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“I’ve left her alone before. I can’t bring her to the store with me. Not that I go often, but I’ve had to pick up a few things. I’ve come back to everything in one piece.”
“Do you leave her loose?” she asked.
He pulled the door open and was hit with the smell of fries and yeast. Damn, he was salivating. A beer and burger were on the menu for him tonight.
“No. She’s gated in the kitchen and there isn’t much she can get into. At least I don’t think so.”
“Table for two?” the hostess asked.
“Yes,” he said. They were brought to a booth to the right of the bar. The bar took up the back, walls of booths on each side, the front made up of big windows and the name Murphy’s across the glass in a bright green color with shamrocks under it. “I’m going to assume you haven’t been here before either?”
“No. I don’t go out much. I work a lot and when I’m not working, I’ve got a home to care for.”
“A big home,” he said. It was a good-sized colonial. Much bigger than his ranch.
“It’s more than enough space for me. When I was moving here there wasn’t a lot available for what I was looking for.”
“And what were you looking for?”
“Land to breathe but not so much that I’d have to hire someone to care for it,” she said. “A place to put my touch on it. Space to grow into.”
“Did you put your touch on it?” he asked.
“I did. I updated a few things. Painted, changed some tiles. I’m handy enough and had time when I was looking for a job.”
“And you had a vision there?” he asked.
He’d felt like he didn’t belong a lot in life.
“I did. Or it came to me. I thought the name of the development was funny, but then I figured it might be interesting. It’s such a mix of houses, both new and old. The neighbors are great for the most part. I don’t talk to many often, but everyone waves when you are driving through. I never had that before.”
“Because you came from a big city,” he said.
“I did. I don’t believe I’m snotty about it,” she said.
“And here I go blowing it again.”
They stopped when the waitress came over to take their drinks and give them the menu. There was a beer menu on the table and one on the wall. Names he’d never heard of before but had been in pubs like this. He got an IPA that sounded good by the description; she got a white wine. They’d had red the other night.
“You’re not blowing it,” she said, laughing. “I meant that some people have this opinion that those from the city are snotty or think they are better than others. I’ve never felt that way about myself. Neither does Cat, who lived in New York. Hannah and Jenna have lived here most of their lives.”
“So a nice blend,” he said. “Like you.”
“You could say that. I’m not sure I’ve ever been referred to as a blend before, but I understand what you are saying.”
“You don’t need to explain,” he said. Though he was glad she was. Rob told him that was how you learned about a person, not trying to hack into their life or background. He should listen to his friend more.
“I figure why not? Isn’t that how people find out about each other? I’d rather tell someone than have them assume or make up something.”
He didn’t assume and wouldn’t be the type to make something up, but he was curious. And since his job was classified and not even his family knew the extent of what he did, he could understand her reasoning.
“The smells in here are making me want to grab that tray of food away from the waitress,” he said.
“I felt the same way. I love pub food.”
The waitress brought their drinks and asked if they were ready to order. They’d both been looking at the menu while they chatted. He told her to go first while he picked up his beer and took a sip. Damn, this was good.
When Vivian was done with her order of fish tacos, he said, “This beer is out of this world.”
