Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
“If I might offer my suggetions?” Luke asked as Jax held my chair out for me.
“Yes, please do!” I said.
“To start off, I would suggest the Maine lobster and jumbo lump crab cake. It’s one of my favorites. The roasted beets are also another favorite. Our classic onion soup is one of Jax’s favorites, and he orders it to go all the time.”
I looked over to Jax who nodded.
“I’ll leave you to look at the menu, but I will also add that the pan-seared snapper is to die for.”
“Thanks, Luke,” Jax said as I looked up at the manager and smiled.
“Yes, thank you so much, and this table is perfect!”
Luke winked as he said, “You’ll have the perfect view of the sunset here in about…” he looked at his watch, “a little less than an hour.”
Without another word, Luke turned and quickly headed back into the restaurant.
“It’s beautiful. More than I ever expected it to be.”
Jax smiled. “I’m glad you think so. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. It’s all good.”
My eyes scanned the menu that Luke had handed us. “It all sounds so amazing.” When I looked at Jax, I asked, “Do you have a recommendation?”
“Luke is right about the crab cakes. They’re divine.”
“Then let’s start with that.”
Right then an older woman, maybe early thirties, approached the table. “Hey, Jax, how’s it going?”
He gave her a polite smile. “It’s going. Macy, this is Amelia Baker. Amelia, this is Macy Larson.”
“Hi, Macy,” I said, trying not to squirm in my seat under her intense stare.
“Are you here visiting, or do you live here?”
I was so thrown off by her question, I simply stared at her in silence.
“Amelia is visiting, and if we can start off with two glasses of ice water.” Jax turned to me. “Do you prefer white or red wine?”
I shook my head. “No wine for me. I’ll stick with water, thank you.”
Macy turned to Jax.
“I’ll have a Blue Moon.”
“Did you decide if you’d like an appetizer?” Macy asked.
Jax ordered the crab cakes and asked for a few more minutes with the main entrée.
Once Macy walked away, he looked at me. “I’m sorry she asked you that. I don’t know why she did.”
I gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Maybe she’s simply curious, especially if you have a rule about not dating tourists.”
He grinned. “We’re just two friends enjoying dinner together.”
Forcing myself not to show the disappointment in his words, I nodded in agreement. What was the matter with me? I didn’t want anything to happen between us…or did I? I mean, Jax was beyond handsome, he was built. Had a beautiful smile and eyes a girl could get lost in. Don’t even get me started on how soft his lips looked. But this would lead to nowhere. I lived in Texas, for goodness sake, and Jax lived in Florida. Besides, I wasn’t looking for a relationship.
With a quick shake of myself internally, I focused on the menu. “What are you getting?”
Jax bit down on his lip, and I nearly let out a moan, but instead I dropped my gaze back to the menu.
“I’m thinking I’m going to go for the pan-roasted chicken.”
“That sounds good, but I’m going to take Luke’s advice and get the snapper.”
We both looked up and our gazes met.
With a wink, Jax said, “You can’t go wrong with that.”
Macy appeared with our waters and Jax’s beer. After giving her our order, I looked out over the blue water.
“I bet the sunset is going to be amazing.”
Jax turned and looked over his shoulder. “They are beautiful.”
Looking back at me, he asked, “Where do you call home?”
“Austin, Texas.”
His eyes lit up. “No kidding? I’m from Texas as well.”
“Really?” I asked as I broke off a piece of the bread Macy had brought to the table. “Where abouts?”
“Grew up mostly in the Dallas area.”
“Do you miss Texas?”
Jax looked around, then back at me. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, so I probably wouldn’t miss it either if I lived here in paradise.”
“What made you want to get into nursing?”
I shrugged. “My mother was a nurse, father a doctor. I grew up watching them have such a strong passion for their jobs. I decided I wanted that as well, so I picked nursing. I’m going to be working in labor and delivery.”
He raised his brows. “Babies, huh?”
“Babies,” I replied with a giggle.
We stared at one another for a few moments before I asked, “How long have you been in Florida?”
Jax leaned back in his chair and sighed. “About a year. I moved here on a whim. I needed a break from life back in Texas, and I’d been here years ago on vacation. I like to pretend I’m here on a long-extended vacation instead of the reasons why I’m actually here.”
“And why are you actually here? Oh, wait, you said you were hiding from life.”