The tasting menu was excellent, starting with a candied pecan salad, then various small plates, such as boudin-stuffed quail, beef medallions, and Szechuan pepper cured salmon, a creamed corn casserole, tiny roasted new potatoes, and green beans almondine.
Nate had a lot of stories and he told them well. A definite plus, they were about other states and flying, since Nate had been all over the US flying with different companies. She loved talking horses and ranching but it was nice to have a change of pace to discuss.
“Are you settled here for a while?” she asked him.
“Probably. It surprised me that I like Whiskey River so much. I’ve been a big-city guy most of my life.”
“Is there a lot to do here? I’m at the ranch so much I really don’t know. Girls’ night out with Damaris is about the only thing I’ve done.”
“Not a lot, but there’s always Austin or San Antonio or even Fredericksburg. Of course, some of that depends on who you’re with.”
By the time a dessert of blueberry compote came Ella couldn’t fit in another bite. “Are you sure you don’t want a taste?” Nate asked, preparing to dig into the dessert. He was a big man, lean and muscled, and she knew he could eat his share and part of hers with no trouble.
She picked up her spoon. “One taste. But if I try to eat any more I’ll pop.”
Nate laughed. “Can’t have that.”
After dinner they went to Buddy’s Bar and Boogie. Buddy’s was fairly new, on the outskirts of town, an old abandoned gas station that had been converted into a bar and honky-tonk. Nate said the place was known for having great country bands playing on the weekends. Sawdust on the floor, country music, some Texas two-step and line dancing. Ella had always enjoyed dancing and Nate was good at it. Could she help it if it reminded her of that night with Chase?
Nate took her home around eleven, saying he had an early flight, which, he said, was also why he hadn’t been drinking. Since Ella’s days always started early, that was fine with her. He walked her to her door. “I enjoyed tonight,” Ella said.
“I did too. Can I call you again?”
“Sure.” She was almost a hundred percent certain that they weren’t destined to be more than friends but she’d had a good time and maybe the next time would be even better. Because she had to forget about…
Nate reached for her and she stepped into his arms, putting her own around his neck and kissing him. It was nice. A good kiss, a skilled kiss. And she didn’t feel a single tingle. Damn it.
“I’ll call you,” he said and left.
Ella watched him for a moment. “You are hopeless,” she told herself.
