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We haven’t moved an inch and I stare up into his sparkling blue eyes. “It seemed only polite. Although I’ll bet you don’t know many people with the initial ‘Z’.”
“None at all… except you,” he says, chuckling.
“Where are we going?” I ask as we make our way down the footpath onto the sidewalk.
“I booked us a table at the French restaurant. Is that okay?”
“It’s fine.” I turn and look up at him. “To be honest, I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Why?” He frowns down at me, looking confused.
“I thought my dress might be a little over the top for the bar.”
He chuckles. “It might have been. But I’d never have taken you to Dawson’s place.”
“Oh? Isn’t it very nice?”
“It’s lovely. But aside from them not serving food in the evenings, Dawson and I go way back. He’s my oldest friend, and I think I’d rather we had our first date in private.”
I can’t help smiling at the thought that this is hopefully the first of many dates, although I’m relieved we don’t have too far to walk, because I feel a little exposed. I hadn’t thought that through when I was deciding what to wear, but I guess I hadn’t anticipated we’d be walking. Even so, I’m glad to get inside, and I notice Tanner’s smile as a man wearing a black shirt and pants comes over.
“Hey, Archer. How’s things?” he says.
“Busy,” the man called Archer replies. “But I’m not complaining.”
He guides us toward the back of the restaurant, stopping by a table in a quiet corner. Tanner releases my hand, holding my chair for me, and I sit, waiting until he takes his place opposite before we both look up at Archer, who’s standing beside us.
He offers menus, which we both take, and he smiles.
“We’ve just started our new fall menu this week,” he says. “Hopefully you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure we will,” Tanner replies and Archer leaves.
I have no idea what was on the menu before, but it looks amazing now, and I study it for a second or two, looking up when Tanner fills our glasses with water from the bottle on the table.
“Thanks,” I murmur, and we clink our glasses together, taking a sip. “I thought you said you wanted our first date to be in private.”
“I do.” He looks confused again.
“But you seemed to know that man.”
“Archer?” he says and I nod my head. “Sure, I know him, but not like I know Dawson. Archer’s only been here for a few years. I’ve known Dawson for as long as I can remember.”
“I see.” I nod my head and he gives me a smile as we both return our attention to our menus.
“This looks incredible,” Tanner says. “I’m spoiled for choice.”
“Was the menu good before?” I ask, and he shrugs his shoulders.
“I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve eaten here.”
“This isn’t somewhere you came with your wife?”
“Ex-wife. And no. I think Sabrina and I were already in the process of splitting up by the time this place opened. Like I said, Archer hasn’t been here for very long.”
“So where did you and Sabrina used to eat?” I ask.
“At the hotel.”
