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Light sabers glowed and kids scrambled into place. Only then, did he notice the banner strung above the stage that read MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU!
Was that a thing? May fourth was now Star Wars Day? He couldn’t stay here.
Pivoting away from the throng, he crossed Main Street and looked for a second option, only to stop dead in his tracks at the sight of the café.
His heart beat hard in his chest as he stared at the front window wondering if she was inside. A car beeped at him and he jogged off the street, closer to the café.
Shading his eyes, he looked through the glass, but only spotted an older woman with faded blonde hair. No sign of Mariella.
What if she wasn’t in Jasper Falls anymore? It had been months. She could have moved on, gone somewhere else, met someone…
His stomach soured at the thought. He hoped she was happy, but he wasn’t altruistic enough to picture her with another man without seeing red.
He really needed that drink. Since O’Malley’s was out of the question, he figured he’d head back to his car and find something outside of Jasper Falls. Getting out of there before anyone knew he was back seemed like a wise move.
CHAPTER 13
“How did you find this place?” Mariella unfolded the linen napkin and spread it over her lap.
“My family knows the chef.”
The old farmstead house had been stripped down to its original colonial fixtures. Wide windowsills and aged wood floors, authentic to the home, added to its charm. A long, curved bar built by the owners, complimented the timeframe of the house, and the service so far was warm and welcoming.
After enjoying a pre-dinner martini at the bar with Mauricio, they were escorted to a small table in the main room of the house. A fire crackled in the aged stone hearth, further adding to the ambiance.
The waiter delivered a second round of martinis. Even the stemware looked authentic and old.
“It’s beautiful here.”
He lifted his cocktail. “Everything’s farm to table and served family style. The menu’s not very extensive, but the food’s outstanding. If the owner’s cooking tonight, he’ll probably come out and ask how you enjoyed the meal.”
She loved when chefs did that. Glancing at the minimal menu, she reviewed the choices. There was a steak, poultry, or pasta option and a few appetizers. “What were you thinking?”
“Your choice.”
Everything sounded delicious. “I’m feeling especially carnivorous tonight. How about the steak?”
“Perfect.”
The waiter returned and took their order. She and Mauricio usually went to dinner once a week, but she made a point to always go Dutch. She enjoyed their friendship and didn’t want to complicate matters with mixed signals.
Her decision to remain single had nothing to do with him. Mauricio was a very handsome man. It came down to her still feeling too fragile to lay her heart on the line and risk being hurt again. But one day she hoped she’d find the courage to try.
“I wanted to run something by you.” Mauricio straightened his silverware.
“Okay.”
“My brother’s getting married in June. It’s a destination wedding in Saint Thomas.”
She remembered him mentioning it. “I approved your time off.”
“Right. Well, I wanted to see if you might want to join me.”
Mariella’s brows shot up. “In the Caribbean?”
“It’s seven days in the Virgin Islands, all inclusive.”
“In…the same room?”
“Would that be an issue?” His hand lowered over hers and she understood this was more than a platonic invitation.
It was getting a little warm in there. She glanced at the fireplace but knew that wasn’t the culprit. “We work together, Mauricio.”
“There’s nothing in our contracts prohibiting us from dating a coworker.”
He checked? “But we’re friends.”
“Sometimes friends become more. Many great relationships start out that way.”
She sat back and sipped her martini. Her chin quivered and she accidentally dribbled on herself. “Shit.” She blotted her mouth with her napkin.
“You don’t have to decide right now, but I wanted to make my intentions clear. I like you, Mariella. We’ve basically been dating for weeks.”
Her eyes widened. “We eat dinner together.” There had never been a whiff of sexual tension between them that she noticed.
He shrugged and smiled. “I like spending time with you. I’d like us to share more than the occasional meal.”
Her face was on fire. She took another sip of her drink and blew out a breath. “This martini’s strong.”
“Just think about it.”
As if she could avoid doing so. Mauricio was inarguably handsome. He dressed well, spoke well, smelled nice, held doors, had terrific taste in donuts, and was one of her favorite coworkers. She should be thrilled he wanted to date her.
So why wasn’t she?
“I like our friendship, Mauricio. I’d hate to jeopardize that.”
He once again reached for her hand. “No one’s threatening our friendship. I’m not shallow like that. Plus, you’re technically my boss.”
That’s right. She was his superior. “If things didn’t work out…” Oh, it could get messy.
