Chapter 18
Luke
Luke’s smile never left his face as he listened to Carmen and Emma chat at their table. Carmen’s humor was contagious, and the sound of Emma’s laughter was music to his ears. Earlier he had hesitated before taking Emma’s hand as they walked through the restaurant, feeling a twinge of nervousness about how she might react if it was too bold of a move. But he was relieved seeing the boost of confidence it had given Emma and was glad he had taken the chance.
“Does your nephew still perform here?”
Emma asked Carmen, taking a sip of her water.
“Oh, yes! Antonio is here tonight. Didn’t you see him? Well, I guess they aren’t playing live yet. This is a record we have playing over the speakers right now. But they’ll be starting soon, so if you have any requests, better get them in now!”
Emma chuckled. “I’m sure he’ll play all of my old favorites.”
“If I tell him you’re here, he certainly will. I’ll bring you two some drinks on the house while you peruse the menu.”
“Thanks, Carmen! Must be our lucky day.”
A smile lingered on Emma’s face as she picked up the menu and began scanning the options.
“It’s always good to see an old friend.”
Carmen flashed a grin before making her way to the kitchen.
“So, what do you recommend?”
Luke asked, looking over Emma.
“Everything. Well, at least the vegan dishes.”
“What are they? Can you show me?”
Emma put down her menu and leaned across the table. “Well, there’s spaghetti marinara, butternut squash ravioli, and sweet potato gnocchi...that one’s my favorite. All the pasta here is made without egg, so it’s all vegan. They even have vegan meatballs if you’re feeling brave.”
“It all sounds delicious. I guess I’ll try the gnocchi unless you’re getting that.”
“You can have some of mine if you want to try something else,”
Emma offered. “We can share.”
“Then vegan meatballs it is!”
Luke closed his menu and took a gulp of his water.
“Even I’ve never tried those,”
Emma giggled. “But I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
Carmen returned to their table with two margaritas and took their orders. Luke checked his watch to make sure he wasn’t running late for Jeremiah. He had promised to pick him up from the animal rescue and order some pizza for dinner. Luckily, he still had two hours to spare.
As they savored their delicious meal and shared stories, Luke found himself falling for Emma more deeply with each passing moment. Everything about her was captivating, from her infectious laughter to the way she crinkled her nose when discussing things she disliked. It was more than a feeling, he realized. Emma was truly special.
Luke was stuffed after his second glass of wine and half a plate of sweet potato gnocchi and vegan meatballs.
“Those meatballs might even be better than the real thing,”
he remarked, wiping his face.
Emma chuckled, spearing one off his plate. “It’s a bit odd to call them ‘meatballs,’ don’t you think?”
Luke watched as she cut them in half with her fork and knife. “What about...neatballs?”
Emma howled with laughter. “You know what...that’s pretty dumb, but I like it!”
Luke took a long drink of water. “I think I need to cut myself off from the tequila after a comment like that.”
Emma’s cheeks were rosy from laughing so much. “Me too.”
“Actually, I’m gonna use the restroom, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Well, I’ll be here, picking food off of your plate,”
Emma teased.
The men’s restroom was empty as he walked inside. After he finished, he headed over to the sink to wash his hands. That’s when he bumped into Chad. Luke knew it had to be him because it was the man Emma had seen before they walked into the bistro earlier.
And it looked like Chad recognized him too. A large, smug smile spread across his face as he looked directly into Luke’s eyes.
“Pardon me,”
Luke said, turning on the water. “Didn’t see you there.”
“Well, I did see you,”
Chad told him. “Listen, buddy, can I give you a word of advice?”
Luke glanced up at him in the mirror. “What might that be?”
“If I were you, I’d consider ending things with her sooner rather than later. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. You’ll get tired of her soon enough, and it’ll only get more complicated the longer you stay. Take it from me,”
Chad drawled, tossing his hair back in the mirror.
Chad didn’t wait for Luke to reply before he left the restroom. Luke let his words hang in the air as he dried his hands with a paper towel, his heart heavy with the realization of the type of man Emma had once been married to. The thought only strengthened his resolve to show her the love and respect she had always deserved.
The band started to play as he came back out and made his way to their table. He sat down and looked over at Emma. She was even more charming than she had been a few minutes ago. A smile grew on her face as he continued to stare at her.
“What is it?”
she asked. “Do I have something in my teeth?”
Luke shook his head. “No, just looking at you.”
Emma’s cheeks deepened to a dark shade of scarlet. She took a sip of her water and fanned herself with a napkin. “Does it feel hot in here? Or out here, rather?”
she asked, gesturing to the terrace.
“It’s a little warm,”
Luke said, nodding toward the beach. “We could go for a swim.”
Emma laughed, shaking her head. “It’s not that hot.”
After Luke settled the bill and the plates were cleared, they lingered at the table, soaking in the ambiance. The band had finished playing an upbeat Italian tune and had now transitioned to a slower, sweeter song.
Emma gasped in excitement. “This is my favorite! I love this song...it’s so beautiful when Antonio sings it.”
She closed her eyes and swayed to the music for a few moments, lost in the melody.
Emboldened by the moment, Luke stood up and walked over to her. Emma opened her eyes and gazed up at him with surprise.
“What are you doing?”
she asked.
He smiled down at her and offered his hand. “There’s a first time for everything, right? How about a dance?”
“Oh, Luke. I don’t know. I’m not really a good dancer. There are all these people here—”
“Well, we don’t have to. I’m just glad to be here with you.”
His voice was gentle and understanding. “But it’d be a lot of fun though,” Luke added with a mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling with excitement.
Emma chuckled and despite her initial hesitation, she put her hand in his, as if his touch would melt away her worries. She allowed him to lead her to the center of the terrace. The song was the perfect backdrop for a dance, with the ocean waves creating a serene ambiance.
As Luke wrapped his arm around her waist, Emma’s nerves dissipated, and she began to relax into the moment. “I haven’t danced like this since my wedding,”
she admitted.
“Well, you should dance more often,”
Luke said, smiling at her.
As they swayed to the music, Luke’s gaze locked onto Emma’s warm, velvety brown eyes, and his heart began to race. The sounds around them faded into the background, and he felt himself being drawn closer and closer to her. He could almost taste the sweetness of her lips, which were only inches away from his. All he had to do was lean forward...
Luke pulled back, clearing his throat. The song had ended, and a crowd from inside was clapping.
“That was... um... thank you for the dance,”
Emma said breathlessly.
He smiled back at her, the heat rising in his face, still contemplating what it would be like to kiss her lips. “Anytime.”
Emma sat back down in her chair, finishing the rest of her water. “It’s definitely warm out here tonight.”
Luke sat back down and took a deep breath, trying to pump some much-needed oxygen into his brain. The tension between them made him want to throw himself across the table and kiss her senselessly.
The fabric of their relationship had been subtly, yet irrevocably, altered. A quiet revelation had stirred within Luke, unearthing the depth of his emotions for Emma that he could no longer deny. There was an allure that extended beyond her physical beauty, a pull that hinted at friendship blossoming into something more profound. Luke wondered if Emma too had felt the same magic in that moment.
Suddenly, his phone beeped loudly. Pulling it out of his pocket, he realized it was the reminder telling him it was time to pick up Jeremiah.