Page 45 of Lying to the Boss

“I wanted to come to a place I knew you’d like.”

He flinches back as if I’ve hit him, and I don’t understand why there is such a big reaction. He says nothing and gets out of the car. I follow him out, and we head to the front podium where we’re greeted by a woman in jeans and a t-shirt. I feel overdressed.

“No reservations?” he mutters after I tell her we need a table for two.

“They don’t take them. I tried.”

He laughs under his breath as we follow the hostess to our table out on the patio. The chairs wobble, but they’re decently comfortable.

We’re left with menus and a promise that our waiter will be right over—which he is. A rugged guy with a bushy beard and a thick braid that starts at the top of his head, both sides shaved down so you can see the skin. He introduces himself as Rick and asks what we’d like to drink.

“I’ll take whatever you suggest,” I say.

“Like alcohol?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Beer?”

“Sure.”

“We have a house brew.”

“Sounds good,” I agree.

“I’ll have the same,” Tage adds.

He’s giving me a strange look as Rick walks away.

“What?” I ask.

“This is weird.”

Weird? What can I do to make this man happy? It’s becoming an impossible feat.

“Why? I thought this is the kind of place you’d like to go to.”

“Oh, it is. I love places like this. It’s just… you.”

“Thank you for insulting me.”

“You just seem out of place.”

“Again… thank you.”

“Lane—come on. You know what I mean,” he pushes.

I reach across the table to take his hand. His eyes pop open like he wasn’t expecting it. He doesn’t pull away though.

“I’m happy to be with you. I don’t care where we are. I’m not used to eating at places like this, but I’ve gone to enough of them over the years. Mostly not since college, but I’m not a snob.”

“I know that,” he says sincerely, something softening in his gaze. “Thank you for taking me here.”

“Thank you for joining me for dinner.”

Chapter Eighteen

Tage