Page 19 of Living with Fire
“I figured I’d check those things out when the weather wasn’t so great, but does that actually happen here? I don’t think I’ve seen a day that isn’t nice.”
“It’ll start getting chillier,” he promises, eyes darting in my direction. “You can already tell in the evenings that it’s getting cooler. With any luck, we’ll get a ton of rain in the next few months.”
“And that’s when I’ll start exploring things that aren’t the beach,” I tell him, and I’m rewarded with laughter that has me staring at him from across the truck. It’s hearty and happy, and I like the way it makes his face light up, making him even more handsome.
Before the light turns green he holds my eyes and grins. “Your exploration starts now.”
CHAPTER 8
SAVANNA
When Nate pulls into a parking lot, I lean forward to look out the windshield. The building in front of us has a main level where I’m guessing the diner is. There’s another part of the building that rises above it with a few windows placed here and there throughout. But what really captures my attention is the windmill sticking out of the roof on the higher part of the structure. It’s white, just like the rest of the building, but given that it’s so close to the roof, which is black, it stands out very distinctly.
I’m immediately charmed by this place. With trees, shrubs, and a multitude of different flowers surrounding the building, it feels like it’s being hidden, adding to the magic.
“This is adorable,” I tell him as we both open our doors and get out.
“Wait until you see the inside. It’s even better,” he says as I meet him around the front of the truck before he leads me to the door.
He wasn’t kidding. The inside is just as cute and quaint as the outside. The walls are painted bright, cheerful oranges and yellows, fun knick-knacks and pictures cover every available space, and fairy lights decorate the windows and the ceiling. There are tables and chairs spread around the space, and double French doors lead to a patio that features more tables and umbrellas.
My favorite part may be the counter at the front filled with all kinds of delicious looking treats. Muffins, cakes, cookies, pies… my mouth waters at all the things I see in front of me, and I’m licking my lips, grateful that Nate brought me here and won’t let me just watch him eat.
“Nathan!” A cheery voice to my right says, and I turn to find a woman, who must be in her fifties, with an apron around her waist lighting up at the sight of Nate beside me. She has blonde, shaggy hair that stops at her chin, and warm, affectionate blue eyes that are bouncing between Nate and me.
“Hi, mom,” Nate greets her, arms spread wide for her to step into. Once they part, Nate turns to me and introduces us. “Savanna, this is Elizabeth. Mom, this is Savanna, a friend of mine.”
“A friend, huh?” she asks with a wink at Nate before turning to me, hand extended. “Lovely to meet you.”
I’m a tad surprised that Nate took me somewhere his mom works, but then I remind myself this isn’t a date.
Shaking Elizabeth’s hand, I smile. “Likewise, but don’t let him fool you. I’m just some girl he picked up on the side of the road.”
Nate snorts because he knows it’s true, but Elizabeth laughs with delight. “Well, that would be like Nathan. This boy would help everyone in need if he could.”
I glance at Nate, wondering if he’s ever done this before, but before I can ask, or allude to such a thing, he’s holding his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. No need to divulge all my secrets.”
“It’s not a secret,” Elizabeth interrupts, and I can’t help but giggle at Nate’s expense.
He ignores her. “Do you happen to have a table, or should I take Savanna elsewhere?”
“You wouldn’t dare,” she chides, grabbing two menus before leading us to a table outside.
I have a sneaking suspicion that Nate enjoys sitting out here because she didn’t bother asking if we wanted to sit inside or out, and I’m okay with that. I’d much rather sit outside and enjoy the heat of the late morning sun, even if I don’t have sunglasses to shield my eyes.
“You want your usual, honey?”
“You know it,” Nate says to her, then looks to me. “A chocolate milkshake is my usual. You haven’t had a milkshake until you’ve had a milkshake made by my mom. Best milkshake I’ve ever had in my life.”
“That sounds hard to resist. I love all things ice cream,” I tell them. “I’ll have a vanilla milkshake.”
“I’ll be right back with those,” she tells us, and then she’s gone with a twinkle in her eye.
“Can I ask you a question?” Nate asks, and I look up from the menu, catching him as he runs his fingers through his hair. His menu is still to the side, making me guess he doesn’t need to look in order to know what he wants. When I nod, he leans forward, and with quiet intensity says, “The other day you seemed to have a considerable dislike towards men, and someone must have made you feel that way. Today no one showed up at the hospital. Did you call the disgusting, filthy pig to pick you up?”
I bark out a surprised laugh and slap a hand to my mouth. That’s the second time he’s brought that up, and I have a feeling it’s not the last time I’ll hear about it.
“No,” I tell him, shaking my head as my smile dies away. I breathe out a sigh and look down at my menu again, not wanting to look at him as I confess. “I didn’t actually call anyone. I don’t really know anyone in Santa Rosé.”