The front desk was empty, but there were noises coming from overhead.
Mia seemed a little shaken.
“You all right?” he asked.
“Yeah, I just... I think I’m going to work a while, maybe catch up on emails.”
“Yeah, sure.”
The phone rang just then. Molly must’ve turned the ringer back on.
“Guess I better get that.”
And then Mia was gone, taking the stairs like she couldn’t get away from him fast enough.
What in the world had just happened?
twenty-seven
Molly set her cloth napkin on her plate and pushed it back. The evening was perfect. She and Adam had watched the sun set quietly over the lake, and now the interior of the Crow’s Nest glowed dim in the candlelight.
The golden light flickered on Adam’s handsome face. He’d worn his charcoal gray suit with a crisp white shirt and the red tie she’d gotten him for Valentine’s Day.
She wiped her sweaty palms down the length of her red sundress. She loved him so much, and she couldn’t wait for the moment he settled that ring on her finger. She bit her lip. She would not start rambling about nothing. She’d already done that a few times tonight, and she was determined not to ruin everything with her ridiculous blathering.
The server set the bill on the table, and Adam tucked his credit card inside the folder. A moment later the server snatched it up.
Adam leaned in, his elbows on the table, his face growing intent. “I was wondering... Do you remember what tonight is?”
Molly sighed. Finally. She leaned forward, falling headlong into his denim-blue eyes. “I was wondering ifyouremembered.”
He gave a shy smile. “How could I forget the best kiss of my life?”
Her heart squeezed. He said the best things. She winced playfully. “Until I ruined it.” They’d gone over that kiss many times. It had been wonderful. But the intense feelings she had for him had scared her silly.
“I admit it felt like rejection at the time. But the explanation you gave me later more than made up for the heartache.”
She smiled, the memory of the kiss flooding back. “It was a great kiss, wasn’t it?”
“Definitely worth celebrating.”
The server smiled as she set the bill folder on the table. “Thank you. Y’all have a wonderful evening now.”
Adam responded to the server as Molly bit back an impatient huff. They were just getting to the good part.
He removed his credit card from the folder and tucked it into his wallet, meeting her gaze.
Here it comes.She leaned closer.
He lifted his brows. “Ready?”
Molly blinked. They were leaving? “Um, yeah. Sure.”
He was already standing and pulling out her chair. Befuddled, Molly followed him from the restaurant.
All right. He wasn’t going to ask her here. She gave her head a shake. Of course he wasn’t going to ask her at a restaurant. This was Adam, notable writer of epic love stories. He’d take her someplace special. Maybe to Pawley Park where he’d first told her how he felt about her. Or out in the boat where they’d shared that first kiss. She should’ve worn a light sweater, she thought, as they made their way to his car.
He helped her into the car, and soon they were making their winding way down the mountain. Quiet settled between them. He was probably as nervous as she was. Of course he was. This was Adam.
