Chapter 16
SAMANTHA
I thought this day couldn’t get any better, but that was before Weston suggested going for dinner in town. We were driving home from the Welcome Fair when he came up with the idea. Weston is clearly annoyed at Madeline and he pointedly didn’t invite her along, but she doesn’t seem to mind. She cheerfully promises to look after Eric while he takes me out, discussing all of the places Weston could take me. I get the feeling that Madeline is rooting for something to happen between me and Weston, but I’m still not allowing myself to get my hopes up. The more weight and trust I put on this scenario, the more likely I am to leave here with a broken heart at the end of the week.
Still, the idea of some time alone with Weston is enough to get my heart racing. He drops me off at my hotel to get changed and promises to be back in an hour to pick me up. He’s even sweet enough to promise to get one of his ranch boys to drive my rented car back to the hotel. I wave goodbye to Madeline and Eric before rushing inside.
An hour isn’t really long enough for me to get ready, though I only have one choice of an outfit. After all, I didn’t expect to go on dinner date when I was packing for this holiday. Oh gosh! Did I really say a dinner date?!? I can feel butterflies rising up in my stomach but I firmly remind myself that we are going out just as friends. With me returning to New Jersey in a few days, there’s really no point for getting romantically involved. Still, I want to look my best, and that takes time. I nod to the friendly receptionist as I enter, thundering up the stairs at top speed.
In my room, I root out the cocktail dress I brought with me. When Colin and I planned this honeymoon, he’d told me to pack something nice to go for dinner in after a long day of walking. When I realized I would be coming here alone, I decided to pack the dress anyway. I had it in my head that I would take myself to a bar one night and claim back my independence by drinking alone. Now that I’ve got someone to go with, that idea definitely doesn’t appeal so much.
I settle at the hotel dresser to curl my hair and do my makeup. As I’m doing so, my phone rings. It’s Ashley. I put her on speaker so I can carry on my beauty routine.
“Hey, girl. Still enjoying yourself in the back-end of nowhere with a certain Mr. Redwood?”
“You could say that,” I say, feeling a little smug. “I’ve spent all day with him today. We’ve been on a hike, visited his kid’s school...and we’re going for dinner tonight.”
“Oh my God...I can’t decide which of those things is the most adorable. A romantic walk through a forest? Sweet. Visiting his kid’s school? Serious. Dinner? Girl. Have you got something to wear?”
I glance at the navy halter-neck dress laid out on my bed. “Check. I hope it’s not too creased...I don’t want to make a bad impression.”
“You never could. It’s not in your nature.”
“I think that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said.”
“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it, because what I’m about to say next is a little cruder...are you going to sleep with him?”
“Ashley!”
“Oh, come on! It’s a valid question. From what you’re saying you guys are clearly vibing. It’s in the cards, right? Especially since you’ve basically been on three dates in one today…”
“Okay, first off, I don’t think going to a primary school welcome fair can ever count as a date. Secondly, I don’t even know if this is a date.”
“Well, he’s not exactly asking anyone else along, is he? Did you find out more about his wife yet?”
I sigh, putting in a pair of hoop earrings. “Not exactly...she’s been mentioned a few times today. But I’ve heard a few people refer to him as a single dad…”
“But he still wears his wedding ring?”
“Yeah...he’s clearly holding on in some way, even if she’s not in the picture anymore. But I can’t even bring it up with him. He said earlier that he’s glad I’m not pestering him for details. I don’t want to look needy or desperate. I mean, he’s only known me a few days. How can that compare to any marriage he might had? I can’t expect him to switch loyalties, no matter what.”
Ashley sighs loudly. “Why do you always get yourself into the most complicated romantic scenarios?”
“God knows. I’m like a magnet for it.”
“Look, the way I see it, he’s fair game. It’s his choice if he wants to be with you.”
“But I’m not interested in being someone’s bit on the side, or the reason someone’s marriage breaks down. It’s not fair on anyone, including myself.”
“Ugh, I hate that you’re always right. But what I’m saying is don’t overthink this too much. He’s your rebound, remember? Which is why if you do decide to sleep with him, then I think it’s a great idea. You deserve some fun in your life, girl. I think Weston would be perfect for that.”
