The Country Gentleman

by Amberlee Day

  He shook his head with a smile. “You’re fine. It’s fine. You look great.”

  “You too.”

  With only inches between them, that same feeling she’d had outside Paige’s house hit her, that she’d never get tired of looking into those eyes.

  Peter extended his arm, and she slid her hand into the crook. His other hand crossed to cover hers, and as they approached the glass doors and their reflections appeared, she felt that wherever this might go with Peter, right now she felt beautiful, cherished, and happy. It was an unfamiliar feeling, but it sent her spirit soaring.

  It turned out that neither had been to The Country Gentleman before, and that at five o’clock on a Monday only a smattering of the peninsula’s elderly came to dine. An entire wall of windows faced the lake, and outside, several pretty tables dotted the wide terrace.

  “Do you mind if we sit outside?” Peter asked when the hostess led them out the door. “If not …”

  “No, it’s perfect. The only time I’ve been outside today was walking laps on the ferry.”

  As they got situated with menus and were left alone again, Kenzie inhaled the cool breeze off the lake. “This is heavenly.”

  “It is,” he agreed. Putting his menu down without opening it, he focused on her—a nice, tingly feeling. “Ferry laps?”

  “Yes, laps around the ferry during a crossing. Usually the upper outside deck, but I’ve seen people walk the main passenger deck as well. Haven’t you ever done that?”

  “Can’t say I have.”

  Kenzie settled back in her seat and smiled at him. “Then you definitely should try it. Ferry walkers are a culture unto themselves.”

  “Do they talk to each other?”

  “Absolutely not, and eye contact is minimal, though when you’re doing it you’re very aware of everyone going the opposite direction, because you keep passing them. Also, the people who are sitting when you pass them? You piece together bits of conversation. It’s very interesting.”

  “Sounds like I need to try it.”

  “I wouldn’t call it something for your bucket list, but I love it. I do laps pretty much every time I ride a boat.”

  The waitress came just then. Neither had had a chance to read the menu, but Kenzie knew what she wanted. “I’ll have whatever is the fish of the day. Roasted vegetables with no potatoes, and salad.”

  Looking up from ordering, she found Peter watching her with wide eyes. She squirmed with the uncertainty of not knowing why, but then he ordered the same thing with both the veggies and potatoes, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully he didn’t mind that she knew what she wanted.

  The waitress, a trim grey-haired woman, scrutinized them both. “You two don’t look familiar. Have you been here before?” They shook their heads no. “And you didn’t even open the menu? Huh. That’s a first.”

  She went back inside, and Kenzie and Peter laughed quietly together. “I guess she didn’t know what to do with that,” Peter said.

  “Sorry! Hope she won’t take her disappointment out on the food.”

  “I’m sure she won’t.” He looked around. “It’s so nice here. Not too much development around this side of the lake.”

  Kenzie took a sip of her water. “But development is business for you, right?”

  “Hm?”

  “Building homes? I would think you’d be pro-development.”

  Peter tapped his napkin and utensil bundle with his thumb before answering. “I’m absolutely pro-work, which I suppose is pro-development. But I’m also pro-green areas and sustainable forestland.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. I grew up across the water and watched that area go from homes and businesses amid the woods, to high-density houses and hardly any trees. The ones that are left, people take down because they’re afraid they’ll fall on their houses.”

  “No, I agree. There’s such a thing as going too far with development.” Peter tapped his napkin again, shifting in his seat. Clearly he didn’t like talking about his work. But then his hazel eyes found hers again and brightened. “Tell me about what you do,” he said. “You commute to Seattle?”

  She nodded, telling herself to keep any business talk brief. She had a tendency to overdo it quickly. “Some days. Sometimes I’m able to work from home, which is nice. I travel a bit too.”

  “Busy. I’m getting the feeling you like to be busy.”

  Kenzie laughed. “I’m not sure how to answer that. I don’t know how to not be busy. And it’s like once you start doing a lot, it snowballs, and you have a lot more to maintain. Things get put on your schedule for you.”

