A Heart to Rescue (4 page)

“You look stunning,” he said as he presented her with his arm.

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said.
It was an understatement.
Nate looked downright mouthwatering. He had
ex
changed his pinstripe suit for black slacks, a button down blue shirt that matched his eyes, and a black sport coat that had a
silver
pattern design
spiraling
along its lining and collar. He looked casual but chic all at the same time.

Peter ogled them as they swept out the door, but for once Mel didn’t care what he thought or would say about her. She was on the arm of a gorgeous, successful man
,
and she was going to enjoy her evening with him.

Outside, a small silver sports car waited for them. “I ditched the driver for tonight. I hope you don’t mind,” Nate said as he helped her into the car.

“I like going fast,”
she replied as
her fingertips dance
d across
the
seat’s Italian leather.

“I’ll remember that,” Nate said with a wink as he brought the
car’s
engine to life.

Mel realized what she said and felt the rise of color across her cheeks. “That’s not what I meant.” Was she flirting with him? She didn’t know. She felt a bit lightheaded being in such proximity to him. His large form filled the driver’s seat, and in the small cockpit of the two-seater,
her arm brushed against his no
matter what position she’d sit in.

Nate just smiled and didn’t reply. He deftly guided the car away from the curb and into traffic.

“So where are
we going for dinner? Desert Palms
, Gallian’s, or Blue Pointe?” she asked casually.

“So, you’ve been checking up on me,” Nate said without taking his eyes off the road.

“I’m not the kind of girl to
have dinner with
a complete stranger
,” she said. She took the opportunity
that his eyes were focused on
the road
to study him
.

According to her research, Nate was about five years older than she was, but they
didn’t
come from
dissimilar backgrounds. They both attended Ivy League colleges
. They were both divorced with no kids. They were bot
h well-traveled and enjoyed
sumptuous
dining. He was exactly the type of guy she th
ought she was looking for two
years ago when she met Harrison. Harrison had been the exact opposite of Mel, which
ultimately
meant that together, they made mud.

“A
s a matter of fact, I’m
not
the kind of guy who has dinner with
a complete stranger
either
,” Nate said.

Mel realized with a start that Nate
had probably done similar research on her background
. The idea froze her insides. “Oh,” was the only thing she could think to say.

“You worried I du
g up s
ome skeletons in your closet?” H
is tone was amused.

“I don’t have any skeletons,” Mel said
,
crossing her arms over her chest.

“We all have skeletons,” he said with a
solemn glance
in her direction. “The good thing for me is you already know mine.”

Mel remembered their earlier exchange at the bar. She wouldn’t have brought it up, but Nate seemed comfortable talking about it. “You’re an alcoholic.”

“Lots of late nights and free flowing liquor for countless number of years
definitely contributed to it. In the end, I made the
decision I didn’t like the guy I became when I drank.
So I quit.
”

That was something that Mel could understand. “
Then w
hat made you
want to drink
today?”

“I told you, tough day,” he said
, avoiding
the question. “Ah, here we are.”

Mel looked out the windshield and saw that they were parked in the lot of a small restaurant with a striped green and y
ellow awning. The name “
Ardore Jazz Club
” stretched across the awning. Heavy curtains covered the large windows that faced the street. She looked at Nate. “I thought we were going to one of your restaurants.”

“I told you,” Nate said
,
leaning over and dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I
am taking you one of
my favorite restaurant. Now, don’t get me wrong. My restaurants are fantastic, but this place,” he pointed out the
window at the restaurant, “This
place could put me out of business in a heartbeat. Now I’m trusting you to keep my secret.”

Mel smiled and crossed her heart. “No one will hear it from me.” Secretly, she was also relieved.
The possibility of running into someone she had known in her previous life was now next to nil. Those people
would
never be caught dead at a place like the one in front of her.

“Good. I hope you’re hungry.”

Mel’s stomach answered for her in a low growl
,
and they both laughed. Nate unfolded his tall body from the inside of the car and then was next to her door
seconds later,
holding it open and offering her a hand up. So far, Mel was impressed with how
attentive Nate appeared to be;
it was like he was always thinking about how to take care of her.

His hand at the same of her back reminded her of her earlier thoughts of
seducing him
if she had dared to invite him up
to her condo
. She wondered if she still would at the end of the night. The idea exhilarated her.

She looked up at him through her thick lashes and saw that he looked happy and relaxed. She want
ed to pinch herself to see if what was unfolding
was actually happening. When she woke up that morning, the most she had to look forward to was eig
ht long hours serving rowdy,
drunk customers at Rumbling Rock. In the span of less than twelve hours, her life had been turned upside down. It scared her to admit that she was glad. As an extra bonus, she was able to have dinner with a smart, successful, and single man. Her life was
looking up
.

