Every Season of You: A Small-Town Second-Chance Romance (Seasons in Adina Bay Book 1) by Rania Battany

Author:Rania Battany [Battany, Rania]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aquiver Publishing
Published: 2023-11-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Jack

Jack slipped his hands into his pockets and attempted to look casual as he approached Louisa’s restaurant, but his calm façade almost crumbled on seeing Lola. She was gorgeous.

The sun brought out the red highlights in her auburn hair. It wasn’t straight as it had been the last two days, rather it fell in natural loose waves around her beautiful face. She wore no make-up, which accentuated her natural beauty, and she’d swapped the corporate attire for her usual style: a floral ankle-length skirt and simple tank top. He preferred this style on her. She looked so much more like … Lola. Sunlight reflected in her eyes, and for a moment he couldn’t breathe.

‘Good evening.’ He greeted her with a casual smile.

‘Evening.’

‘Ready to go inside?’

She nodded, but neither of them moved. In their silence, her gaze met his. Jack’s every impulse demanded he reach out for her, to take her hand and pull her against him. To kiss the lips he’d missed so much. So, so much. But he didn’t do that. Instead, he took a breath and held it, calming the storm threatening to unravel him.

‘Let’s eat,’ he said.

Inside, a waiter led them to their table. Lousia’s attracted both locals and tourists alike, but Jack, like Lola, had never once ventured into the five-start restaurant. Being here now, he understood the allure.

The lighting fixtures emitted a soft glow. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of golden sand and sunlight shimmering on the water. With subtle beach-themed decor, the restaurant exuded elegance and a warm ambience.

Lola’s eyes lit up as she peered around, and he knew she thought it every bit as magical as she’d hoped.

The waiter handed them each a menu. ‘May I get you a drink to start?’

Jack didn’t bother scanning the list of drinks. He knew what he wanted. ‘I’ll grab a Golden Ale, please.’

Lola chewed her lip as she studied the menu, finally deciding on a fruity cocktail.

Silence settled over the table the moment the waiter walked away, ending only when the waiter returned ten minutes later to deliver their drinks and take their meal order. Lola still hadn’t decided what she wanted for dinner, even though she’d stared at the food menu the entire time the waiter was gone.

‘Do you need me to come back?’ the waiter offered.

She bit her lip, umming and ahhing a few more times, then shook her head. ‘I’ll just have the chicken Caesar salad,’ she said.

Jack ordered the steak and veggies.

Around them, a gentle hum chimed from the other diners, but Lola and Jack just stared out of the window. They sipped from their drinks. Another deafening silence threatened to descend, to consume them, so Jack resorted to small talk. ‘This place is really nice.’

She shuffled in her seat. ‘It really is.’

‘The view is perfect.’

‘So beautiful.’

They stared out of the window again. Each took another sip of their drinks.

‘So peaceful,’ he added.

A beat of silence passed, then Lola spoke.

‘I missed the beach,’ she said, her gaze still out to where gentle waves kissed the shore.

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