  “So, what, with all the travel, are you in sales or something?” he asked.

  Strange that he really didn’t already know what she did. It occurred to Kenzie that for a long time now, she’d been spending so much time around people connected to her fundraising world that she hadn’t explained what she did for quite a while, much less why she did it. And while she wanted to get to know Peter, she didn’t want to overwhelm him.

  “No,” she said. “I guess you could call it event planning. Although, actually,” she added, guessing that he was about to ask for specifics, “it’s not very interesting. Just a lot of busywork, you know? Details.”

  Peter studied her for a moment, his lips still forming the question he almost asked. “Sure,” he said finally. On the lake, swans glided serenely, occasionally making honking sounds. One unexpectedly made loud whooping sounds, and both Peter and Kenzie turned to see it.

  “Wow! That’s a boisterous guy,” he said before turning his smile back to her. “Did you see where this week’s hike is supposed to be?”

  “No, I didn’t. Did you?”

  “Mt. Ellinor. Have you heard of it? It’s past Lake Cushman.”

  “Sure, we did that once. It’s a beautiful hike, but very steep.”

  “I guess Burt thinks we’re ready for it.”

  “I suppose so.”

  When their meal came, they agreed they’d chosen well.

  “Mm, delicious!” Kenzie said after tasting the fish. “I’m so glad you suggested coming here.”

  “Me too.”

  Peter surveyed the gorgeous setting around them, and Kenzie studied the sunlit halo around his head, and the buzzing insects lazily bouncing in the sun’s rays. The swan whooped again, along with a chorus of other birds from around the lake. There was just enough of a breeze to make the water lap at the dock.

  “It really is heavenly here,” Kenzie said, a satisfying warmth spreading from her hair to her toes.

  “It’s perfect,” Peter said. His eyes deepened in color, and he blinked several times. Kenzie realized that Peter’s words were less fluid than her own, but she already knew they were worth waiting for, and listened intently when he said, “Paige told me something once. She said you never know when a first date is going to turn into your last first date.”

  Kenzie gulped, her heart fluttering at the romantic implications. “You mean, if that date becomes the start of a long relationship?”

  “A lifelong relationship,” he said, and she thought she’d slide under the table from melting. “I try to make every first date important, because of that.”

  Kenzie sat back, ready to playfully rib him about being one in a line of many. “I see. Every first date, huh?”

  Sincerity still lit Peter’s eyes. “It makes me pay attention to the details more. The setting, the conversation. Even who waited on us.”

  Kenzie caught the wave of his romantic mood again and smiled. “That’s true. Take our waitress. If tonight is the start of something, we can tell our kids about how she looked when we didn’t open the menus.”

  “And her name is Jane,” he said.

  “It is? I hadn’t noticed. But what would our special first song be? Every couple has a special song.”

  There wasn’t any music playing out on the patio, but Peter’s eyes went to the trees. “Don’t you hear it?”

  Kenzie listened, and laughe
d. “Of course! The swans and the bugs.”

  “And the water.”

  “Perfect for two people who met at hiking club.”

  “Exactly.”

  They ate in silence for a moment, before Kenzie said, “Thank Paige for me, then, would you? Her romantic sensibilities either gave me a last first date to remember forever, or an addiction to The Country Gentleman. This is the best food I’ve eaten in a long time.”

  “Best since yesterday?”

  What was with his expectant look? Oh, homemade macaroni and cheese!

  “Definitely!” she said. “Hard to beat, but this is certainly the best food I’ve had since yesterday.”

  After dinner, Peter suggested they find out where that boardwalk path led to. Kenzie immediately said yes, but worried about her shoes once they began walking. Spiky heels didn’t pair up well with a boardwalk. When Peter offered her his arm, she was both grateful and excited to feel his warm skin on hers again.

  The boardwalk followed along the lake for a ways, then ducked just inside the trees but still with a good view of the water.

  “A canopy of living forest,” Kenzie said softly.

