Chapter Eight
Jesse’s mouth dropped when Carly stepped out of her house. She looked like a goddess.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered before clearing his voice. “I mean—you look beautiful.”
She smiled so brightly, his chest tightened at the sight of it.
“Thank you,” she responded.
As she came down her steps, he put his hand on the small of her back, enjoying the heat of her. She smelled so good—like fresh rain and apples. He was half-tempted to bury his face against her neck to see if the scent was coming from there or the fragile-looking curls of her hair.
He guided her to his pale blue truck and opened the door for her. Once she was settled, Jesse hurried around the front of the car and hopped in.
“You look really good yourself,” Carly said as he started the engine.
He gave her a sheepish grin. “Thanks. My son helped me pick out the shirt.”
He ran a hand over the tiny checkered blue-and-gray button-down. He and Oscar had spent a good hour going through his closet. Oscar encouraged him to ditch the usual flannel and cowboy hat so that he could look the part of someone who wanted to “actually date someone who’s a baddie.”
He didn’t know where his son came up with this stuff half the time. Though…he wasn’t wrong. He did want to date Carly. Badly.
Carly gave a light laugh as she buckled herself in. “My sister and cousin came over to help me get ready. I don’t know how I made it so many years in Australia without their help.”
He didn’t miss the wistful sound in her voice. “Do you miss it? Australia?” he asked as he pulled onto the road. His stomach tightened. He’d been wondering if she had any longing to return to that life, and he held his breath as he awaited her answer.
Carly was thoughtful for a moment. “It’s a beautiful country.
A gorgeous mix between wilderness and suburbia.
I made a lot of good friends while I was there and I miss them, but being on the road all the time gets exhausting.
And things were getting a little hectic toward the end of my tour there.
I used to live for the rush of performing, but…
I’ve been looking forward to taking some time off to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Plus, there’s a lot of appeal to staying put instead of endlessly living out of a suitcase. ”
She frowned for a second as though a memory popped up that she didn’t like. She turned her head away from him to stare out the window. He wanted to ask her more about what she said. He was curious what had made her life so hectic, but given her body language, he decided not to pursue it.
“I think I understand what you mean,” Jesse finally said, while relief coursed through him. It didn’t sound like she planned on leaving anytime soon. “I grew up on a ranch and missed the lifestyle when I lived in Houston.”
“How long did you live there?” Carly asked.
“Eighteen years,” he answered.
He’d met MaryBeth by chance. He’d been in town for his friend’s engagement party.
On his way home, he’d stopped into a coffee shop to get some much-needed caffeine for the road.
MaryBeth had been there, sitting by the window, drinking one of those sugary drinks she favored, while reading a book.
He’d stopped dead in his tracks when he’d spotted her.
He sat down at the table beside her and asked about her book.
She’d looked up, irritation on her face at being interrupted, but it quickly dissipated when she met his eyes. They were married six months later.
Carly returned her gaze to his face. “What made you decide to move to Tenacity after being in the city for so long?”
“My son was a big factor. He seemed so unhappy in the school he was in. It’s hard for him to make friends, even though I know he desperately wants them. When we visited Tenacity and we both loved it, I decided it was time for a fresh start. For both of us.”
He didn’t elaborate. It felt weird to bring up MaryBeth or the fact that this was his first real date in ten years. It was still hard for him to talk about what happened to his family that day. Plus how many dating partners wanted to hear about your dead spouse?
Thankfully, they soon reached Castillo’s Mexican Restaurant, which JenniLynn had recommended.
“I hope you like Mexican food,” he said, a little nervous.
He was going for a romantic atmosphere tonight, but not overly so.
Jesse wanted to be able to talk to this woman, not shout at one another over music like at the Grizzly Bar.
But if she wasn’t a fan of the food, he’d have to scramble for another idea.
“I love it,” she replied, much to Jesse’s relief.
They entered the restaurant, and his tension lessened even further.
The place was small and cozy, if a little dark, but the candlelight on the tables helped with that.
The seating area had small windows that overlooked the street.
There were wooden booths placed throughout the space and a small bar in the back took up the remaining dining area.
A woman in her sixties approached. “Welcome. Is it just the two of you tonight?”
