“I’ll take care of it and bring your receipt right over.”

Giving them another troubled assessment, the waitress hurried back toward the register.

Becky pulled out her keys. “Would you like me to pay for my dinner?”

“Come on, Becky. You know me better than that.”

“I thought I did.” Her lower lip began to quiver. “You’ve met someone else, haven’t you?”

The question wasn’t unexpected. Most women would have asked it at once. But knowing Becky’s distaste for confrontation, he hadn’t been certain she’d bring it up—and he hadn’t volunteered the information.

At least he’d prepared an answer, in case she asked.

“I have met a woman who interests me.” He wasn’t going to lie or try to dance around the question. He’d always been honest with her. “But I think I’d have ultimately gotten to this place even without that. As much as I care for you, there should be a spark between people who are falling in love.”

“There is on my end.”

Ouch.

“I’m sorry.” Lame, but what else could he do except repeat what he’d already said twice? “I hope someday you’ll meet a man who can return all the love you have to offer.”

Mashing her lips together, she zipped up her purse.

“Here you go, hon.” Jolene set his card and receipt on the table. “God bless you both.”

Usually the waitress lingered to exchange a few pleasantries before they left, but she didn’t attempt to engage them in conversation tonight. Jolene could be a bit rough around the edges, but she had excellent intuitive skills.

Thank goodness.

Nate signed the receipt, slid from the booth, and waited for Becky to follow.

“You don’t have to walk me out.” She scooched across the vinyl-covered bench on her side of the table and stood.

“A gentleman always escorts a lady to her car, and you’re a lady through and through.”

She didn’t respond.

Nevertheless, he took her arm as he always did and walked her to the parking lot.

At her car, she tossed her purse on the passenger seat. As she turned toward him, a tear trailed down her cheek.

Man.

He felt like a heel.

Leaning forward, he pulled her into a hug. “Take care of yourself—and if you ever need anything, call me. Just because we’re not a couple anymore doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.”

She clung to him for a few moments, then eased out of his embrace and slipped into her car. “I appreciate the offer, but it doesn’t work that way. If one person has strong feelings, a clean break is best.” Her voice choked, and she twisted the key in the ignition. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

He did too.

In fact, while it didn’t seem very honorable to be thinking about another woman before Becky had driven out of sight, the little zing in his nerve endings as an image of Grace flashed through his mind gave him hope that Becky’s parting wish for him may have already come true.