“We’re not walking out of here arm in arm. Not even as a joke.”
Pieter quickly withdrew his arm. “You’re right. That was my natural gallantry showing through.”
“Don’t let your natural gallantry get us both fired,” Eva said sternly.
“I hear you. But I’ve got to say, I like it when you tell me off. You’re like a sexy librarian.”
Eva’s eyes grew wide. “Pete, knock it off! I’m not kidding. If you’re not careful, you’re going to get us into trouble.Bigtrouble.”
“I apologize. I’ll control myself from now on.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Eva said, leading him to the nearest exit, and out into the parking area.
The second they drove off the base, Pieter saw her body relax. Her shoulders softened, and she rolled her head from side to side as though working out some kinks in her neck.
“So are you going to tell me where we’re going? Or is it a surprise?”
“There’s only one place to go,” Eva said, staring straight ahead at the road. “The roadhouse bar on the highway leading into town.”
“That’s it? There’s only one bar in the whole place?”
“There’s an inn with a bar area, but it’s small and mostly used by guests staying there. It’s pretty sleepy. Apart from that, there’s one restaurant and two coffee shops. So really, the roadhouse is the only place to go.”
Pieter had never been to a roadhouse before, so his only knowledge of what to expect came from what he’d seen in the movies. “And what do you like to do at the roadhouse?”
“Have a beer, play pool. That’s about all there is to do.”
As far as marketing pitches went, it wasn’t impressive, but Pieter was happy just to be out with Eva. There was a frisson of energy in the car, their chemistry making the air practically electric. He wondered if she felt it, too.
They didn’t talk after that. The only sound in the car was that of the windshield wipers working to clear the never-ending rain. After a few minutes, Pieter saw the glow of a neon sign up ahead, and soon after, Eva pulled into the parking lot beside the roadhouse.
“Shorty’s Roadhouse,” Pieter read aloud. “Very understated sign. Is that supposed to be a hat wearing a pair of boots?”
“It’s adancinghat wearing a pair of boots,” Eva said matter-of-factly. “It used to throw a lasso around in the air, but the light bulbs all burned out and they still haven’t replaced them.”
“I can’t believe I don’t get to see that. I feel cheated,” Pieter said.
“I’m sure you’ll feel better if you buy me a beer,” Eva said, getting out of the car.
Inside, just a handful of people were sitting on bar stools, nursing drinks. They weren’t even trying to talk over the extremely loud music, just nodded their heads along to the beat. It was so loud Pieter felt the floorboards beneath his feet vibrating.
“It’s so romantic!” he yelled into Eva’s ear.
“The good news is we don’t have to talk to each other!” Eva shouted back.
Pieter bought two beers, and Eva led him to a room in the back of the bar where the music wasn’t quite as loud as in the front. But Pieter didn’t like what he saw standing in the center of the room.
“Is that what I think it is?” he asked.
“It sure is. Don’t tell me you’ve never seen one before.”
“Only in the movies,” he said truthfully.
A smile started on Eva’s lips. “Well then, tonight’s your lucky night.”
“I can honestly say this has never been on my bucket list.”
“After tonight you can add it to your list and cross it off. We’re doing this.”
