“Oh, thank you,” she said.
He’s thoughtful.
“It’s a good thing I checked your seat out really good,” he laughed. “Scotty is free with the ketchup, and it gets everywhere.”
“He does like his ketchup,” she smiled.
They spent the rest of the ride to Bozeman in pleasant conversation and not one awkward moment between them. They got along as if they’d known each other forever.
At the restaurant, he pulled up, parked, and got out to come around to her side.
When he opened the door, she said, “Please don’t carry me this time. I can walk.”
So instead, he held out his hand and said, “My lady, as you desire.”
Oh my.
She blushed.
I don’t dare tell him what I desire. Not right now.
He was sweeping her away without so much as lifting her.
She placed her hand in his and he helped her down. Her dress rose up her legs a bit, and with his other hand, he pulled the dress back down. The opposite of undressing her, the feel of his hand doing that made her want him to move in the opposite direction and she caught her breath.
Oh my. We aren’t even in the restaurant yet.
He slid his arm around her waist as much to help her walk across the parking lot as to shield her from any cars. He was so tall and strong, and she so much smaller, she felt very protected beside him.
Inside, they were seated right away, as he had a reservation in the quietest corner.
The restaurant was dark, with candlelit tables.
“How romantic,” she said.
“Of course,” he said.
The waiter handed them menus, filled their water glasses, and then left them to read their menus.
“Oh, I’m surprised they have sea scallops,” Ellen said. “Montana is a long way from the sea.”
“Not by air,” Travis said. “You’d be surprised at the number of products that are flown in, from all over, to the larger cities in Montana. Don’t judge just by what you can find in Eagle Rock.”
She laughed. “There’s not a whole lot to be found in Eagle Rock.”
“True,” he said. “But there are a lot of good people.”
“Yes,” she smiled. “I agree.”
“It’s also a good place to raise kids,” he said.
“It is,” she said. She took a sip of water, her throat suddenly dry.
“Would you care for some wine?” he asked.
“Not yet,” she said. “Maybe later.”
He nodded and set the wine menu back down to pick up his menu.
