Chapter 10 #3
Obviously, he thought we’d still be together. “Yeah?” Warmth bloomed in my chest. He was making a commitment. “What day and time?”
“It’s on a Saturday at nine in the morning.” He pursed his lips. “Maybe you could close the shop for a day or have Dylan handle it?” He bit his lip. “Or maybe you’ll have hired another mechanic by then?”
“Another mechanic?” I scoffed. “I can’t afford to hire another person.” I took a gulp of beer. No, having Dylan on the payroll was enough.
“Wes told me you have enough work for it.” He eyed me. “Dylan’s a great guy and all, but what if you had another certified mechanic you didn’t have to direct?”
I glanced at the creek, thinking about his words. How much business had I lost because of delays getting to a car? As it was, we always had work. “I know, but the cash flow isn’t there yet. It’ll happen.”
“I’m confident it will.” He studied me. “You have to spend money to expand a business and make it grow. Have you considered a small business loan?”
Tapping my index finger on the top of my can, I said, “I don’t like loans. I don’t want any debt. It took time to pay off my schooling.”
“Yeah, okay.” His gaze swung toward the creek. “After the camp in Payson, then the real training starts along with school.” He furrowed his brows. “I’ll be, uh, in classes, studying and training every day. Then, our first game is at the end of August.”
“Every Saturday, you’ll have games until the end of November?” I knew the college football schedule because I’d watched the games on television sometimes. I drank more beer.
“Yep, and then there are the bowl games and after, spring training until the combine.” He shifted toward me. “I’ll be in the draft this year.”
“I assumed as much.” Where was he going with this? We were new, only two weeks into whatever this was. I watched him. But it felt like more. “Do you have an agent?”
“There’s a guy my dad wants me to sign with, but I can’t sign with him until after I play my last college game.” He dipped his gaze and focused on me. “My best buddy, JJ, just got signed to the Cardinals. It would be nice to stay here and play with him again.”
I snapped my brows up. “Stay here? Can you choose who you get to play for?” I thought the teams picked?
Huffing a laugh, he said, “Not really, but you can put feelers out.” He sighed. “There’s a lot of time between now and then.”
He was thinking about our future? Did we have one?
Shit, he’d made one hell of an investment in us with this trip.
I sipped more beer. “There is.” Anything could happen.
But fuck, if he left next summer and Mom was still incarcerated…
Wes would still need me, regardless of the shop.
I had to enjoy my time with Casey and not worry about the future.
With a quick grin, he said, “Let’s order some cocktails.” He flagged a server down.
After lighter conversation on the deck with a few mojitos, I followed Casey to the restaurant, tucked into the bottom of the main lodge with an expanse of patio along the creek.
A chill ran across my skin as the temperature dropped.
It was good he’d gotten a table inside. I wouldn’t want to wear my sweatshirt at this place, and I hadn’t brought a jacket.
Casey chatted with the ma?tre d’, who led us to a four-top table by a window.
All the tables had crisp linen tablecloths and flickering candles centering them, along with napkins fanned over plates.
I took one of the French country-style chairs, grabbed my napkin and set it in my lap. I’d pretend I knew how to behave in a place like this.
Around us, women wore dresses and pearls while men wore button-down shirts, with some in sport jackets.
“Will you be having wine?” The ma?tre d’ asked as he handed menus to us.
Casey eyed me. “Yes.”
“I’ll send our sommelier over,” the ma?tre d’ said. “Enjoy your meal.” He left.
I scanned the menu. Holy shit, this place was expensive. This meal might be more than I’d spend on groceries for the month. “Casey.” I leaned in, holding the menu to my chest. “Maybe we should stick with water.” How expensive was the room we stayed in?
“What?” He dropped his jaw. “Hell no. You need to enjoy this night, remember?” He lifted his chin. “I can afford this, believe me. And I want to give you this special night.”
“But…” Fuck it, I’d agreed to let him treat me. “Okay.” I slumped my shoulders.
“Are you having red meat? If so, I’ll get us some red wine to go with it.” He set his menu on his plate. “There’s a ribeye for two we could share.” He drank some water.
“Uh, sure.” Steak sounded amazing, and when was the last time I’d had a ribeye? Maybe graduation from high school when Mom barbecued steaks for us as a treat. I set my menu down.
“Perfect. Then I’ll order us a bottle of red wine.” He threw me a quick smile. “I told you my parents liked to spend weekends in Sonoma, right?”
“Yes.” Wasn’t it somewhere around Napa? I didn’t know much about California and the wine country. I fingered a fold in the napkin in my lap.
“There are a few wines on this menu my parents used to bring home with them.” He tensed his mouth. “They have a wine cellar in the house.”
Of course they did. Hell, Casey’s life had been so different from mine. I glanced around me. How did I wind up here with him?
“You okay?” He rested his hand on the table. “Ryker, talk to me.”
Peeking at him, I cleared my throat and threaded my fingers in his. “I’m good. Maybe a little overwhelmed, but this is nice.”
“Good.” He squeezed my hand and leaned toward me, his gaze locking on mine. “It’s just you and me, and we’ll have the best steak dinner ever. Don’t worry about anything else.”
I nodded. I had to quit freaking out about everything and go with it. He wanted me here with him.