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Emma put down her menu and leaned across the table. “Well, there’s spaghetti marinara, butternut squash ravioli, and the sweet potato gnocchi...that one’s my favorite. All the pasta here is made without egg, so it’s all vegan. They even have vegan meatballs if you’re feeling brave.”
“It all sounds delicious. Maybe I’ll try the gnocchi unless you’re getting that.”
“You can have some of mine if you want to try something else,” Emma offered. “We can share.”
“Then vegan meatballs it is!” Luke closed his menu and took a gulp of his water.
“Even I’ve never tried those,” Emma giggled. “But I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
Carmen returned to their table with two margaritas, and took their orders. Luke checked his watch to make sure he wasn’t running late for Jeremiah. He had promised to pick him up from the animal rescue and order some pizza for dinner. Luckily, he still had two hours to spare.
As they savored their delicious meal and shared stories, Luke found himself falling for Emma more deeply with each passing moment. Everything about her was captivating, from her infectious laughter to the way she crinkled her nose when discussing things she disliked. It was more than a feeling, he realized. Emma was truly special.
Luke was completely stuffed after his second glass of wine and half a plate of sweet potato gnocchi and vegan meatballs.
“You know, those meatballs might even be better than the real thing,” he remarked, wiping his face.
Emma chuckled, spearing one off of his plate. “It feels a bit odd to call them ‘meatballs,’ don’t you think?”
Luke watched as she cut them in half with her fork and knife. “What about...neatballs?”
Emma howled with laughter. “You know what...that’s pretty dumb, but I like it!”
Luke took a long drink of water. “I think I need to cut myself off from the tequila after a comment like that.”
Emma’s cheeks were rosy from laughing so much. “Me too.”
“Actually, I’m gonna use the restroom, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Well, I’ll just be here, picking food off of your plate,” Emma teased.
The men’s restroom was empty as he walked inside. After he was finished, he headed over to the sink to wash his hands. That’s when he bumped into Chad. Luke knew it had to be him because it was the man Emma had seen before they walked into the bistro earlier.
And it looked like Chad recognized him too. A large, smug smile spread across his face as he looked directly into Luke’s eyes.
“Pardon me,” Luke said, turning on the water. “Didn’t see you there.”
“Well, I did see you,” Chad told him. “Listen, buddy, can I give you a word of advice?”
Luke glanced up at him in the mirror. “What might that be?”
“If I were you, I’d consider ending things with her sooner rather than later. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. You’ll get tired of her soon enough, and it’ll only get more complicated the longer you stay. Take it from me," Chad drawled, tossing his hair back in the mirror.
Chad didn’t wait for Luke to reply before he left the restroom. Luke let his words hang in the air as he dried his hands with a paper towel, his heart heavy with the realization of the type of man Emma had once been married to. The thought only strengthened his resolve to show her the love and respect she had always deserved.
The band started to play as he came back out and made his way to their table. He sat down and looked over at Emma. She was even more charming than she had been a few minutes ago. A smile grew on her face as he continued to stare at her.
“What is it?” She asked. “Do I have something in my teeth?”
Luke shook his head. “No, just—looking at you.”
Emma’s cheeks deepened to a dark shade of scarlet. She took a sip of her water and fanned herself with a napkin. “Does it feel hot in here? Or out here, rather?” she asked, gesturing to the terrace.
“It’s a little warm,” Luke said, nodding toward the beach. “We could go for a swim.”
Emma laughed, shaking her head. “It’s not that hot.”
After Luke settled the bill and the plates were cleared, they lingered at the table, soaking in the ambiance. The band had just finished playing an upbeat Italian tune and had now transitioned to a slower, sweeter song.