  “What?”

  She smiled up at him. “It’s like a canopy, don’t you think? It’s in moments like this, with the sun glittering off the lake and shining through the trees, that you realize the forest really is a live thing.”

  Peter looked around, taking in their surroundings before his eyes landed warm and twinkling on hers again. She liked watching him think.

  “You’re right,” he said. “That’s a beautiful way to describe it.”

  They walked in silence for a few moments, but Kenzie didn’t mind. It gave her time to enjoy both Peter’s closeness and the natural setting. She was a little heady, everything was so perfect.

  “I’m curious about your necklace.” Peter broke the silence, and Kenzie’s hand automatically went up to touch it. She was always afraid of losing it.

  “This? It’s … special. It was my mother’s wedding band.”

  “Your mother’s,” Peter repeated thoughtfully.

  “She passed away when I was nineteen.”

  Peter squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry. That’s very young to lose your mother.”

  Kenzie didn’t really want to talk about it, and was glad when Peter didn’t ask any more.

  But he did say, “I wondered if it was yours, or a late husband’s.”

  Kenzie leaned back for a better look at his face. “You thought I was a widow?” She chuckled. “No, never married. I’ve never made time for a serious relationship.”

  “Even if you make time, it’s not that easy to find the right person.”

  They hadn’t stopped strolling, but as Kenzie looked up into Peter’s eyes, she suddenly wanted more than anything for him to kiss her, even if it was a first date.

  But moving fast isn’t a good idea.

  Close up, the curve of Peter’s mouth and those crinkles around his eyes made her absolutely weak in the knees.

  Though technically it’s kind of a second date.

  When Peter leaned down like he really was going to kiss her, her speeding heart inched her toward him. Their lips were so close she could almost feel his, when two things happened at once.

  First, that loud swan must have swum closer, because it couldn’t have been more than a few yards away when it sounded an enormous whoop.

  Second, Kenzie’s heel caught in the boardwalk, and she pitched toward the edge. Twisting and grabbing onto Peter’s arm to save herself, she pulled him down with her into the bushes.

  Fortunately, they landed in a thick clump of evergreen huckleberries. Unfortunately, Kenzie was on the bottom. Peter scrambled to his feet so he could help her up. His eyes were wide with worry. “Are you alright?”

  “I am,” she insisted, though she was pretty sure when she looked later she’d find a lot of bruises. She looked at the sizeable bush, which was now very squashed. “I don’t think our friend here is, though.”

  Peter laughed. “It’ll be fine. Those things are springy.”

  He offered his hand and helped her back onto the boardwalk. Kenzie took off her menacing shoes, and she and Peter continued their walk. The magic moment had passed, though, and if Kenzie was beginning to understand Peter Olson, she would guess that part of his first-date philosophy included no kissing.

  And he almost made an exception. Kenzie Vega smiled. She was already head-over-heels in like with this handsome man.

  Chapter Six

  When Peter’s sister stopped at his work site Tuesday morning, he’d been there since before dawn, dealing with broken equipment and filling in for a mechanic who didn’t show up. Not the best of mornings, but he couldn’t stop smiling, nonetheless.

  “This doesn’t look good,” Paige said, stepping over some debris. Peter rubbed his greasy hands on a rag. On-the-spot engine work was a frequent necessity, and he didn’t mind it if a quick fix worked, which it did today.

  “Sal! Give it a try!” he called to his driver. To Paige, he said, “You got here just in time.”

  “For what, to see you work?” Paige yawned. “I didn’t realize that was such a big event.”

  Peter smirked. “You know me, always sneaking off for a nap.”

  “I would be, getting up in the middle of the night. I’m tired just thinking about it.”

  “You look tired, too.”

  Paige rolled her eyes at him. “What is it I’m just in time for?”

  “See that one over there?” He pointed at the tallest, thickest tree in sight, a huge cedar with a trunk that likely spanned seven feet.

  “Oh, no! You know I hate to see the big ones come down.”

