Page 41 of Love Like Ours

The thought popped into his head quickly. That’s what men normally got women they were dating, right?

Shit. Were they dating? Did she think they were? Technically, they hadn’t even gone out on a date yet.

What in the hell had he been doing? Winging it with her? Shit.

When he climbed back in his truck to head out from Max’s place, he pulled out his phone and shot a text message to her asking her out on their first official date the next night she had off work.

“Hypothetical question: What’s your favorite restaurant in Edgeview, since you used to live there?”

“Why? Thinking of stealing my spot?” her reply came back before he’d started his truck.

“Nope, thinking of taking you there. How does tomorrow night sound for an official first date? I’ll even let you pick dessert.”

“Hmm… dessert and a say in the restaurant? Hard to pass up. Tomorrow works for me.”

“Great. It’s a date. And just so you know, I take dessert decisions very seriously.”

“So do I. You’ve been warned.” Then she added, “I love Grinaldi’s. They have the best puttanesca and, be warned, it’s a toss-up between their tiramisu and the cherry-and-dark-chocolate crostata.”

“I’ll buy you both,” he replied, then added, “are you working tonight?”

“Until ten.” She added a frowning emoji.

Smiling, he replied, “I might head down there now for some tacos.”

“I’ll save you a spot.”

He was smiling when he started the truck and drove down the bumpy driveway, heading back into town. He was halfway down the long twisting drive when he spotted a black BMW parked along a row of bushes.

He pulled over and spotted a dark figure standing near the edge of the cliff, looking towards the lighthouse.

It wasn’t uncommon for tourists or even townspeople to want photos of the lighthouse at sunset. Tonight, however, there were too many clouds and the fog was too think to even seen the water on the horizon.

Stepping out, he shouted towards the figure, “Can I help you?”

The figure turned slightly towards him, then a flash of something caught his eye just before something solid hit the side of his head and his world went dark.