Chapter 24
Afew nights later, Fiona paced anxiously around her apartment, waiting for the knock at the door. It came just a few minutes late, but Fiona was relieved to see her friends.
“Thank goodness,” she said, pulling them inside. “I’m freaking out.”
“No need,” Stella said, already setting up her makeup. “This is what we do, remember?”
Fiona sank into her couch and massaged her temples.
“I’m sorry I sprang this on you guys, especially so late.”
“It’s just more practice,” Cassie said, arranging three outfits on the coffee table. She was already ready for bed in a pair of pink cow print pajamas.
Stella tapped an eyeliner on her chin, looking carefully at Fiona.
“You’re going to need a proper ‘fraternizing with the enemy’ look for this date,” she said.
Fiona rolled her eyes. “He’s not exactly ‘the enemy,’ Stella.”
“But it’s so much hotter if he is,” she said, adding a wiggle for emphasis.
“Where are you going again?” Cassie asked.
“Rooftop cocktails on River Street.”
“Ooh, sexy,” Stella said.
“His idea?” Cassie asked.
“Yes,” Fiona said. “But it’s just a drink, nothing crazy.”
“Not to worry, I brought you two black dresses for the evening, and a black top,” Cassie told her, holding up each option. “I thought you should wear your signature color tonight.”
Stella gasped, inspired. “Blue eyeliner! Trust me, it’ll be subtle but still mesmerizing.”
Cassie held up two dresses, before seemingly settling on one.
“How okay are you with him losing the power of speech?”
“Uh…” Fiona said, trying to make out what Cassie had draped over her shoulder.
“If that’s your goal, go with the black faux leather midi. It’s sexy, classy and totally you. You just might not be able to eat in it.”
Fiona blew out a breath. “Alright, let’s do that one.”
Cassie smiled, pleased with herself, and handed over the dress.
Fiona had to admit, this was a pretty perfect night. Her friends were fussing over her, she was going to look absolutely amazing, and she was about to have some late night drinks with Porter. Their first official date. He didn’t have many nights off, so it had to happen after he left the restaurant for the night. Though he did come up with some sort of excuse to get out a bit early.
After her friends were satisfied with their work, they snuck out just before Porter arrived to pick Fiona up.
Fiona spent those few minutes anxiously pacing her apartment, the sound of her heels echoing off the walls. Cassie was right; the dress was stunning, and it fit like a glove. She was a little worried she’d be too overdressed for the night, but once Porter arrived, all of her concerns were assuaged.
Not only did he arrive with a smile that could have melted the dress right off of her, but he also looked and smelled incredible, and handed her a bouquet of the most gorgeous flowers.
“My mom designed these,” he said, just a little shyly. “I told her I wanted to bring you flowers, so of course, she insisted.”
Fiona inhaled, charmed by the gesture. It was one of the most beautiful bouquets she’d seen; hot pink, orange and magenta roses with pincushion flowers, and palm fronds for a tropical touch.
“These are amazing,” she said, and set them on the table. Fortunately they came with a vase, because she’d never needed one.
“So, are you sure you’re up for this?” she asked, grabbing her purse. “You’re not too tired from work?”
“I have a lot more energy all of a sudden,” he said, smiling.
They walked to his car, and drove downtown to the hotel that had just opened a new rooftop bar. It was a weeknight, but that didn’t matter much. With so many tourists, the Savannah nightlife never stopped.
They talked about the restaurant, the clients Fiona had worked with that day, who had the best burgers in the city…any topic that did not include their star-crossed rental space.
Fiona noticed that they were a little more nervous and reserved without the alcohol in their systems, but she didn’t mind. She was just excited to be on an actual date with him. And since she only had one more shift at the restaurant, he wasn’t even her boss anymore. Almost.
When they arrived at the hotel, Porter took her hand and led her through a marble and glass lobby to an elevator that would bring them up to the rooftop bar.
They stepped inside the elevator, and Fiona was thoroughly distracted by the feel of her hand in his.
After the doors closed, he said, “You look incredible tonight, by the way.”
“Thank you,” she said, and she had to agree. “My friends worked their magic.”
He looked at her then, his eyes revealing layers that words couldn’t, until the doors opened.
He cleared his throat. “Here we are,” he said, and led her through a hallway to the most stunning rooftop bar she’d ever seen.
Immediately she could see strings of lights, sleek fire pits and pergolas draped in flowers. Soft music wafted through the air, mingling with the sounds of voices and laughter.
The night was warm, a precursor to the balmy summer evenings that were on the horizon. But the spring air had just enough chill to be refreshing, and Fiona breathed the moment in.
