“This is cozy.” Renee approved.

“That’s a compliment coming from the Queen of Cozy.”

“Huh?”

“Your cottage might just be the warmest, most welcoming place I’ve ever visited.”

He held a chair out for Renee, and she took a seat as he lit the tea lights on the bistro table.

“Fancy!” She settled in, loving that he went to so much trouble.

He smiled at her as he searched for something on his phone. A few moments later, John Legend crooned over the boat’s speakers. He set a basket of fresh dinner rolls between them and a Caesar salad at each place before taking a seat. Moe settled in himself, lying against Renee’s feet, keeping them warm.

“Wow…this looks delicious.” She smiled bashfully, thinking she’d never been treated to a dinner with so many thoughtful details. “Thank you.”

They kept the conversation light through their salads and the dinner rolls. She told him more about Tansy and her prestigious scholarship, making sure not to mention any of her daughter’s recent behavior.

“Is it hard having her across the country?”

“Extremely.” Renee’s heart ached with missing her. “She was, she is, my life. When she first left, it felt like a part of me was missing. That phantom limb feeling hasn’t quite subsided.”

“Bet you can’t wait for summer vacation.” Dr. Dan removed her salad plate as well as the breadbasket. “Ready for the main event?”

Renee tried to smile through the flash of sadness as he set a platter of lobster in front of her. A cup of melted butter was beside it as well as a baked potato with all the fixings.

“This is gorgeous.” She swooned, her mouth already watering.

Time to forget Tansy for a moment and be in the present.

He lifted his head and toasted the starry sky. “I had to serve something special to accompany tonight’s meteor shower.”

“Wow, really?” Was she dreaming? There was no way she was on this incredible boat with this incredible man, being served the best dinner she’d had in years.

He grinned and nodded. “Meggie used to have this giant telescope. We kept it in the attic of our house, and she’d sit up there with a glass of wine at night, gazing at the sky.” He looked down at his lap. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be talking about her like this. It’s my first date since, well, since she died. I’m an amateur.”

Renee wasn’t offended. “I’m glad you shared your memories with me. And not to worry, I guarantee I’m rustier at dating than you.” She paused, wondering if he would find the next detail off-putting or just plain pathetic. “I haven’t dated anyone, seriously that is, since Tansy’s dad, my ex-husband, left me. And that was…oh, twelve or so years ago?”

He looked flabbergasted. “You’re joking.”