Chapter Ten
“What have you been up to, lady?” Taryn asked Savannah when she came into the break room on Thursday afternoon. “You did this whole lunch service with the biggest smile on your face.”
Savannah looked up, feeling guilty. “Sorry. I …”
Taryn waved a hand at her. “You have nothing to apologize for. In fact, I should be the one saying sorry. I shouldn’t be so damn nosy – but I’m hoping that the dreamy look on your face might mean that things are going well for you and Jake.”
There was no way Savannah could have hidden her smile even if she wanted to – and she didn’t.
Taryn chuckled. “That’s all I need to know. And I’m happy for you, is all I’ll say. What are you doing hanging around here, though – aren’t you done for the day?”
“No, I’m coming back later.”
“I thought I made sure to take you off the schedule Friday and Saturday night – you know, just in case you might have other plans.”
“You did, thanks so much. But Tia was asked out on a date tonight, and since she’s working tomorrow night and can’t go to The Boathouse, I felt bad that she’d have to miss out on both, so …”
Taryn shook her head. “You need to look out for yourself more than you look out for everyone else. Tia’s always switching shifts.”
Savannah shrugged.
“I’m not mad at you – just disappointed. So, are you going to hang out here in between? Ask Julio to make whatever you want to eat if you are.”
“Thanks, but I’m going home for a while. I’m still here because I was about to call Harvey before I leave. We’re trying to figure out when I can go over to have lunch with him. And it won’t be this weekend now.”
Taryn pursed her lips. “I feel bad – I thought I was doing you a favor giving you lunch shifts for the weekend.”
“No, please don’t feel bad. We’ll work something out. It’s just with him working during the week …”
Taryn’s eyes lit up. “And he works with Jake. Why don’t you see if they’ve had lunch already? You can take something for them if they haven’t.”
“Oh, no! Thanks, but …”
“But what? Are you telling me you don’t want to see Jake?”
She shook her head.
“That you’d deprive Harvey of a free lunch?”
She had to laugh. “I wouldn’t do that – he’d never forgive me if I did. Not because it’s free but because he loves the food here so much.”
“Well, then. You’d better call and see what they want to eat.”
Savannah looked down at her phone – she’d already had it in her hand, ready to call before she left.
She’d love to see both of them, and it struck her that she wasn’t even worried that Jake might feel like she was crowding him.
He’d been as sad as she was to say goodbye last night.
She’d only seen him briefly when he dropped her car off this morning, but even though it was early and he had to get to work, he’d lingered longer than he needed to.
Taryn laughed. “The sooner you call, the sooner you’ll get to see him.”
It wasn’t long before Savannah was loading a couple of insulated bags onto the back seat of her little Ford. When she’d spoken to Harvey, Taryn had insisted that she should take lunch and dessert for all three of them.
Apparently, Jake was on his way back from an errand, and Harvey expected that if he wasn’t there before Savannah arrived, he wouldn’t be far behind her.
When she pulled up in front of the garage, she got out and breathed in the familiar air.
This place still smelled the way she remembered it – of pine and lake and engine oil.
She’d read once that smell was the sense that triggered memories, and she knew that was true.
The smell of this place reminded her of the few happy times in her childhood – the days she’d spent here with Art.
She glanced over at the spot where she’d parked that first time she brought Sadie over here – the first time she’d met Jake. He and his Uncle Dom had come out to greet them, and after that she didn’t remember much, apart from feeling so drawn to Jake.
Sure, he was a good-looking guy – gorgeous.
But it wasn’t just his looks that appealed to her.
He had this air about him; he wasn’t one of those flashy, good-looking guys.
He wasn’t exactly a charmer, but he was …
warm. He felt like this steady, reassuring presence.
Maybe that was what she found so attractive about him – he wasn’t like anyone she’d known before in that respect.
She didn’t feel like she had to be on her guard around him – even on that first day.
She turned when she heard a vehicle turn in off the road and gave him a little wave when he spotted her. He stopped his truck in the middle of the yard and jumped out.
“Hey! It’s good to see you.” His smile faded a little. “Is everything all right?” He glanced toward the office. “Is Harvey okay?”
“He is. I spoke to him a little while ago. We’ve been trying to find a time to have lunch together, but between our work schedules, we haven’t managed to fit it in.
