I smile but don’t answer. Instead, I glance down at myself, suddenly self-conscious in my jean skirt and mostly dry tank top. “Are we going somewhere fancy? Because, full disclosure, this is not my dinner date best.”
Jake glances over again, eyes dipping briefly down my body in a way that sends a shiver shooting up my spine. “Nothing fancy,” he says, his voice dropping an octave lower. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
And just like that, my insides melt.
A few minutes later, he turns off the main road and pulls up in front of a diner with a warm red sign that reads “Milly’s Table.” The windows glow golden from the inside, like something out of a Hallmark movie. It looks like a place where the pies are homemade and the waitresses call you honey.
Inside, it’s even cozier. Wood paneling, checkered curtains, and the smell of fried food and cinnamon in the air. Heads turn as we walk in, and more than a few people greet Jake by name.
“Hey there, Pearson!”
“Back from the skies already?”
Jake nods and waves, then gently guides me to a booth in the back corner, his hand lightly resting on the small of my back. It’s casual. But my skin remembers it.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a teenager,” he says as we sit. “This place has the best chicken pot pie in the state. And I’m not just saying that because Milly once threatened to stop feeding me if I didn’t.”
As if summoned by name, a petite, silver-haired woman with sparkling blue eyes appears at our table. She has the kind of beauty that doesn’t fade—laugh lines, a warm smile, and the confidence of a woman who’s seen a lot and still loves what she sees.
“Well, well, well,” she says, her eyes bouncing between Jake and me. “Look who finally brought a girl to Milly’s. I was starting to think you were married to that helicopter.”
Jake leans back and grins. “Just trying to keep my standards high, Milly.”
Milly winks at me. “You must be real special then, honey.”
My cheeks flush. It’s not just the compliment, it’s the look in Jake’s eyes when she says it. Like he agrees.
They chat for a moment, easy banter back and forth, and then Milly takes our order. Chicken pot pie for him, grilled cheese and tomato soup for me. Milly promises to be back soon and walks away with a knowing smile.
Jake leans forward, forearms resting on the table. The warmth in his expression intensifies. And just like that, the air between us shifts.
“This place is lovely,” I say, trying to sound casual.
But he’s not smiling anymore. Not exactly. His eyes are dark, thoughtful, lingering on me like he’s trying to memorize something.
“It is,” he says softly, his eyes never leaving mine. “Very lovely…” He lets his voice trail off, but there’s no mistaking the heat in his eyes.
And just like that, my pulse starts to race.
Our food arrives on two steaming plates, and Jake was right. The chicken pot pie smells like heaven. My grilled cheese is golden perfection with gooey cheddar melting off the sides, and the tomato soup is the kind that makes you want to curl up in a window seat with a good book.
But as delicious as everything looks, I can tell Jake isn’t really paying attention to the food. His eyes remain on me all night, feasting boldly. Unapologetically.
It’s almost like he’s trying to see beneath my skin. Like he wants to memorize every expression I make, every word I say. It’s intense. And strangely…addictive.
I should be nervous. A little cautious, at least. I barely know this man.
But instead, a low thrum is building inside me, an overwhelming desire pulsing through my veins like a current I never knew existed. I’ve never been looked at like this. Like I’m a secret someone’s waited their whole life to find.
I take another bite, pretending not to notice. “You gonna eat that?” I nod toward his pie.
He blinks, caught in the act. A slow grin tugs at his mouth. “Trying. But I keep getting distracted.”
“Distracted, huh?” I lift a brow. “By what?”
Jake leans forward slightly, lowering his voice. “You, sunshine.”
My breath hitches, just slightly.
