Page 112

In that order, because I put too much effort into this to abandon it now.

Baylor watches out the window as I drive.

"Are you going to tell me where we’re eating?"

"When we get there."

"Should I be concerned that you won’t name the restaurant?"

"No."

"Because if you’re taking me to a drive-through, I should’ve worn something with an elastic waistband."

I look over at her before turning onto the next street.

"You can eat dinner without knowing exactly where it came from for the next five minutes."

She’s smiling when I glance at her, and I reach across the console to take her hand.

I pull onto the street where Serendipity’s is, and she sits a little straighter.

As soon as I pull up into a parking space in front of the empty shop and switch off the engine, Baylor looks at the storefront, then back at me.

"What are we doing here?"

"I told you… having dinner."

"But there’s no restaurant in here. It’s vacant."

"I guess we’ll have to use our imagination, won’t we?"

Her eyes move toward the dark windows. From the car, she can see a little light farther inside, but not what’s waiting for her.

I get out and come around to open her door. She takes my hand as she steps onto the sidewalk, still looking at the shop.

"Did you arrange another showing?"

"Something like that."

I unlock the door and hold it open for her. She steps into the empty retail space, looking around while I close the door behind us.

"I can’t believe you did this." She turns toward the warm light coming from an open doorway farther back. "What’s in there?"

"Go look."

She walks past the existing kitchen, where the counters and deep sinks are already in place, then stops at the doorway to the small room at the end of the hall.

There’s a blanket spread across the floor, two cushions against the wall, and a picnic basket beside them. Battery-operated candles line the blanket, and a small lamp lights the corner. The room’s only window faces the back courtyard, with the blind pulled closed.

Baylor looks from the basket to me.

"How did you manage all of this?"

"I had help. Ellie and the landlord."

She steps inside, smiling as she takes it in. "This is where I wanted to do tastings."

"That’s what Ellie said. Figured we could try it out."