Carlisle and Grace followed them to her mother’s. He made no attempt to take her hand as they walked into the house, for which Merry was grateful. Her mother had probably already misunderstood how things were going to go tonight.
“I’ll drive, if it’s okay,” Merry said when they’d left the house. “Your little car makes me nervous.”
“I’m quite an excellent driver, and it has good tires,” Carlisle said, his tone defensive.
“It’s not a reflection on your driving.” She clicked the key fob to unlock her car, and he opened the driver’s door. She said, “You know my husband and father died in a car crash, so I’m especially sensitive. Alex has missed out on a few activities with friends because I didn’t approve of either the family’s vehicle or the parent’s driving.”
“That I understand. I visit the resort with the team to conduct tests on the transceiver, but I’ve yet to bring myself to ski again.” Carlisle closed the door and got in the passenger side. He was silent until she’d pulled away from her mother’s house.
“Where would you like to eat?”
“Have you had Wyomatoes yet?” she asked.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of them.”
“Then you’ve missed out on a treat. It’s too bad it’s December.” Merry shot him a sidelong glance. “I’m in the mood for local food. Is that all right?”
“I would love to try your western fare. But tell me what this Wyomato is.”
“Tomatoes but with a Wyoming twist. They’re grown in Big Piney and are really sought after during the season.”
“I look forward to trying them next summer.”
“Let’s go to Dan’s then. It’s a little hole-in-the-wall diner. Everything’s worn out, but the food’s some of the best you’ll find.”
“Brilliant.”
Merry wondered if Carlisle would begin talking about what had happened earlier. When he didn’t, she allowed her breathing to calm. She found a parking place across the street and waited for him to open her door. When he offered her his arm, she took it. If he was going to push a talk about serious stuff, she was going to enjoy his dismay at the diner. She doubted his high-bred experiences would have taken him to a place like it.
When she stepped toward the door of the narrow building, Carlisle finally hesitated.
“Do you trust me?” she asked, unable to keep the corner of her mouth from twitching.
“Are you pranking me?” he asked, disbelieving.
“I’m not. I promise you won’t be sorry.”
“All right.”
Carlisle opened the door for her where an older woman was talking to a cashier, the narrow room full of people talking and eating. The wonderful aroma of roasting meat and baking bread hit them, and his brows shot up. Merry hadn’t meant to take his arm, but she found herself doing it anyway. His entire face lit up.
“Just two?” The older woman’s gum popped, and she gave Carlisle an appraising look.
“Yes. Two,” he said.
The hostess grabbed a couple of menus and led them to the main dining section in the rear.
“This is much larger than it appears from the outside.” Carlisle held Merry’s chair for her as if they were in a fancy restaurant.
“It’s a fun surprise for visitors to the area.” Merry accepted a menu from the hostess. “I hear the owner has had an opportunity to purchase some of the storefronts out on the street to enlarge the place, but he likes the unexpected.”
While the waiter brought their drinks and then took their orders, they chatted about daily things. Her muscles relaxed a little at the easy conversation, like one of dozens they’d had the last few weeks. She could almost forget they were about to have animportant conversation.
Merry’s mind kept flitting between two things—the massage and his declaration that he was falling in love with her. She felt like she’d been caught in a sneak attack. Mugged by love. The thought made her chuckle softly.
“What’s funny?” Carlisle asked.
She sobered immediately. He watched her, his face gentle but he wore a worried crease between his brows. She didn’t want to hurt him, but wasn’t it better to break things off now than to let their feeling grow deeper—andstillhave to say goodbye? Things would’ve been good—safer—if they’d just stayed friends.