“Maybe, but you’re jumping way too far ahead...I’ll see how tonight goes and then fill you in on the details.”
“Girl, you’d better do. This is my sole source of entertainment and gossip. You’ve got to provide.”
“I’m glad my turmoil is so exciting for you…”
“Hey, it’s better to have a rocky love life than a non-existent one, right? Speaking of, do you want to hear about the guy I met last night?”
“You know I do.”
Ashley’s tales of romance and sex keep me distracted from the upcoming date as I get ready, but I’m still a bundle of nerves. I have this awful feeling that when Weston arrives, I’m somehow going to make a fool of myself and mess this entire thing up. I know it’s my paranoia talking, but this is the first time I’ve been anywhere remotely romantic with anyone since Colin. Even with him, thinking back, we didn’t do many romantic dates. We spent a lot more time sitting in front of the TV with takeout. On our first date, we went to a nice restaurant, dressed to the nines, giggling over glasses of bubbly all evening long. But the further into the relationship we got, the lazier our efforts became. I guess since Colin was never actually interested, he had no reason to go all-out. I wonder if he and Christian go out for fancy dinners.
I guess that’s none of my business.
I hear a car outside the hotel just as I end the call with Ashley and I’m strapping my heels on. I rush to the window and see Weston getting out of his car. He looks sharp - he’s wearing a black suit and a bow tie. I watch him fiddle nervously with the jacket buttons and I smile. At least I’m not the only nervous one. Still, he looks so good that he’s putting me to shame. I’m glad I brought something suitable for this because no matter how scared I am about this, I wouldn’t miss it for anything.
He’s waiting for me in the foyer when I walk down the stairs. His eyes never leave my body, his gaze sweeping over me like a cool breeze, making me shiver. The kind receptionist watches me walk to Weston as though she’s watching a happy scene in a rom-com. Do we look good together, I wonder, both of us looking our absolute best in this small hotel?
“Going somewhere nice?” she asks, breaking the spell a little. I glance at Weston in question. He hasn’t told me where we are going. He smiles smugly, his hand finding the small of my back. I freeze at his touch. Is he just being friendly, like he was at the school, or is he letting his hands do the talking for him? Does this mean more than I think it does?
“We’re going somewhere...intimate,” he says suggestively. The receptionist blushes and giggles like a schoolgirl.
“You’re one lucky girl, Miss Asher. I hope you have a magical night!”
“Thank you,” I say quietly, my voice barely more than a squeak. Weston’s hand puts pressure on my back as he guides me out to his car. He opens the passenger door for me with a gentle smile.
“I hope you don’t mind...it’s quite a long ride to the place we’re going.”
“Sure,” I reply. “You certainly are being mysterious about this whole thing.”
Weston chuckles. “Sorry to keep you in suspense...but I think it’s better to see this place than describe it. I wouldn’t be able to do it justice.”
I strap myself into my seat, nerves tickling me and mingling with my excitement. Weston slides into the car and fiddles with the radio until some soft classical music starts playing. He starts the engine up.
“I think you’ll like the views on the way. Everything looks a little different in the dark,” he says as he pulls away from the hotel. I smile, spending the majority of the journey watching out of the window peacefully. We make some small talk, but mostly, we just listen to the music and keep to ourselves. I don’t even mind. It never feels uncomfortable being quiet with Weston.
He was right about the views, too. The jagged mountains tower over us, and as we wind down rocky roads, they start to look a little ominous. It’s thrilling, being out here in unfamiliar territory with a man that sets my heart beating a little faster with each passing minute. By the time he begins to slow the car, I’m so flustered by it all that I’m practically shaking.
We come to a clearing with a lake and a tiny hut overlooking it. Weston stops the car a few hundred yards away, smiling at me apologetically.
“Sorry. We’ll have to walk from here. It’s a bit of a bumpy track here, but I’ll help you walk over.”
The location is completely gorgeous, but I can’t help being a little surprised. If the hut is the restaurant, it really doesn’t look like the kind of place that Weston would choose. It even looks slightly run-down. I wobble a little on my heels as I start to walk, but Weston quickly catches my arm. He threads his fingers through mine and I almost audibly gasp, surprised by the sudden contact. His eyes are lit by the moonlight, a soft smile playing on his lips.
