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We followed her through the restaurant to a corner table right next to the huge picture windows. We would definitely have a great view of the sunset from this spot.
“Is this okay?” the hostess asked.
Morgan gave her a warm smile. “It’s perfect, thank you.”
Pulling out Morgan’s chair for her, I nodded and thanked the hostess as she put our menus on the table.
I pulled out my chair and slid into it. “Looks like we’ve got the best seats in the house.”
Morgan nodded as she looked out the window and then exhaled. “I love watching the sun setting over the mountains. It’s one of my favorite things. I missed the mountains when I went to visit Georgiana last December in England.”
Placing my napkin over my leg, I asked, “You didn’t like England?”
She quickly swiveled her head from the sunset to me. “I loved it. It was beautiful in its own way, but it wasn’t home. Montana has this special place in my heart. It always will.”
The waiter approached and nodded at me—then did a double take when he saw Morgan. “Hello, how are you both this evening?” he asked, pouring Morgan a glass of water, then one for me.
“We’re doing well,” Morgan replied as she opened her menu.
The server gave me a brief look, then focused back on Morgan. “May I get you a drink from the bar?”
“Not for me; I’ll stick with water,” Morgan said. “Ryan?”
“Not tonight. I’ll have a Coke.”
The waiter nodded. “Appetizer?”
Morgan scanned the menu before glancing up at me. “Do you want anything?”
“Not unless you do.”
Facing the waiter, she said, “I think we’ll pass.”
“Good enough. I’ll be back with your drink and a larger water for you, miss.”
We both thanked him and focused back on the menu.
“What are you thinking about ordering?” Morgan asked.
I couldn’t help but smile. It drove Blayze crazy that Morgan had to know what everyone else was getting before she made up her mind about what she wanted.
“I’m thinking the salmon with veggies.”
“Ohh, that sounds good.”
I lifted my menu a bit higher to cover my grin. “You?” I managed to get out without laughing before I closed my menu and watched her peruse her own.
“The salmon does sound really good, but I’m in the mood for pork chops. They have the best ones here, and the garlic mashed potatoes are to die for.”
“I’ll let you have some of mine if you let me have some of yours.”
She lowered her menu and looked at me. “You want to share?”
I shrugged. “Why not?”
“I love that idea.”
The waiter came back and took our orders. When he left, Morgan and I fell into an easy conversation about how it felt for her to finally be out of school. Then the conversation moved onto High Meadows Stables, and finally, she asked about the brewery I’d always wanted to open.
“So…the brewery. Are you finally going for it?”
“I’m thinking about it,” I hedged. “I love working on the ranch with my father, and horses will always be a big part of my life. But I also love brewing beer. I met a guy about a year ago—his name is Bradford. He’s a fan of home brews, and he also has a culinary degree. We’ve been discussing the idea of opening a brewery and restaurant together.”
“Ryan, that’s amazing! You should do it.”
Laughing, I narrowed my eyes at her. “I believe last fall you said you didn’t care for my beer.”
“No, I said I’ve had better.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
Her cheeks turned pink. “I might have been lying. It was actually really good.”
I gave her a questioning look. “Why would you lie about that?”
Morgan started to chew on her lower lip, and I couldn’t help the way my eyes drifted down to where she was abusing it. I wanted to reach across and make her stop.
“I was mad at you.”
Leaning back in my chair, I nodded. “You seem to have been mad at me for the last couple of years…”
She exhaled. “Well, let’s just say I grew up and realized I was acting like a child.”
“Want to tell me why you were mad?”
Morgan reached for her water, smiled, then took a sip before she set it back down. “No.”
I grinned. “But you’re not mad at me now?”
Her eyes searched my face intently, and I noticed how she lingered on my mouth before her gaze met mine again. “No, I’m not mad. I want to be friends, like we were before.”
That felt like a gut punch. “Friends?”
She nodded. “I’m guessing since you helped me last night and you’re here with me now, you’re down for being friends as well.”
Reaching across the table, I placed my hand over hers. “I’ve always been your friend and always will be.”
Morgan looked down at our hands, then met my gaze. A slow, sexier-than-hell smile spread across her face. “What types of benefits come with your friendship?”
