Page 46 of Worth the Trip

“Getting lunch.”

“So am I.”

“I figured.”

“Because I’m standing inside a restaurant?”

“Because you got a menu tucked behind your book.”

She looked down and found the folded menu peeking beneath the paperback. “You pay too much attention.”

“I thought we settled that yesterday.”

“We settled that you’re nosy.”

“Observant.”

“Those words are cousins.”

“Distant ones.”

The hostess stepped away to answer the phone, leaving us near the entrance with sunlight flashing off the marina behind her.

I nodded toward the dining room. “Have lunch with me, Nolani.”

She studied me. “Is that how you ask?”

“I can add decoration if you need it, but the question ain’t changing.”

“And what exactly are you asking?”

“I’m asking to sit down, eat something good, and spend more time with you than bad signage gave me yesterday.”

That smile got a little bigger.

“I was planning to eat alone.”

“I can respect that.”

“But Nana put me out before I appointed myself assistant hostess for her card game.”

“Sounds like Nana got discernment.”

“She said I was getting on her nerves.”

“Same gift. Different delivery.”

Nolani laughed. “Just lunch.”

“Just lunch.”

“And you’re not ordering for me.”

“I don’t make decisions for grown women.”

“You recommended the snapper yesterday.”

“Recommendation is information. You retain full executive authority.”