted his lips. “Wait, isn’t shellfish off limits?”
A hearty laugh erupted from the depths of her stomach. She covered her mouth, composed herself, then shook her head. “If you’re referring to the call from Rysa earlier, then rest assured, that was a ruse and shellfish is safe for me to eat.”
His stomach twisted a notch—he didn’t like being the butt of a joke. “What kind of ruse?”
Sybil must have seen his dismay and rushed to assure him. “Nothing serious. I called her in a snit, and melodramatically claimed I had nothing to wear. She called you without my knowledge to find out where we were going so I’d wear appropriate attire.”
Her explanation placated him, and he admitted to himself his own reaction had been overblown. His ego also received a boost in knowing that she’d worried about what to wear. It meant she cared, at least to some degree. “So, you can have shellfish?”
“Yes. It’s fish that are high in mercury that are off-limits.”
