My shoulders eased, and tension seeped out of my muscles. I’d been nervous for the past few days about the date. My mind had been a mess. Would the things I enjoyed really work for Tex?

He shrugged. “I would have been fine going to Chili’s.”

I shuddered at the thought. “Why must you ruin a good moment?”

Soft laughter bubbled out of Tex. “Excuse me, not everyone can afford five-course meals. Half-price appetizers and happy hour can be romantic.”

“How so? It’s noisy, crowded, and not to mention the multitude of smells.” There was no way it could be romantic, let alone enjoyable.

Tex’s head tilted as he stared at me. “Well, yeah, but it’s a great discount. I’m going to take you one day. It’s good to expand your horizons.”

“I’d rather eat at home where we can relax.”

“Well, you’re cooking is freaking good, so I guess that makes sense.”

The waiter sat bread at our table and made himself scarce.

“So I guess every date you go on, you’ve done something like this, huh? Kind of makes it hard for people to get over you if this is how you date them.”

“I’ve never been on a date,” I said.

Tex stilled a piece of bread halfway to his mouth. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that? You’re thirty-three!” He rubbed his ears as if they were clogged.

“Dating seemed to be a waste of time. I had far more important things to do.”

Tex’s mouth dropped open. He stared at me as if I’d grown another head. “But it was your idea to go on a date.”

I nodded. “You’re the most important thing to me.”

He shut his mouth, and his cheeks went red. Tex stood up just as the waiter held the bottle of wine over his glass. They collided. Almost in slow motion, the bottle of wine slipped from the waiter’s hands and hit the table, breaking and pouring all over Tex in the process.

“I am so sorry,” the waiter said. His nervous gaze moved over to me, but I stared at Tex.

“It’s okay. It was my fault.” He groaned and stared at his clothes. His shoulders slumped forward.

Getting him cleaned up and changed was my first thought. I snapped my fingers, and a few more people came to the table. “Towels.”

I got out of my seat and pulled Tex out of his seat. He didn’t meet my gaze. I gripped his chin and forced him to. “We can go home now—”

“No, I… I’d like to stay. It’s our first date.”

I nodded.

“Here you are, sir,” a woman said, holding more towels.

Tex took them. “I’m going to clean up what I can.”

I nodded and kissed him. I smiled at him. “Everything will be ready once you return.”

“Okay.”