Page 26 of Postmarked December

“A latte sounds wonderful. Do you have something sweet to put in it? Maybe honey or something?”

“We have honey.”

“Perfect.”

Nick ordered a black coffee.

The waiter left, and Nick leaned his forearm on the table. “So, what’s on the agenda today?”

“I’m actually going to Windy Rock Orchard. I have a hankering for apple cider.”

His green eyes sparkled, and it occurred to her that she should at least offer for him to go with her since they were both traveling by themselves. He’d surely decline, since he was there for work, and she could go about receiving the next letter.

“Would you like to come with me, or do you have to work?”

“Well, I do have to work on my research, but everyone should get to take a break sometime.”

A mixture of fear and excitement overtook her, both pulling in different directions. While she enjoyed spending time with Nick, how would she explain the next letter if she got it at the orchard? She smiled. “You sure I’m not pulling you away from work too much? I know you hadn’t planned on this today.”

“I keep my own hours, so I can make them up when I get back to the room tonight.”

“What are you researching at the moment?” she asked.

He wrinkled his nose. “I have to follow protocol and not disclose it. That’s the rule.”

“Oh,” she said, impressed. “Are you working with a government agency or something?”

He grinned, sending her heart aflutter.

It had been a long time since someone had looked at her that way. The night before, when he’d given her an answer that stunted the conversation, she’d withered into silence, but this morning, her response came naturally, and it had made him laugh, which lifted her spirits more than anything had in a long time.

“Definitely not anything that intense,” he said. “To be vague, this one mostly covers things like communication patterns and stability predictions, but it’s been nice—not so many numbers. I’m meeting with a colleague here in Greenville. He’s showing me the finished product before we present it to our client. It’s been a long time coming, and we’re really excited to have nearly made it to the end.”

She’d been so caught up in her little world that it was nice to hear there were people like Nick going about their lives and making a difference. “It sounds so interesting.”

He chuckled. “Eventually, the report will be public knowledge, and I’ll be able to share it with you. Then you can tell me what you really think.” He paused. “If we keep in touch. Will we?”

She hadn’t considered what would happen after these few days. “Maybe,” she said, oddly hopeful they would.

As easy as Nick was to talk to, he probably had tons of friends and a buzzing social life, which was quite different from her quiet, solitary life. Would she be able to keep up? Or would she weigh him down? And would they be hounded by the press if anything came of this? She could see the headlines now: “Toby’s Widow Finds a New Beau.” Was he ready for all that? She certainly wasn’t sure if she would be. Should she warn him about it, come clean, before he got too invested? It’s still early, she decided. She could wait and see what would happen after this trip.

The waiter returned with their coffees. He folded his arms behind his back. “Will we be having breakfast?”

“I’m hungry,” Nick said. “How about you? My treat, if you want something.”

“Oh, you don’t have to…”

“I know I don’t.” He gestured toward her menu. “What do you feel like this morning?”

She scanned the choices quickly. “Just some eggs and toast, please.”

“And you, sir?”

“I’ll get the lobster omelet.” Nick set his menu on the table.

Lobster omelet? Their orders explained the two of them perfectly. He was very much a lobster omelet, with all its interesting flavors and textures, while she was plain old eggs and toast.

When the waiter had collected their menus and left, Nick picked up his coffee. “I have to run out for that meeting, but I should be done with work around noon. We could grab some lunch somewhere and then go to the orchard if that works with your schedule.”