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“So, where are you taking me?”
He takes my hand and practically swallows the whole thing in his. His hands are enormous.
“I thought we could try the place around the corner.”
“Jack Jameson’s?” I say with a giddy smile. “I was hoping you were going to take me there!”
“Then, let’s go.”
We hold hands as we walk and I’m struck at how different my life is now. This town, this man, this job—all completely different from the boring life I was living last week.
I’m still a little in awe of it all as we walk down the cobblestone sidewalk, chatting easily as we stop at the windows of the independent shops and look at the cute displays.
“So, bungee jumping, huh?” I say as we round the corner. “What’s the story with that?”
“Life is always better with some adventure,” he says with a smile. “Don’t you think?”
I do now. Look where embracing adventure has brought me—out here on a perfect night with a perfect man.
“Our town was missing a bungee jump operator, so I opened one with my sister.”
“Ivy, right?”
He nods. “Yeah, you’re going to love her.”
I hope she likes me. She didn’t seem too impressed that I jumped her brother’s bones after my jump.
“Do you own that bridge?”
“No,” he says with a grin. “That would be pretty cool, but we just lease the spot from the town. It’s an old railway bridge, but no one’s used it in over twenty years. I thought, hey, why not put it to use?”
“And jump off it?”
“Exactly.”
The restaurant is already full. The terrace is packed and there are people standing everywhere in front waiting for tables. It must be the hottest place in town.
Julian squeezes my hand and pulls me through the crowd to the hostess stand. All the girls stop what they’re doing to ogle him.
I should be jealous, but I’m not. I’m smiling. They can look all they want, but he’s mine. At least for tonight.
“Reservation for Long,” he says to the girl looking at him with wide eyes.
She grabs two menus and brings us to our table.
I already love this place. It has such a fun atmosphere. The music is upbeat and lively, the people are all dressed up nice and looking happy as they talk and laugh at their tables, and the food… My mouth is already watering as a waiter passes us holding a bunch of plates that are overflowing with delicious-looking meals. I can’t believe this place is within walking distance of my apartment.
As we’re walking through the dining room to the bar, I can’t help but notice all of the large men around. I’m starting to see what Trish was talking about. Why she loves this place. This town is full of tall muscular handsome mountain men. It’s unreal.
The hostess brings us to a booth and Julian lets me sit in the better side—the one that looks out onto the whole restaurant.
“Enjoy your meal,” the hostess says, giving Julian a quick glance before leaving.
He smiles at me as we get comfortable.
There’s a little lamp on the end of the table that’s casting nice warm lighting over us. Julian’s blue eyes are shining as he sneaks a peek at me before opening his menu.
I thought first dates were supposed to be awkward, but there’s none of that. All I feel is a tingling of excitement vibrating through my bones. I don’t know why I feel so optimistic and positive about this guy already. I just have a gut feeling telling me that this is something special.
The waitress comes and we order our food and some fun cocktails.
She turns to me before she leaves. “Hey, didn’t I see you working at the Warm Loaf Bakery?”
“Yeah,” I say as I perk up. I’m already being recognized around town. That’s pretty cool.
“I go there every morning for a coffee and a blueberry Danish,” she says. “Although, this week they didn’t look very good so I got a lemon muffin instead.”
I look at Julian and cringe.
“I thought they were great,” he says. “Best Danish I’ve ever had.”
“I’ll see you around,” the waitress says. “I’m Jenny.”
I smile at her. “Abby.”
Did I just make a new friend? Maybe it’s a little early for that, but she seems really nice.
“Nice save,” I say to Julian after she leaves.
“It’s true,” he says with a grin. “I loved them.”
“Oh really,” I say as I give him a look. “So, how did you lose your tastebuds?”
We both slide our hands across the wooden table until they’re touching. We’re like magnets. It’s like we always have to be touching each other.
“How old are you?” I ask him.
“Twenty-nine. You?”
“Twenty-three,” I say with a wince. “Am I too young for you?”
“You are perfect for me.”
How can I not blush at that?
The waitress returns with our drinks and I get a little shiver of excitement when I see my mango mojito. It’s in a cocktail glass shaped like a whiskey barrel with a wedge of mango and some mint as garnishes. Julian orders a Singapore sling, which I’ve always wanted to try.
