Maybe she’d been right when she said this was a bad idea. But then she flashed him a killer smile, and just like that, he was back on the hook.
They sat at a cozy table in the corner and ordered the special.
“I don’t want to bring up a bad subject, but in the interest of getting to know each other better …” Regina ran her fingers along the rim of her water glass. “Neither you nor Callie have mentioned your parents. Are they …?”
“In Florida enjoying the warm weather? Yes, yes they are.”
Relief flickered across her features. “I was worried it was some tragic holiday story, and I didn’t want
to say the wrong thing …”
“Just the typical story. They like the warmth, and my mom’s parents live down there, so they’re visiting them now. They’ll be back next week so they won’t miss the big holiday party and so they can spend Christmas here. I’m sure you’ll meet them.”
She nodded, the thought of meeting his parents clearly overwhelming even though she was the one who’d brought them up.
“Not officially meet them. Just … small town.”
“Right.” She tore the wrapper that held her napkin around her silverware and smoothed it with the side of her palm. “My parents prefer to travel over the holidays. They almost canceled Italy this year since my wedding was so close, but I told them they might as well go since I’d be on my way to Jamaica.” She shrugged, the gesture too forced to come off as casual, and her fingers trembled a bit. “I’m glad they didn’t or there would’ve been a fancy soiree at their house that I’d be expected to attend, and I’d have to deal with all those pity-filled looks.”
The mention of her failed nuptials hung over them for a couple of beats. It was always there in the background, and again he wondered what he was doing. But the thought of her returning home to no one rubbed him the wrong way too. He’d rather she be here, where people would smother her with affection whether she wanted it or not.
“Thanks for not pitying me,” she said. “Or doing a good job of hiding it anyway.”
“I don’t pity you. I pity him. That idiot walked away from what I’d bet is the best thing that ever happened to him.” A bold statement, but he meant it. Maybe his simple life here wouldn’t satisfy her for long, but she was kind and funny and sharp-witted, on top of being beautiful, and you didn’t run across those traits every day.
She covered his hand with hers. “Thank you for saying that. I’m sure I did a lot of things wrong, and I tend to get lost in the details, but I never thought I’d get so lost in them that I failed to see things had fallen apart. Maybe my perfectionist side just refused to let that happen. And admittedly, I’m not always this fun.” She leaned closer. “Another confession? While I thoroughly enjoyed my relaxing days of reading, my antsy side was kicking in, and I was relieved when Fern demanded I be a judge because it gave me a purpose.”
“Relief definitely isn’t what I felt when they asked, but I think it’s good to have a purpose. And you are fun.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re not exactly a barrel of monkeys. I mean, the other night with you after the tree lighting was super fun, but I’m guessing that’s not your usual either.”
“I’m not sure how to take that. What’s the wrong way and what’s the right way?”
She shrugged. “I guess I want to be a perfectionist, even when it’s deciding to have fun.”
“Yeah, that sounds like fun.”
“Exactly. I can’t even have fun having fun. It’s too stressful.”
The waitress came and delivered their food.
Since Regina still looked perplexed over her inability to have fun—which was silly—Emmett turned his hand over, locking their palms together. “Are you having a good time now?”
Her eyes met his, and she swallowed and then nodded.
“Good. Then let’s not worry about later fun.” Maybe he had been on the grumpy side recently, but he was slowly coming out of it, and the woman across from him was at least partially responsible. “Let’s focus on the now.”
“Just live in the snow globe world until time’s up?”
A pang went through his chest at the phrase time’s up, but that was silly. It was way too soon for that. “Why not?”
“Well, I like that it’s a perfectly defined plan.”
He shook his head but couldn’t help smiling.
“Still no teeth,” she said, propping her chin on her fist. “I’ll get that full smile out of you yet, Sheriff Haywood.”
An electric current traveled across his skin. He probably shouldn’t like her calling him that so much, but it didn’t change the fact that he really did.