Page 116 of Kiss the Girl
EPILOGUE
One Week Later…
Savannah lookedaround Donovan’s Pub and felt like everyone knew something she didn’t. Jamie Donovan had greeted her when she walked in and immediately took her to the same table she’d been sitting at the night she’d met Jackson. Of course, it could have been a coincidence, but…
Jackson had texted her earlier asking her to meet him here for dinner, but there was no sight of him and his truck wasn’t at the apartment when she drove past on her way home from the spa.
Weird.
Glancing at her phone, she noticed he was late. They had said six o’clock and it was now six-fifteen. She was about to call him when Jamie walked over with a plate of loaded potato skins. “Um…I didn’t order…”
He held up a hand to stop her and laughed a little. “Savannah, you guys have come in here enough that I already know what you’re going to get, so I figured I’d get them started for you when you walked in. Is Jackson joining you?”
“He’s supposed to, but I guess he’s running late.”
“Well, don’t let these get cold,” he said with an easy grin. “Enjoy!”
Music started to play and it all gave her the oddest sense of déjà vu. Still, Jamie did have a point. She didn’t want to let the skins get cold and helped herself to one as she did a little dance in her seat. “Why are these so good?” she muttered to herself, dipping one in ranch dressing. Taking a bite, she moaned loudly and then cringed and hoped nobody heard her. When she looked up, she spotted Jackson walking toward her and smiled.
“Hey,” he said awkwardly, stopping a few feet from the booth.
“Um…hi. I was getting worried about you. I was going to call, but then Jamie brought these out and…well…you know how I am with these.”
“I’m Jackson Coleman,” he said, standing a little straighter and she wondered why on earth he was introducing himself.
“What is going on?” she whispered.
“I couldn’t help but notice how much you seemed to be enjoying yourself over here, and I felt compelled to come over and introduce myself.”
And that’s when it hit her.
He was recreating the night they met.
It was such an incredibly sweet and amazing thing and she had to remember not to get too giddy and ruin the moment.
Clearing her throat, she huskily said, “I’m Savannah James. Would you like to join me?”
The boyish grin she adored so much was his first response before he said, “Thanks.” He slowly slid into the booth and openly admired the appetizer plate. “Ah, I was wondering what these were.”
“They’re insanely good,” she said, trying hard not to smile too hard. “You have to try them.”
“Are you sure? I mean…I can order another plate so I’m not taking any away from you.”
“Are you kidding? There is no way I could eat them all. Plus, um…” It would have been easy to keep this going because every moment of that night was pretty much burned in her brain. But she wanted to talk to him as they were now. “Plus…I had a cupcake for lunch and still want to eat the bacon jalapeño burger, so…you know. I can share.”
His smile grew. “Thanks, beautiful girl.” Taking a potato skin for himself, Jackson took a bite and hummed with pleasure.
“This was a wonderful surprise,” she said when he was done chewing. “I love that you recreated the night we met.”
“Oh, we’re not done yet. We’re going to play darts and dance and this time when we leave, I’m giving you a proper kiss goodnight and getting your number.”
“Jackson…”
He cleared his throat. “So, um…I’m kind of new in town, even though I grew up in Magnolia Sound. I’m thinking of applying to become a firefighter, but I need to finish up physical therapy before I do.”
Okay, and we’re back to playing at being strangers…
“Physical therapy? What did you injure?”