“Be careful walking,” he says sweetly, his thumb brushing over my hand. “And don’t let the look of it deceive you...this is the best restaurant around.”
“I trust you,” I tell him. He squeezes my hand.
“Good. Shall we?”
I imagined walking elegantly into the restaurant, but the reality of this is a little different. I spend the whole time wobbling over little pebbles and getting my stilettos stuck in the dirt ground, clinging to Weston for dear life. Still, we spend the whole walk laughing with one another, our skin pressed against each other’s. It might not be the most romantic approach, but it’s put a smile on my face and a flutter in my stomach.
By the time we reach the hut, I can see that it’s much grander than I expected. There is a single table outside, but Weston leads me inside. There’s a chandelier hanging above our heads, though the rest of the decor is relatively simple. There’s a cordoned off section where a group of men in white jackets and bow ties are playing various string instruments. The whole thing takes my breath away, but there’s more, still. There is only one table inside here, too, and it’s set up with a candle and two place settings. A woman in a slinky white dress appears from a door at the back of the room, a bottle of red wine in her hands.
“Welcome,” she says in a voice as gentle and sultry as the music. “My name is Anna, and I’m your host for tonight. You are our esteemed guests for the evening, and we hope that you are prepared for this unique dining experience. Please, allow us to seat you so that you can peruse the menu.”
I catch Weston’s eye and he wiggles his eyebrow smugly, clearly pleased with himself for finding such a unique restaurant. Anna helps me into my chair and then lights the candle for us. Weston smiles as the woman pours us each a glass of wine.
“There’s no need for a taste test,” he tells me. “I know this is the finest wine in the joint.”
“And the most expensive, presumably?” I tease.
“I assure you, it’s worth it,” Anna says seriously. “We serve only the finest wine, finest cuts of meat and the finest ingredients in the area. If you’d like some help choosing from the menu, please let me know.”
“I think I’ll have whatever the specials are,” Weston says. He turns to me. “I always trust the chef here. She always whips up something amazing.”
“Then I trust her too,” I say. Anna nods to us.
“Two house specials, it is. There will be five courses, so please sit back, relax and enjoy the music while we prepare your meals.”
Anna leaves us alone with the musicians. Weston catches my eye, eager to hear what I think.
“Well? Do you like it?”
“How could I not?” I ask, glancing around me at the splendor of it all. It’s a little dark in here, but it only adds to the atmosphere. It feels like being lulled to sleep, with the gentle music and the warm glow of the candle. “I’m just...a little overwhelmed if I’m honest. I’ve never been taken to somewhere like here before.”
“Not many people have. This place is a little off the beaten track, I suppose. And with the prices...well, it’s not exactly somewhere you nip to after work,” Weston points out. “Besides. Reservations are hard to come by. With there being only one table and all…”
“I love it. I wish I’d come somewhere like this earlier…”
“Well, I guess I wanted to show you how a man should really treat a woman,” Weston says quietly. There’s a certain arrogance about him, but I don’t even mind. I like that he wanted to impress me, and that’s not a problem at all. We spend some time just listening to the music before Anna brings out the first course - a goat cheese soufflé with pear and pine nut salad. Weston watches me expectantly.
“I want you to taste it first,” he says when I don’t pick up my fork. Anna smiles and melts back into the kitchen area. I do as he asks and sample the food, melting a little inside as the flavors explode on my tongue. I moan a little, blushing. It’s been a long time since I had food this good. Actually, I don’t think I’ve tasted anything like this, anyway. Weston’s face lights up as he takes in my reaction.
“I’m glad you like it,” he says as he takes his cutlery and cuts the first bite. “I knew you were a woman who would appreciate good food. I never get to come here, because Madeline finds it pretentious, and Eric is a little young for this kind of thing…”
“What about your other friends?” I ask, deliberately avoiding mentioning his wife. Weston chuckles, shaking his head.
“And what would make you assume I have any other friends?” he asks as he tucks into his soufflé. “I guess you could say that I’m a bit of a lone wolf, these days.”
“But you weren’t always?”
