Page 5 of Unspoken Love

Nate knew better than to fill the silence with platitudes. Instead, he offered her the quiet.

They browsed the menu for a moment.

“Comfort food.” She sighed and rested her elbows on the table. “I could definitely use it.”

He set his menu down, already knowing what he’d come here to have.

“So, do you know what you want?” he asked, watching her closely.

She nodded, folding her napkin slowly. “I have been dreaming about the chicken salad since I was here last. You?”

“Burger. Their steaks are good, but I’m in the mood for their Swiss onion.”

She sighed and her shoulders dipped a little. “I dream about burgers.”

“No red meat for you?” he asked.

She shrugged. “My thighs tell me the chicken salad is better for me.”

He smiled. “So come running with me in the morning? Then you can have that burger.”

Her eyebrows arched. “What time?”

He thought about it for a moment. “I can start as late as five-thirty. I’m opening the store at seven.”

“Sunup is at five. I can do five,” she offered as she leaned her elbows on the table. “That is, if you can.”

He chuckled at the challenge. “Five it is. I’ll meet you at the base of the steps.”

Her smile grew, and when she ordered the bacon burger with sweet potato fries, he laughed.

While they waited for their order, they chatted lightly—about the town, about the ridiculous number of flavors at Scoops Ahoy, the new ice cream shop at the end of Main Street, and how Juliette had once gotten stung by a jellyfish trying to swim out to the buoy.

With each passing minute, Nate found himself relaxing. Being with Faye wasn’t like being with any other woman he knew. She wasn’t trying to impress or distract him. She was just being herself. Present. Honest. A little guarded still, maybe—but she had every reason to be.

Nor was he trying to be someone he wasn’t with her. With everyone else in town, he played a role. Flirty, fun, exciting Nate Elliott. He had to if he wanted to stand out in the world, right?

When their burgers arrived, the sky outside had gone completely dark. The dining room somehow became invisible as their conversation continued.

Nate bit into his Swiss onion burger with a satisfied hum and grinned when Faye let out a little moan of approval after her first bite of bacon burger.

“Worth every calorie,” she mumbled around a mouthful.

“See? Told you,” he said, chuckling. “Running earns you burger points.”

They’d just fallen into another easy round of banter when a voice cut in.

“Well, hey there, stranger.”

Nate froze.

He looked up and immediately wished he hadn’t.

Standing beside the table in a curve-hugging red blouse and skinny jeans was Vanessa Carr—the pretty brunette he’d dated for a few months last fall, the one who’d left him with a sour taste in his mouth and a bit less faith in people.

Vanessa leaned a little too close, her manicured hand brushing his shoulder like it belonged there. “Didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Who’s your little friend?” Her eyes slid to Faye, smile tightening ever so slightly.

Nate shifted back in his seat. “Vanessa, this is Faye. She’s, well, I guess she’s my sister’s sister-in-law.” He shrugged.