14. Soundtrack the nervous thump of his own heart

CHAPTER 14

SOUNDTRACK: THE NERVOUS THUMP OF HIS OWN HEART

He makes himself wait until the next morning to text her.

Hey! I heard my first Christmas carol on the radio, so now I’m thinking about you. I always think of you at Christmas.

Can I take you out one night this week?

After he hits send, he worries that it’s too much enthusiasm. God, it’s hard to keep a lid on the way he feels about her.

But she answers only a few minutes later.

I’d love to. Wednesday?

Sweet! I’m going to find us a nice restaurant reservation. Any spots to avoid? Likes and dislikes?

No, I’m easy.

About food.

Jeez.

You pick the spot and tell me where and when.

He cracks up. Then he makes a reservation.

Okay—I have a plan. Can I pick you up at six? It’s a bit of a drive, but I’ve been wanting to try this place.

Cool! What’s the dress code?

It’s a nice place. But it’s still Vermont. So I guess that means jeans, but your nicest ones.

Vermont dressy. Got it. Dark jeans and a sweater without holes. See you then!

When she emerges from her house on Wednesday night, pausing to lock the door, she’s wearing a suede skirt, sleek heeled boots, and a sweater in a shade of blue that somehow looks both warm and expensive as it complements her eyes.

Not that he’d ever admit it, but Damien took a lot of care with his appearance tonight. He’s wearing dark-wash jeans and a black merino sweater that Zara bought him when he started art school, with a black wool blazer over it.

Earlier, while admiring his reflection in the mirror, he’d made eye contact with himself and grinned. Yes, he was going all out for this date, almost to the point of being a little ridiculous.

But so what? Sometimes playing it cool isn’t the right move.

He gets out of the Jeep and walks around to the passenger door to open it for her. “Madame Overland,” he says. “You could have brought along a suitcase with some bricks in it, just to keep me in shape.”

Her smile blooms brightly. “Are you ever going to stop teasing me about my luggage?”

“Doesn’t seem like it.” He gives her a wink as he closes the door for her.

“Why does your car smell like heaven?” she asks after he gets behind the wheel and steers the Jeep toward the road.

“That’s my cologne,” he says.

“What? No. ”

He snickers. “It’s part of my plan for the evening. Do you happen to know any of the Shipleys?”

She tilts her head. “The cider people?”

“That’s them. Griffin makes the cider, but his brother Dylan has a caramel business during the holiday season. I offered to drop off his caramels in Burlington at the Ironwood Hotel if he could get me a reservation at Burly, which is on the same property.”

He glances at Nicolette and catches a flicker of something like surprise on her face. “Oh.”

“It’s a nice place,” he says. “And a tough reservation.”

“I’m sure,” she says. “But Damien, you don’t have to take me to the nicest restaurant in Vermont. That seems like a lot of effort.”

“Maybe?” He shrugs. “But here’s the thing. I’ve been hearing about this restaurant for a long time. Griffin’s wife is a chef, and she raves about it. But I’ve never been. Every time it comes up, I think someday I'll go there . But I never have.”

“Okay,” she says.

“And Overland? I’ve often felt the same way about you. I’d think someday maybe the time will be right, and we'll have our moment. But then we never did. I don’t know if this is it, or not, but I’ve got nothing to lose. Let me take you to the nicest restaurant in Vermont tonight, okay? Because we never know how many great moments we’re going to get.”

She reaches over and squeezes his forearm. “Thank you. I accept. I’m going to google the menu and see what’s on it tonight.”

“Cool. Just don’t read it aloud to me, because I’m hungry already and I’m not into sadomasochism.”

She barks out a laugh and covers her mouth. “Noted.”

As usual, the drive flies by. Anytime it’s Nicolette in the passenger seat, that’s bound to happen. When they reach the Ironwood Hotel, he lets the valet park the car and mentally kisses another forty bucks goodbye. But he doesn’t know if those heels are comfortable and isn’t about to make her walk a couple blocks in them.

Before the valet can drive away, Damien pulls a large box out of the back of the Jeep. “This is for you,” he tells Nicolette, handing her a small but elegant sampler box of Dylan’s caramels. “And the rest of these I have to drop at the concierge desk before we go in to dinner.”

A flicker of doubt crosses her face. “Okay, sure.” She stashes the sampler box in her bag.

Hmm. Her reaction was a little odd, but he doesn’t say anything. He leads her past a pair of double doors that slide silently open for them and enters the lobby. It’s sleek, but also warm, with honey-colored wood everywhere, and floral arrangements made from birch branches.

Fancy.

He locates the concierge desk and carries the box in that direction. It’s staffed by an attractive woman in a dark green blazer. “Good evening. These caramels are from Dylan Shipley. He said you’d know what to do with them.”

“Of course, sir. And welcome, Ms. Overland. I didn’t know your family was onsite tonight.”

Damien turns to Nicolette in surprise. She’d been trailing behind, almost as if hiding. “Um, no,” she says sheepishly. “Just here for dinner.”

“Very well,” the concierge says smoothly. “Always nice to see you.”

“Likewise.”

Damien, relieved of the box, takes her hand and leads her toward the restaurant’s door, but then pauses before they reach it. “Nic? Something you forgot to tell me?”

She’s blushing. “My father built this hotel about five years ago. I’m sorry.”

His heart plummets. “Your father…and your ex?”

“No, just my dad.” She shakes her head. “He couldn’t believe that Burlington didn’t have a luxury hotel, so he, um, fixed that. He has a lot of events here, so I’ve been to this restaurant before. I should have said something, but you were excited about this place.”

“Ah.” He laughs suddenly. It seems obvious now that there was no way he could take her anywhere she hadn’t already been. “Would you rather go somewhere else, though?”

“No,” she whispers, putting both her hands on his forearms. “It really is the best restaurant in Vermont. But the only times I’ve ever been here were with my uptight family. Never with you, or anyone who ever gave a crap whether I had a good time.”

Oh .

“So let’s have a nice meal, and screw the rest of them.”

“I like how you think.” He leans in to kiss her on the forehead before taking her arm again and leading her into the dining room.