“Yes,” Jesse said.
“Wonderful, right this way.” The hostess led them to a corner table. They passed by several patrons who either waved, nodded at them, or started whispering among one another.
“Is this your first time here?” the hostess asked.
“Yes,” Carly replied, while Jesse nodded.
“I’m Yolanda,” the woman said. “My husband and I have proudly owned Castillo’s for over thirty years now, and our sons work here now too.” Yolanda pointed to the table where there were already menus waiting. “I’ll give you a few minutes to look over what we have to offer.”
“Thank you,” Jesse replied.
“This all sounds amazing,” Carly said as she looked over the menu. “I haven’t had authentic Mexican food in so long.”
Jesse cocked his head. “They don’t have Mexican restaurants in Australia?”
“They do, but I didn’t get to really enjoy life there. It was mostly work.”
“How long were you there for?” he asked.
“About ten years,” Carly replied, her eyes skimming over the quesadilla section. “Oh, the cheese quesadillas sound good.”
Jesses’s eyebrows shot up. “Ten years and you didn’t get to enjoy any Mexican food? No one took you on a date for some?”
He was fishing, and she smirked like she knew it too.
“There was one man I dated for a while, but we were both on the circuit. I was too busy winning, and he was too busy flirting with groupies.”
Carly said it lightly, as if it was a joke, but he sensed the hurt under the bravado.
“I’m sorry,” he replied just as Yolanda returned with waters and took their order.
After she left, Carly placed her arms on the table. “What about you? Are Mexican restaurants your normal go-to when you date someone?”
“No… I…” Jesse didn’t want to talk about it, but he might as well rip the Band-Aid off. “I haven’t really dated anyone since my wife died.”
The amusement on her face disappeared instantly. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
Jesse shrugged. “I don’t really talk about it.”
Carly picked up her water and took a sip before she tactfully changed the subject. “What about Oscar? How’s he doing with the move?”
Jesse appreciated the deliberate effort that she’d made to get them out of a sticky conversation.
“He seems better. School’s hard for him.
He doesn’t exactly understand social cues.
If someone is mad or making fun of him, he doesn’t understand it and then gets upset.
But I’m proud of him for joining the football team and trying to be involved.
Coach Finn has taken him under his wing, which I’m grateful for.
The friends might not be coming like I’d hoped they would, but he’s at least talking more.
I think it also helps that we’re currently staying with Grayson and JenniLynn.
Her youngest is on the spectrum, so they’re both great at reading when Oscar’s having a bad day. ”
He ran a hand over the slight whiskers on his jaw.
“It’s good to be around family. I’ve felt really alone trying to raise Oscar without having a support system nearby.
MaryBeth—my late wife—she was a great mother and always knew how to make sure Oscar had everything he needed, mentally and emotionally. Sometimes I feel like I’m failing him.”
Carly reached over and squeezed his hand. “I don’t know Oscar well, considering that I just met him the one time, but I didn’t get the impression that he was failing at life. He seemed like a happy teenage boy.”
She went to withdraw her palm, but Jesse’s free hand grabbed hers and held it against his other one.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
“You’re welcome,” she returned with a small smile. In that moment with the soft candlelight from the table flickering over her features Carly looked so beautiful that Jesse would have been happy sitting there looking at her all night.
The moment was broken up by Yolanda returning to the table, delivering a mango margarita for Carly and a beer for him.
“What about you?” Jesse asked after taking a sip of his beer. “How are you settling into life in Tenacity?”
She sat back in her chair as she considered his question.
“It’s definitely been a change of pace, that’s for sure.
But it’s good. Lots of people still stop and whisper—” She tilted her head toward a couple looking their way.
They quickly turned their attention back to the table in front of them.
“But people aren’t rude when they recognize me.
Some people can be really assertive toward me and my sisters because of our careers.
Not to mention the press. It’s a nice change of pace to be in a place where most people’s concerns are what color you’re painting your barn instead of what race you’ve won or who you’re dating. ”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Jesse joked. “JenniLynn said the social network in town was buzzing after I said hi to you at the football game.”
Carly let out a startled giggle at the realization, and Jesse basked in the sound of it.