Page 21
“Did you make reservations?” I ask and he nods as he pulls my chair out, a slight blush staining his cheeks.
“Yeah, you have to if you’re going to get into this place. It’s my favorite and I really wanted to bring you here.”
I beam at him. “I’m glad that you did.”
“What can I get you two to drink?” the hostess asks with a knowing smile on her face.
“Sweet tea,” I tell her.
“And a beer for me,” Ryan says. She nods and turns, leaving us alone once again. Ryan reaches across the table and grabs my hand as he opens his menu.
“So, what about you, Ryan? What do you do when you’re not saving women on the side of the road?”
He laughs, shaking his head. “Not a whole lot. Being a hero is a full-time job.”
“Wow, so humble,” I tease and he laughs again. “What made you want to become a cop?”
He looks off into the distance for a moment, thinking. “I’m not sure that I ever really decided. My dad was a cop and it was just…expected of me, I guess.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, it’s all right. Some days I hate it but it’s not so bad most of the time.”
“You said your dad was a cop. Is he retired now?” I ask and something dark crosses his face.
“Uh, no. He died a couple years ago.”
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.” My heart hurts for him. I don’t know what I would do without either one of my parents. It must be so hard for him to not have his dad around anymore.
“It’s okay.”
“What about your mom? What does she do?”
“Well, when dad was alive, she stayed home with us kids but when he died, she had to find something to do so she bought a flower shop. My older brother, Zane, helps her run it.”
“Do you have any other siblings?”
He snorts and nods his head. “Yeah, I’ve got two little brothers, too, Caleb and Jake. They are a pain in the ass.”
“Your poor mother.”
“We were definitely a handful,” he agrees.
Before either one of us can say anything else, the waitress approaches the table with a smile on her face. She sets our drinks down in front of us and drops a straw down on the table. “Good evening, you two. What can I get y’all to eat?”
“I’ll get the rib dinner,” Ryan says. This must be his favorite place since he didn’t even have to open the menu. I scan mine quickly.
“And I’ll get the barbecue chicken meal.”
The waitress nods, scribbling our orders down on her notepad. “Any appetizers?”
“Uh, yeah. Can we try the smothered fries?”
“You got it,” she says, smiling, and when she’s done writing our order down, she turns and heads back to the kitchen. Ryan raises his beer bottle to his lips and takes a pull.
“Tell me about your parents. What do they do?” he prompts and I can’t help but smile.
“They are amazing. My mom has lived here her whole life and she met Daddy when he was stationed here.”
