Page 90 of Roping Her In

“Yeah, we don’t even do reservations until eight,” the woman said. “And I’ve got a table for two. You wanted privacy, right?”

“Yes, please,” Hailey said.

The woman smiled at her and then Jake, as if they might be popping champagne over their engagement that evening. She led them through another door and into a big open space that had been set with only tables for two. She moved past all of them, taking them to the back and behind a screen, which did offer more privacy.

“Is this all right?” she asked.

“It’s perfect,” Jake said, and he pulled out Hailey’s chair for her and then sat before the woman handed them both menus.

“This is just our drink menu,” she said. “It’s the only thing that stays the same from weekend to weekend. Your server will have tonight’s menu and specials, and you’re going to be taken care of by Javier.”

She stepped back, and Javier took her place. “Welcome to The Steak Shop,” he said. “Have you guys been here before?”

“No, sir,” Jake said, as he hadn’t even known this place existed before now.

“Well, welcome in,” he said. “We move to a new location every weekend in the Texas Panhandle, and this is actually my first time in Three Rivers as well.”

He chuckled, and Hailey asked, “Is it really?”

He nodded.

“Well, I hope you like it here.” Hailey indicated Jake. “We both grew up here.”

“So far, it’s been great,” Javier said.

“When do you get here to do something like this?” Jake asked.

“We came in this morning,” he said. “We get the place set up, and we open at six. You’re actually my first table in town.”

Hailey beamed across the table to Jake, and he couldn’t help letting some of her enthusiasm infect him.

“You’ve got our drink menu there, and if you’re driving, I just want you to know that any of these drinks can be made without alcohol. Now we’re The Steak Shop, so we’re serving surf and turf this Friday. We’ve got our standard three-course menu, which includes soup and salad, your main dish, and a dessert.” He continued to explain the menu, where they could order à la carte steaks and sides, or go with the standard three-course meal.

“I think I want the three-course meal,” Hailey said. “With the French onion soup, the ribeye, medium, and the double chocolate cake.” She looked back to Jake. “Oh, and I want this Paloma, but I want it without alcohol.”

“You got it,” Javier said, without writing a single thing down. He looked to Jake.

“I’ll take the three-course meal too, but I’ll take your carrot ginger soup.”

“Are you kidding me?” Hailey asked.

He grinned. “Then we get to try both.”

“Oh, well, good point.”

“I want the sirloin, also medium. And she got the double chocolate cake, so give me the other one.”

“The apple pie à la mode?” Javier asked.

“Yes, please,” Jake said.

“Anything to drink for you?”

“Uh, yeah.” He looked at the menu and then flipped it over. “I want something fruity and sour.” He handed the menu back to Javier. “Surprise me. No alcohol.”

“You got it, brother.” Javier took their drink menus and left.

He’d been gone maybe a second before Hailey reached across the table and said, “Let’s talk about this before the food comes, or I won’t be able to eat.”