They stepped into the restaur
ant, and Mel immediately saw
what drew Nate to the location. The lighting was dim, and she could make out forty or so tables stretched throughout the room. From her vantage point next to the hostess stand, she could only see couples at each of the tables. There were deep booths lining the walls.
The heavy mahogany wood and red and gold tones through the room reminded her a
n
old-time
dinner
club.
The restaurant had been designed for privacy. In the back corner
on a small stage
, a three-piece band played light jazz loud enough to be enjoyed, but also soft enough that it would not int
errupt conversation at the tables
.

“Why haven’t I ever heard of this place?” Mel said, not meaning to say the words out loud.

“
Ardore
is truly one of Spring City’s best kept secrets. They fill up night after night with absolutely no marketing or promotion, and it’s been open for over twenty years.
I found it almost by accident when I was doing my own field research on the area’s competition,” Nate said in her ear.

“
Nathan
, how nice to see you again,” said a soft, throaty
, female
voice.

Mel turned and
stared
at one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Dark brown hair shone even in the dim lighting
,
framing olive skin and intelligent, piercing
deep
brown eyes.
The
wom
an moved around the hostess stand and e
mbrace
d Nate. Then, as she gave
him a peck on the cheek, Mel
had the full view of her curves
wrapped in a fitted red dress
that fell to her ankles
.
A flare of jealousy crept up inside of her as she saw the woman’s hand linger a moment longer than she would have liked on Nate’s arm.

“Daphne, this is Mel,” Nate said.
“Daphne, I’d like you to meet my friend, Melanie.”

Mel was secretly delighted that he had used her full name in his introduction, but e
ven as he said the words, Mel could
see his appreciative glance taking
in Daphne’s enviable figure.

“Hello, Mel
anie
,” Daphne said
,
extending her hand.

“Hi,” Mel replied
,
shaking Daphne’s hand and then pulling
it
away. She wanted to be outside of the other woman’s orbit as quickly as possible. She saw a slight tightening of Daphne’s lips as she looked Mel over. It was clear that Daphne didn’t approve.

“I was telling Mel about your fantastic food.
I know it’s a huge favor
on such short notice
, but
I’m hoping that you can find a t
able for us
,” Nate said.

“Of course, Nathan,
anything for you,
” Daphne said.
Mel had a feeling that Daphne meant for those words to encompass more than just finding him a table.
Again she looked Mel over from head to toe
and then she sniffed
. “Give me just a minute and I’ll get you seated.”

“Thanks, Daphne,” Nate said. He slid his arm around Mel’s waist and pointed at a small bar
that she hadn’t noticed before
that was off to the left hand side of the s
tage
. “Let’s grab a drink while she finds a table.”

Mel relaxed into his side and allowed him to guide her through the dimly lit room to the back and then gingerly poised herself on the edge of one
of the bar’s
tall stools. Nate took the
stool
next to her and moved it a few inches closer. “Don’t want to interrupt the band while we chat,” he said.

She didn’t care if he wanted to sit in her lap. She just smiled. The bartender took their drink order, and soon two club sodas sat in front of them. “I’m not a big drinker,” she said.
She could have used a glass of wine to calm her nerves, but she didn’t want to drink in front of Nate.

“I wouldn’t
have minded
i
f you had something
, but the
gesture is appreciated
,” Nate said. He raised his glass. “Cheers. Here’s to new
acquaintances
.”

Mel clinked his glass. She was almost certain now that this was a date. She wanted to ask him, but couldn’t make her mouth form the words. She’d feel like a compl
ete ass if he told her it was just a job interview
.

“You look like you’ve got something on your mind,” Nate said.

“Not at all,” she lied. “So how do you like Spring City
so far
?” The question was semi-lame and she knew it, but sh
e wanted to know more about him and that seemed like a safe starting place.

“It’s very different than what I’m used to, but not in a bad way.” He shrugged. “The pace is a b
it slower, but that’s exactly what I was looking for
.”

Mel remembered all the pictures she sorted through online of Nate at various events and openings. “Your life was pretty glamorous before
you came here
. No regrets about settling down in one place?”

“If you know what you want, then it doesn’t really feel like settling,” Nate said. He leaned closer to her as his gaze lifted to the stage. “I love jazz. What’s your favorite kind of music?”

“I’m a country girl,” she said. “But even I can appreciate a good jazz tune or two.”

“So, unlike me,
you’re a local,” Nate said
,
switching back to the previous
topic.

Mel made a face. “Yes. Born and raised here. My parents moved to Florida a few years ago though, so I d
on’t have any close
family in the area
anymore.”

“You must have stayed then because you liked it.”

And just that quickly, they tread into one of Mel’s emotional minefields. She was saved from answering by Daphne
’s
ap
pearance
next to Nate’s elbow.