  Peter grinned. “This tree’s been around a lot longer than you have. It deserves a good send-off from someone who cares.”

  Paige’s bottom lip stuck out. “Can’t you leave that one? It’s so pretty.”

  “With the price of cedar? Not going to happen. We’re not being paid to landscape.”

  Sal had finally made his way back to the truck, and when he started the engine it roared to life. Peter sent him a thumbs-up.

  Paige called over the new noise, “I just came to tell you, I checked with Mom. Dad’s feeling better, and he’ll be stopping by Thursday at the latest. He wants to check out the job.”

  They walked toward Paige’s car, trying to put some space between them and the loud truck.

  “Yeah.” Peter shook his head. “I’m not surprised. I know he said he was ready to turn the business over to me, but he can’t quite stay away.”

  “Not because you’re not doing a good job. He just misses it.”

  “I know, and it’s nice having him around. I wish he’d let himself rest when he’s sick, and just enjoy retirement a little more. Anyway, you came all the way here to tell me that? You could have texted me. Mom could have texted me.”

  “I wanted to find out how your date with Kenzie went.”

  Peter’s Kenzie-induced smile had been hiding just below the surface, and with Paige’s bit of encouragement it spread across his face.

  “O-oh,” she said, smiling knowingly. “I see how it is.”

  “First date.” Unable to manage a whole sentence, he tried to downplay it. “A little soon to say.”

  “Uh-huh.” She wasn’t buying it. “Where did you take her?”

  “The Country Gentleman.”

  Paige’s expression told Peter she approved. “Perfect. Your grandchildren will love to hear the stories.”

  Peter shook his head, but the grin remained.

  “Did they play a certain song? Something you can call your own?”

  “No. But it was a nice night, and …” He shrugged. “She’s nice. Kenzie is nice.”

  Paige nodded. The truck had started moving toward the big cedar, so they both turned to watch. Paige laid her head heavily on Peter’s shoulder.

  “You feeling okay?” he asked.

  “Sure. I’m just tired. Probably a
bug. I’m glad about Kenzie, though. I really like her.”

  “Yeah, I thought you did,” he said. “Sunday dinner was a good idea.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Peter made a face. “It was my idea to ask her.”

  “To my house! But as long as I can beat her at Speed, I say she’s a keeper. Nice you have someone who will lose to you.”

  Peter would have made a snappy comeback, but Sal had already started the cut, and it stole Peter’s attention. He liked to talk big, but it pained him as much as it did Paige to see the big ones come down. Tough being a logger who also loved trees.

  “Hold on a second.” Kenzie moved the phone away from her ear so she could listen better. Something had definitely shaken her cabin, but the only sound she could hear was the dishwasher running. She put the phone back to her ear. “Did you feel something?” she asked her boss, Marianne.

  “Like what? An earthquake? No. And on the twenty-third floor, if there was an earthquake in Seattle, I would have felt it.”

  “Right,” Kenzie said. “Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for the dinner. Can you think of anything I’ve left out?”

  “Yes,” Marianne said. “You didn’t mention who you’re bringing.”

  Kenzie bit her nail. Normally when her boss pressed her to bring a date for one of their big fundraising dinners, she had a good excuse not to: She didn’t know anyone to ask. At least, not someone she felt comfortable asking. Now, a sandy-haired man with crinkly hazel eyes came immediately to mind. Peter would be fun to have at the fundraiser, but they’d only really been on one date. She couldn’t ask him out on a date that wouldn’t take place for a week and a half. What if they weren’t still seeing each other then?

  Not that we’re seeing each other. It was just one date. And macaroni and cheese with his sister, which wasn’t a date, but kind of was.

  “Marianne,” she began.

  “I know, you don’t know who to ask. That’s why I’m mentioning it now.”

  “Okay …”

  “If you can’t find someone between now and next Friday, I’d like to set you up with someone.”

  Kenzie shuddered. She and blind dates had a poor track record. “Marianne, no.”