Chapter 2 #4
“The portions are certainly generous,” he said and then looked over at her plate. The meatloaf looked good and juicy, and she also had mashed potatoes. Instead of corn she had a serving of seasoned green beans.
She smiled at him, that wide beautiful smile that always fired more than a little bit of heat inside the pit of his stomach. “The portions are generous, and the prices are fairly low. That’s what makes this place so popular with everyone in town.”
“Speaking of popularity, I don’t think I won any points with your friends,” he said as he picked up his fork.
She laughed. “Please don’t worry about it. Since Davy’s death, several of the male teachers at school have become a bit overly protective of me.”
They began to eat, and as always, their conversation flowed easily. She talked about some of her friends at school, and he told her how he had made a couple of new friends.
“I was in the feed store yesterday and met Lucas Maddox. Do you know him?” he asked.
“Not personally, but I’ve met his wife, Mary, and his cute little daughter, Annabelle. Lucas’s cornfield was the location where the first human scarecrow was found.” Her eyes appeared to darken. “That was the very beginning of the Scarecrow Killer’s reign of terror.”
“And the police still have no clue who the killer is?” he asked.
“From what I’ve heard they have no clues at all. It’s just hard to believe that the killer is somebody who lives here, somebody people know and might like.”
“Well, Lucas didn’t mention any of that to me,” he said, hoping to change the subject. “He did tell me about his wife and daughter. We wound up talking for about a half an hour and made plans to have drinks together at the Farmer’s Club one night next week.”
“That’s nice,” she replied. “It’s always nice to have friends, and from what I’ve heard, Lucas is one of the good guys.”
“I imagine you know a lot about a lot of people in town,” he observed.
She laughed. “I do, but that’s the way it is when you grow up in a small town. Everybody knows everybody else’s business, and this café is a great place for information, disinformation and rumors to be spread.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he replied.
An attractive, dark-haired woman with a little girl in tow stopped at the side of their booth. “Hello, Mrs. Michaels. It’s nice to see you outside of the classroom.”
“Ms. Dayton, it’s nice to see you, too,” Suzanna said with a smile. “Hello, Holly.”
“Hi, Mrs. Michaels,” the little girl replied and leaned against her mother’s side.
Suzanna introduced Seth, and after a few more pleasantries, the two left their booth to sit on the other side of the café at a table for two.
As they ate, several others stopped by their booth to greet Suzanna. “Do you ever get to have a meal uninterrupted here?” Seth asked.
“Not often,” she replied with one of her charming grins. “It’s one of the hazards of teaching in a small town.”
They continued eating and talking about anything and everything that came to mind. The food was delicious, and Seth was thoroughly enjoying this time with her.
“So, what’s your favorite thing to cook?” she asked.
He frowned thoughtfully. “I don’t know. I’m still learning different things to cook.
However, the one thing I don’t do is grill.
Even though logically I know it’s ridiculous, the whole thing with open flames and fire brings back too many memories for me.
I use my fireplace only because Sammy likes a fire on cold nights, but if it wasn’t for him, I’d never use it.
” He felt a touch of embarrassment. “Sorry, that was way more information than you needed to hear. So, what is your favorite thing to cook?”
“I enjoy cooking a pot roast. I let it simmer for a long time, and the house fills up with the delicious smell. About an hour before it’s going to be served, I add in potatoes and carrots. Sometimes if I have fresh green beans, I’ll throw them into the pot as well.”
“That sounds absolutely delicious,” he replied.
“Maybe one Saturday or Sunday, I’ll cook it for you and Sammy.”
“Just tell me when, and we’ll be there,” he replied, ridiculously pleased that she was planning to spend more time together.
All too soon they were finished with the meal. She refused his offer for dessert, claiming she couldn’t eat another bite, and so Seth paid the tab and they walked out and headed back to his car.
He was sorry for the night to come to an end. He enjoyed her company so much, and there was just something about her that drew him in. He wanted to know everything about her, from the time she was a young girl until now. He couldn’t ever remember having that kind of curiosity about anybody before.
“I am so full,” she said once they were on their way back to her house. “I can’t believe I ate everything on my plate.”
He laughed. “Yeah, me, too,” he agreed. He flashed her a quick glance. In the illumination from the dashboard, she looked so lovely. Her black, furry coat only added to her attractiveness. It was a perfect foil to her blond hair and bright blue eyes.
An unexpected desire surged through his veins, and he quickly snapped his gaze back to the road. However, that didn’t stop the desire from warming him through and through.
Why wouldn’t he feel some sort of physical pull toward her? It had been over two years since he’d been with a woman, and she was a vibrant, beautiful woman and he was a healthy, virile man.
“Even though it’s cold out, it’s a beautiful night,” she said, breaking through his thoughts.
“It is that,” he agreed. The moonlight and starshine cascaded down with no clouds to hinder them. They painted the landscape all around with a beautiful silvery illumination.
It wasn’t long before he pulled up in front of her house. He got out of the car and then hurried around to the passenger door to usher her out.
As he walked with her to her front door, he could once again smell her scent. The evocative fragrance of wildflowers and vanilla only increased the near-overwhelming desire he had for her.
They stopped at her front door, which she unlocked and pushed partially open. She then turned back to smile up at him. “Thank you, Seth, for the meal and the good conversation. I’ve really enjoyed the evening.”
“I have, too. But then I always enjoy spending time with you.” He took a step toward her, suddenly struck with a desire he couldn’t keep to himself. “Uh… Suzanna, I’d really like to kiss you right now.”
Her eyes widened. “Seth, I… I’d really like for you to kiss me right now,” she replied half breathlessly.
He took another step toward her and then wrapped her in his arms. He pulled her close against him and then took her mouth with his. Her soft, pillowy lips tasted both hot and sweet.
Her arms encircled his neck, and he drew her even closer against him. At the same time, she opened her mouth to him, and he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. Their tongues swirled together in a heated dance that only increased his desire for her.
The kiss continued for several long, dizzying moments, and then she stopped it and took a step back from him. She released a small, slightly shaky laugh. “Good night, Seth,” she said, and then she quickly disappeared into her house.
He headed back to his truck, flames of heat still coursing through his veins. Kissing Suzanna was probably a bad idea, but if he had his way, it would be just the first of many.