“Wow. Great choice,” she said, and followed him to a pub table with a perfect view of the Savannah river.
“This place just opened last month,” he said, settling into the seat across from her. “I’ve been wanting to come check out the menu, but I didn’t want to come alone. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.”
Candlelight danced off his face, emphasizing his chiseled jaw and captivating eyes. Fiona needed a drink.
“What are you going to try?” she asked, forcing herself to look at the menu.
“Definitely the croquettes, and maybe the prawns,” he said. “I’ve heard great things about their cocktails from David. He and his wife came here a couple weeks ago.”
“I need to get out more,” Fiona said, setting down her menu. “The only night life I have is driving home after work. Or when Stella forces me out of my apartment.”
“So, you haven’t dated much?” he asked.
Fiona shook her head. “When I got here after leaving my ex New York, I don’t know…I just wanted to be on my own. I had handed over control before, and I didn’t want that to happen again. Better to stay focused on the career I was building.”
Porter sighed. “I’m sorry. It can be really hard.”
Their waiter arrived, and they ordered drinks and way too many appetizers. Fiona took that as a sign that they both wanted to linger as long as possible.
“What about you?” Fiona asked him. “You’re this gorgeous Southern gentleman who is also a fantastic chef. There’s no way you don’t have women blowing up your phone.”
He blinked, surprised at first, but then laughed. She enjoyed the shade of pink he turned.
“Um, there were some, yes,” he said. “If my mother isn’t trying to set me up with someone, then it’s David, or my aunt. I’ve humored them and gone on a few dates, but there was never anyone worth pulling my attention away from the restaurant.”
Fiona glanced up at him, smiling softly at the intensity in his eyes.
“But tonight alone, I burnt three steaks. Three.”
“A problem with your stove?” Fiona asked, a sly smile on her face.
Porter shook his head. “I have been thoroughly distracted.”
The waiter arrived with their drinks, but Porter never took his eyes off of Fiona.
“Look,” he said, leaning closer. “I like you. And I know this rental space thing is weird, but whatever happens…I want to keep seeing you. Is that what you want?”
Fiona sipped her drink. She knew there would be some challenges ahead, but it was nothing they couldn’t work through.
“I want that too,” she said.
He smiled, a hint of a dimple showing.
“Good,” he told her, sipping his own drink. “Now, I’ve been curious about something.”
Fiona raised a brow.
“Go on,” she said.
“That space above the restaurant,” he said. “You said you would have taken it if you had the money. What did you like about it? From what I remember it was very run down.”
Fiona smiled. “No, see, you have to look through all the dust and the leaky pipes and beat up flooring. The exposed bricks? The beams? Oh my god, those windows? The place oozes charm.”
“That’s probably not all that it oozes,” he said, eliciting a glare from Fiona.
“The space right off the street has almost everything we need,” she told him. “It’s accessible, it’s clean, the location is an absolute dream. But that upstairs rental is…incredible. Or, it could be, with the right updates. Lighter wood flooring, a fresh coat of paint, new molding. I’d want to frame out the windows better, really make them the focal point.”
She trailed off on a sigh, and he watched her thoughtfully.
“What about you?” she asked, feeling like she’d shared just a tad too much. “Why do you want the next door space so bad?”
He looked off into the distance, a small smile on his lips.
“David and I went to New Orleans with some friends over spring break in college. We went to the most amazing upscale restaurant in the Garden District. We could only afford appetizers, but I swear I still dream about that shrimp ceviche.”
He glanced up at her, his gaze warm and happy.
“They had a lounge area that you could see through these big arches in the dining area, and it had these massive old chandeliers hanging above it. The night we went, they had a live jazz singer performing. For David and me, I think that’s when the idea for Hearth was really born. We got almost everything we could have wanted with the location we have now, but a lounge would complete that vision.”
They looked at each other, unspoken truths in their eyes. For Porter, the space was a dream come true. For Fiona, it was a chance to finally build something of her own, on her own terms. Someone was going to get hurt.
“You know what else is incredible?” Porter asked, drawing her from her thoughts. “That view over there. You should go check it out.”
He tilted his chin to the far corner of the roof.
Fiona frowned. “You don’t want to come, too?”
Porter shook his head. “I’ve got my own view. And lord help me, if I don’t see you in every angle of that dress, I might die.”
Fiona feigned shock, but got up anyway, shimmying a little for his benefit.
The nighttime glow from the city was spectacular, but she was struggling to look away from Porter, and the way he was looking at her.