Chapter Twenty-One
Tonight I’m going out on a date with my girlfriend.
“I like how that sounds,” I say to my reflection in the mirror above the dresser as I adjust my purple tie.
I’m not wearing a suit, as that’s a little too dressy for where we’re going. But I have opted for a nice pair of black dress pants, shiny shoes, and a crisp white button-down shirt. Oh, and the tie, of course.
I can’t wait to see what Willa is wearing.
We wanted this to be like a real date, so, since we live together, the best we could think of is to get ready separately, and then I’ll “pick her up” at her bedroom door.
It’s almost seven, so it’s about time to go get her.
After I grab the car key fob from the dresser, I head down the hall to Willa’s bedroom.
Her door is closed, so I knock lightly.
She swings it open, and wow!
My girlfriend is stunning. Her strawberry blonde hair is tumbling over her bare shoulders in soft curls, and her minimal makeup is on point. She’s wearing a shimmery lavender sleeveless dress, and it’s clear she doesn’t have on a bra. She’s also in strappy heels that match my tie perfectly.
Hell, we didn’t even plan this.
“You look beyond perfect,” I tell her in a reverent voice.
“Well…” She reaches out and touches my shoulder. “You look pretty damn fine yourself.”
“Are you ready to go?” I ask, holding up the key fob. “Your chariot awaits.”
That makes her smile, which is what I was going for.
I love to make her happy.
“I am,” she replies.
I hold out my arm and she takes it, and we make our way out to the Jeep, where, of course, I open the door for her.
“Thank you,” she says.
The drive into town is brief, and soon we’re parking in a side lot to the restaurant. The building itself is a one-story wooden structure with a fuchsia front and a bright blue door.
Once we’re inside, even though it’s not fancy, there’s a romantic charm about the place. There are lit candles on all of the wooden tables and lots of island plants, providing some privacy for the patrons. Speaking of which, there are only a few couples eating, so it’s not very busy.
I like that.
The hostess leads us to a table in the back, where there’s a large window and a superb view of the ocean.
“The sun will be setting soon,” she informs us as she hands us our menus. “This is our best table for viewing when it goes down.”
I thank her for seating us in such a great spot, and she smiles and nods.
A few seconds later, our waiter comes over and fills the glasses on the table with water.
He tells us, “The special of the day is the lobster tail with drawn butter. They were freshly caught this morning.”
“Oh, wow,” Willa says, lowering her menu. “I think I’ll have that.”
“It comes with plantains and rice,” the waiter adds. “Is that okay?”
“Absolutely,” Willa replies. “That sounds delicious.”
I like the island vibe of the meal, so I tell the waiter, “I’ll have the same thing.”
As he jots down our orders on a small paper pad, he nods and murmurs, “Very good choice, very good choice.”
For our drink orders, we both just opt for iced teas.
When he walks away, I reach over and cover Willa’s hand with mine. “Are you having a nice date so far?” I ask.
“I am, Shane. I love that we’re doing this.”
“I do, too, sweetheart.”
Our iced teas arrive, and then our dinners.
As we begin to eat, the sky becomes streaked with shades of purple and orange as the sun starts to set.
“Oooh, Shane,” Willa says, pointing her fork to the window. “Look how beautiful.”
“It’s gorgeous,” I agree. “This really is the best table in the whole place.”
She nods. “For sure.”
As the sun sizzles into the ocean and our candle flickers, Willa and I talk about how the food is impeccable. The lobster is indeed fresh and sweet, and the plantains and rice are delicious.
“We definitely have to come here again,” she says as she pops the last bit of lobster meat into her mouth.
“I agree.”
After dinner, our waiter asks if we’d like dessert, but we just opt for coffee.
I’ve been trying not to stare too much at Willa. I mean, she truly looks so hot and sexy tonight. I can’t wait to get her home and peel that shimmery dress off her.
Blowing out a breath, she asks, “What are you thinking about?”
“Well, I was just going over my plans for you when we get home.”
“Oh yeah?” She raises a brow. “Just what does that entail?”
Chuckling, I share, “Let’s just say you’re going to need that caffeine boost from the coffee. We have a looong night ahead of us, babe.”
The coffee arrives, and sweet Willa is blushing.
Man, I love this girl.
Too bad I can’t tell her that.
But I sure can show her tonight.