Chapter 6
6
ROWE
I was apparently a glutton for punishment. As dinnertime approached Thursday night, I grabbed my keys and headed to the fanciest restaurant in town to pick up a to-go order. But this was dinner for two.
“I called in an order,” I told Robyn, the wife of the guy who owned the Rosewood Ridge Steakhouse.
Robyn’s smile was bigger than usual. When I called up Zack and told him my plans, he confirmed Montana was staying at the Rosewood Ridge Inn. That was where I’d deliver a steak dinner, complete with a bottle of wine and their signature chocolate cake.
“Follow me,” Robyn said.
She turned and left me standing at the hostess stand, wondering what was actually happening. To-go orders were picked up right here. I’d done it hundreds of times.
I had to follow. It was the only way to figure out what was going on.
The steakhouse was busy for a Thursday night. I saw a few familiar faces and returned their waves, but I was in a rush to keep up with Robyn, so I didn’t stop to talk.
Rosewood Ridge’s residents had historically steered clear of guys like me. But I’d become known as a local contractor. In time, I was hoping everyone would learn that the dudes who lived up in the mountains were giant teddy bears, not scary grizzlies.
Just as I caught up to Robyn, I figured out where she’d been leading me. Seated at a booth in the back corner, lit by the glow of candlelight, was Montana.
Robyn flashed me a smile as she breezed past me. “Enjoy.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked Montana.
Did that sound weird? Like I was unhappy about it? Disappointed? The exact opposite, actually.
“We had a dinner date,” she said. “Did you forget?”
Since we never mentioned a time or place, I doubted that was the reason we were here at the same time. So, I went to the most logical explanation.
“Zack told you I planned to surprise you,” I said.
I moved closer to her. This may have been a mostly deserted section of the restaurant, but this conversation shouldn’t happen from across the room.
“I’m an idiot,” Montana said. “Have a seat.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I slid into the booth across from her. “Why do you think you’re an idiot?”
“I was afraid to assume last night was a big deal.” She held a straw wrapper between her thumb and forefinger and fidgeted with it while she talked. “It was my first time, but that didn’t mean it meant something to you.”
My relief was replaced by confusion. “You said you couldn’t move here.”
“That was what I told myself.” She sighed. “Reminding myself that it could never work was a way to stay safe. From, you know, you dumping me.”
I was totally lost. “I had no intention of dumping you. I’d ask you to marry me this very second if I thought you wouldn’t run screaming from the restaurant.”
Oh, crap. I’d just said those words out loud. She might run from the restaurant anyway.
“Ashlynn helped me figure out what was going on up here.” She pointed to her head. “I grew up in this place, and I didn’t want to raise my own kids in a small town. I always pictured myself living in the suburbs. But now that I’ve spent some time here, I can’t imagine a better place to raise kids than Rosewood Ridge.”
She looked up at me then, her eyes wide. I knew that look. She was filled with the same fears I had. Whatever was happening was bigger than us.
“I agree,” I said. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else, but if it was important to you, I’d relocate.”
Shaking her head, she reached across the table, settling her hand on top of mine. “I can fight it all I want, but I belong here. With you. And now that I know you feel the same, there’s nowhere else I want to be.”
Those words were music to my ears. I flipped my hand around and clasped hers.
“I called in a to-go order for both of us,” I said. “Did they put that order under a heat lamp or something?”
Montana shook her head. “Zack had them hold the order until we were both here. That guy has your back.”
I smiled. “Yes, he does.”
That was how it worked in Rosewood Ridge. I knew that and so did Montana. And now that it was clear she was thinking long-term too, this would be more of a home than ever.