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“No, not at all. I just realized I shouldn’t have brought youhere. I wasn’t thinking. This is, like,thedate spot for Logan Creek, so I just assumed this is where we’d go. But you even told me you like low key, and here I am, bringing you to Logan Creek’s version of fancy.”
“This restaurant is fine, Mitch. I like Italian.”
“Yes, but our first date shouldn’t befine.” He glanced out the windshield one more time before returning his gaze to me. “Do you trust me?”
I search his eyes, finding only honesty in them.
Do I trust him? I don’t really know him. But he’s also the man that insisted on driving me home when my van didn’t start. The one that arranged for it to be taken care of before I had even woken up. The one that has been nothing but incredibly kind and thoughtful to me.
“Yes,” I whisper. “I trust you.”
The smile that crosses his face makes my heart melt. He puts the truck in park and takes out his phone, tapping the screen furiously.
“What are you doing?”
“You’ll see,” he says, giving me a wink before going back to his phone.
He must be satisfied with whatever answer he got, because he suddenly shoves his phone back in his jeans pocket and puts the truck in reverse.
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going where I should have taken you in the first place.”
I stare at him for another moment, wondering what is happening. But then I realize something. He’s doing what none of my previous boyfriends have ever done. He’s listening to me. He’s catering the date for me. The book. The change in the restaurant is because he heard what I told him when I said I like low-key dates. He listened when I said I like to read. He may have gotten more than he bargained for when he heard my audiobook, but he still listened.
“Is there something wrong? I mean, I’m sorry I made you think…well, whatever it was I made you think back there,” he says, pulling back onto Main Street. “I want to spend tonight with you, Rachel. I’m sorry if I made you feel otherwise.”
I nod, unable to say anything else.
“I mean it, Rachel. I’ll make this up to you, I promise.”
The sincerity in his voice nearly breaks me. He sounds like it pained him when he clued in that I had misunderstood him.
I don’t know what he has planned, but for the first time tonight, I’m more excited than nervous. I can’t wait to see what he has in store.
11
MITCH
I’m such an idiot.
I can’t believe I thought taking her to Angelo’s was a good idea. It might not be a swanky place in the city, but it’s fancy by Logan Creek standards.
She told me she doesn’t like fancy.
Thank God Zach had his phone on him and wasn’t busy when I messaged him. He said he’s able to put in the order for our food and have it ready when I get there.
I also wasn’t thinking when I told her the night was wrong. The crestfallen look on her face made me want to punch any asshole that didn’t let her know just how beautiful and deserving she is. As soon as my dumbass brain kicked in, she thought I was talking about us, not the location. I vowed I would do everything I could to make her feel cherished. Desired. Loved.
Loved?Fuck me. That’s a word I’ve never even thought of using regarding a woman.
A good hockey game? Yes. Perfecting a new batch of beer? Most definitely. How I wanted to make a woman feel? Never.
Pulling into the Brewery parking lot, I throw the truck in park and turn to her, seeing the questioning look on her face. “I’m just going to run in.”
She looks between me and the brewery doors. “Okay,” she says, drawing the word out in that soft drawl of hers.
I can’t stand the distance between us. I won’t kiss her now. Our first kiss won’t be in the truck in front of my bar, but it’ll happen tonight. Instead, I lean over the console, cupping her cheeks in my hands, and placing a kiss on her forehead. The soft sigh she lets out makes me smile.