When Taryn heard that, she insisted I should bring lunch here.
” She looked down at the bags over her arm.
“For all three of us – if that’s okay with you.
I can just drop them off and leave you to it if you’re too busy. ”
He came to her and took the bags, setting them down on the ground before sliding his arm around her waist and drawing her to him.
“Please stay.” He dropped a kiss on her lips.
“This is the best surprise. I almost stopped at the bakery to pick up some sandwiches on my way back through town, but I wanted to get back.”
“Because you’re busy?”
He gave her a small smile and glanced toward the office again. “No. I don’t like leaving Harvey by himself for too long.”
“Aw. You’re so good to him.”
“Nah. I enjoy his company – and he’s been great with me. You’re the one who’s good to him. You brought him lunch.”
“I can only say the same thing you did. He’s been great to me, and I love hanging out with him. We’d better get in there.”
Her hands came up to his shoulders when he lowered his head and murmured, “I’m glad you came.”
She closed her eyes and kissed him – sweet and brief – hoping that he’d feel in that kiss how glad she was to be here.
~ ~ ~
Jake took his time eating his dessert, savoring every spoonful.
He chased the last bit of sauce with his spoon, unwilling to let the sweetness go.
He and Harvey shared a love of all things toffee flavored.
Jake even shared his precious treacle toffee with the old guy whenever he managed to get his hands on any.
One of his old teammates was with an English girl whose parents sent care packages.
Harvey had told him about the sticky toffee dessert that Taryn sent for him from the restaurant, but this was the first time he’d tried it.
The restaurant at the Lodge wasn’t his kind of place.
Not that he didn’t like it, just that he could buy groceries for a week for the price of dinner there.
But as he ate the dessert, he was starting to think that he’d go without groceries for a couple of days if he got to eat this stuff.
He paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth when he realized Savannah was watching him.
He gave her a rueful smile, and she laughed.
“There’s no need to look so embarrassed. I’m not judging – just happy that you obviously like it so much.” She smiled at Harvey. “I know you love it.”
“I do, and I told you Jakey loves toffee just as much as I do. Thanks again for bringing it over. I was going to say tell Taryn I said thanks, but I feel like I’d better get my old ass over there to see her and say it myself.
She’s been good sending food over for me, but I need to get in there and pay for my dinner like a real customer. ”
“She wouldn’t send it if she didn’t want to,” Savannah assured him.
Jake loved the way Harvey chuckled. “I know that. That’s what I like about her. She speaks her mind, that one, and doesn’t worry whose nose gets put out of joint. She’s the kind I can respect – lives by a philosophy I believe in.”
Jake glanced at Savannah, and they exchanged a smile, knowing what Harvey was about to say.
“Do no harm but take no shit. I reckon the world would be a better place if everyone was taught that in school. It’d solve a lot of what’s wrong in the world.”
“It would,” Savannah agreed.
Watching the thoughtful look on her face, Jake wondered what kind of shit she’d had to take in life.
He’d been intending to ask Harvey what he knew about this Rick Harlow that Savannah had told him about, but he hadn’t done it yet – it felt a bit like going behind her back, and that was the last thing he’d want to do.
Harvey set his spoon down. “Thanks for that, Savvie. I’m glad you came.”
She laughed. “You’re just glad the sticky toffee dessert came.”
“You know better than that.” He pushed up from his chair. “And I know better than to hog the little bit of time you two have.” He turned to Jake. “We good for the day?”
“Yeah, but you don’t have to …” Jake began.
“Don’t go because of me, Harvey. I have to leave soon anyway,” said Savannah. “I have to go home and then turn around and come back for my shift tonight.”
Harvey grinned at them as he headed for the door. “After that lunch, I need a nap. Either of you have any complaints about that?”
They shook their heads, and he chuckled. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Jakey. And don’t be a stranger, Savvie.”
Jake’s breath caught in his chest when he added, “You should probably talk about next week – you’re not going to be able to do it all by yourself, Jakey.” With that, he turned and ambled out to his car.
They sat in silence until he pulled up next to the window and waved before pulling away.
Savannah let out a short laugh. “Isn’t he awesome?”
“He’s the best. And don’t feel like he was trying to rope you into helping me if you don’t want …”
He knew he’d said the wrong thing when her smile vanished.