Chapter 39
PENN
Darcy was probablythe most attractive woman in a bucket hat and bibs, and for that alone, I was overjoyed I hadn’t said no to going fishing. By the time we finished, I didn’t want the day to be over, and it seemed as good a time as any to ask her to dinner.
I had already run out of the outfits I had packed for my short stay in Aveline, and Millie had been gracious enough to let me use the inn’s washer and dryer to clean what I had brought with me. I showered and dressed quickly, ignoring the pit growing in my stomach at the excitement of a dinner date with Darcy. I didn’t need to be feeling anything for her. I needed to shove it all down, but the more time I spent alongside her, the harder it was to deny there was something brewing. There was an undeniable spark whenever she was near me.
Darcy took us to a restaurant called The Steak Spot. It was a nice place with extravagant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The carpet was red checkered, and lining the walls were black and white photographs of random men in suits, women in dresses, and landscapes all in fancy frames. We were seated more quickly than I was used to, coming from the city where you had to wait hours without a reservation, and we ordered a couple of glasses of red wine.
“I guess I should have asked if you liked steak,” Darcy said, looking over the menu. “Well, they do have chicken if you don’t.”
“No, it’s great. I love steak.” I smiled. “And this place smells incredible.”
“Oh my God, it’s the best. They have incredible steaks that just melt in your mouth, and the rolls with cinnamon butter are pure magic. I usually make sure to eat all the rolls in the basket so they bring you more. Then, those you save and take home in a to-go box.”
“Evil genius,” I replied as she ripped a piece of the roll and dipped it into the butter. I couldn’t help wondering if she had picked that tip up on a date here with someone else.
My curiosity was interrupted when the waitress came to our table, and I glanced at her name tag: Sienna.
“Hey, there. I’m Sienna, and I’ll be serving you today. I see they got you started with some wine; would you guys like an appetizer?” She had a small tablet in one hand and a stylus in the other.
Darcy’s eyes narrowed, and I watched her chest rise and fall with a big and exasperated breath. “No, and we need a few minutes. Thank you.” Her tone was harsh and irritated, and I felt my palms grow clammy in anticipation.
Sienna looked taken aback by Darcy’s gruff response, but she smiled. “Okay, absolutely. I’ll come back.”
Sienna left, and Darcy looked at me, grabbing another piece of bread from the basket and tearing it in half before aggressively taking a bite. “Did you see the way she was looking at you? She was totally hitting on you.”
My eyebrows narrowed, and I tilted my head. “I don’t think so. I think she was just doing her job. She is probably just trying for a good tip.”
Darcy chewed slowly. “Oh, and let me guess, you’re just the man for the job. Ugh,” she scoffed. “I saw the way you looked at her chest. Stare much?”
I ran my hand along my chin, trying to understand what was happening and where this was coming from. Darcy took another sip of her wine and stared at me, seemingly waiting for my response.
“I was just reading her name tag,” I replied cautiously.
“Hmm,” she said, “Okay then.”
She took another sip, and I attempted to change the subject, hoping for some way to avoid this version of Darcy and bring back the one I had grown to like.
“So, I was thinking I might stay in Aveline a little longer. What do you think?”
Darcy’s eyes widened. “You what?” she asked, putting another piece in her mouth frantically. “Why would you do that?” she asked with her mouth full.
“I’m just starting to like it there. It really grows on you, ya know?”
Darcy nodded. “It’s just—” She was smiling and chewing the bread, but before she could say anything else, she began coughing and turning an alarming shade of red.