Weston shrugs. “When I lived in the New York, it was different. I was surrounded by the people I grew up with. I saw my family all the time. I’ve always been close with my siblings. Georgia is a lot younger, but I’ve always felt pretty protective of her. My brothers are very different from me, but I guess you just bond when you’re part of a family like ours. We always kept the peace pretty well.”
“Could you not bring your brothers out here? Or your sister?”
Weston takes another bite of his appetizer, wiping his mouth thoughtfully. “Things have been...different since I moved out here. I don’t see my family as much. I think I’ve felt the need to get some space over recent years. I usually spend the holidays in the Hamptons with my parents, so that Eric can see his grandparents. But other than that...I guess I don’t go out of my way for them the way I should. It’s a flaw, I know.”
“I wouldn’t call it a flaw. It’s okay to focus on yourself,” I say sympathetically. Whatever Weston’s been dealing with these past few years, I can tell it’s affected him badly. I see glimpses of his fun side, the flirtatious banter slipping through every now and then, but I guess something must have dimmed his shine. It’s obvious he’s not as content as he once was, not as carefree and easy-going. Weston is quiet for a few moments, considering his answer.
“I want to reach out,” he says after a while. “But I guess I just feel like my experiences have isolated me a bit. They don’t know how to be around me. I make them nervous, and I don’t want sympathy from them. I want things to go back to normal...eventually. I guess now I’m starting to get back to a place where I can feel happy again, and I want to start anew with everyone...including them. Especially them.”
Weston shakes his head. “I know I’m being cryptic, not telling you what happened to me...but I really appreciate you coming tonight. I really enjoy your company. And you’re a great listener.”
“I’m glad you think so,” I tell him, trying to push aside the confusion and the curiosity that’s burning inside me. I know that patience is key to earning his trust, and to him wanting to tell me his tale, but it is getting a little frustrating now. Will he ever talk to me about it, or is he just going to dangle parts of the truth in front of me until I grab the pieces of the story and put it together myself?
We both finish our salad and Anna comes back with the second course - turf-smoked trout with wild leek. I’ve never been a fan of fish, but when I take a bite, I’m amazed to find how delicious it is. Now that we’ve changed courses, Weston clearly wants to change the subject too.
“What’s the best date you’ve ever been on?” he asks me. I almost choke on my fish. It’s a loaded question. Does he want me to say this? I don’t even know if this qualifies as a date. I clear my throat. The room suddenly feels a lot smaller. It’s so intimate in here that I feel as though the musicians are listening in on our every word. It doesn’t seem to faze Weston, but it makes me want to be careful about what I say.
“Well, honestly, the most memorable date I ever went on was memorable for all the wrong reasons. I got catfished.”
“Seriously?” Weston says in horror, tucking into his meal. He doesn’t seem bothered that I’ve guided the question away from what he actually wanted to know. I start to sense that he might be a little nervous like he’s filling the gaps in conversation with the first thing that comes to mind. But that could be a good sign, right?
“Yeah, it was a crazy night. I spent half of it thinking I’d been stood up. Then this guy came up to me at the bar and started chatting. He seemed alright at first, and not bad looking, but he wasn’t my type at all. I was just chatting with him to be polite. And then all of a sudden, he says he’s got something to tell me. And he tells me that he made a fake profile to chat to girls on. I knew as soon as he said that that I’d been screwed over.”
“Whoa. So what did you do? Run for it?”
I laugh. “Not quite. To be honest, I did worry that if I left, he’d follow me and I’d be more vulnerable. So I asked him to get me a drink and when he did, I slipped out. I deleted my dating profile the next day.”
“I’m not surprised,” Weston says, washing down his appetizer with the rich, dark wine. “I just don’t understand that mentality at all. Why would you cheat someone into liking you? Why would you ever want someone who didn't like you for you?”
I remain quiet. How can I explain it to someone like Weston? I’ll bet he’s never felt a rejection like that before. Whatever happened with his wife, I firmly believe that she would never stop loving him, or find someone better. I watch him silently, wondering how things could ever go wrong for a man like him. He’s the kind of guy that would do anything for the woman he loves. How can I explain how much it hurt when I found out that Colin never felt that way about me when I loved him unconditionally and with all my heart? He’ll never know that pain. But instead of saying so, I just smile and shrug.
“I have no idea,” I reply.