"If they leave because we're late, terrible match."
Sophia stared.
Jake realized.
"Right."
"We are the match."
"This is going well."
She laughed.
"Follow me."
"Why me?"
"My navigation works."
"Your car just died."
"Fair."
Jake returned to pickup.
Sophia watched him.
Then opened her door.
Before getting in, she called:
"Jake."
He turned.
"If you'd seen my picture before tonight, would you have agreed?"
He paused.
Then smiled.
"Wouldn't have believed it."
She raised eyebrows.
"That's not an answer."
He looked directly at her.
"Yes."
Sophia's cheeks warmed despite cold.
She got into car before he saw too much.
Evergreen Café occupied the ground floor of a converted farmhouse in downtown Pine Hollow.
Christmas lights wrapped around porch columns.
A wreath hung on the door.
Snow covered the roof.
Sophia parked beside Jake's truck.
They entered together at seven fourteen.
The hostess looked at them.
"Reservation?"
They both answered:
"Morrison."
"Lauron."
Then laughed.
The hostess checked.
"Table for two?"
Jake looked at Sophia.
"Apparently."
She smiled.
"Apparently."
They sat near fireplace.
Jake removed jacket.
Sophia tried not to stare.
He wore fitted charcoal shirt with sleeves rolled above strong forearms.
Road grime streaked one elbow.
Sophia liked that more than she should.
Jake noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"That's becoming your favorite word."
"So is yours."
"What?"
"Nothing."
They smiled.
A server brought menus.
Sophia opened hers.
Jake did not.
"Not hungry?"
"Very."
"Then?"
"I come here."
"You already know."
"What should I order?"
"Pot roast."
"That confident?"
"Yes."
She closed menu.
"Fine."
Jake smiled.
"Trust exercise."
"If I hate it, date ends."
"Pressure."
They ordered.
Coffee arrived first.
Sophia wrapped both hands around mug.
Jake watched.
"Better?"
"Much."
"Your gloves were decorative."
"They were leather."
"Thin leather."
"You have opinions about everything."
"Only things I understand."
"Cars."
"Snow."
"Coffee."
"Women?"
Jake immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not."
Sophia laughed.
"Smart."
He looked toward fireplace.
"How long have you been back?"
"Seven months."
"Vermont?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Sophia considered.
Truth or polite version?
She chose partial truth.
"Needed change."
"From Boston."
"From someone."
Jake did not push.
That made her want to tell him more.
She asked:
"And you?"
"Always here."
"Never wanted out?"
"I left for school."
"Where?"
"New Hampshire."
"Came back."
"Why?"
"My dad got sick."
Sophia looked up.
"He okay?"
"Died twelve years ago."
"I'm sorry."
Jake nodded.
"Then garage became mine."
"That's why you stayed?"
"At first."