A Simple Wish About love - Karice Bolton Page 0,16
your family?”
Slade nodded as he filled his plate. “Extremely.”
“Me too. I have a sister who lives on the islands here, but we talk every day. My parents live in Seattle. Are your parents still in Idaho?”
Slade turned and headed toward the table before she could hear his answer.
Chapter Six
Things had been going so well, and Slade didn’t feel like turning the morning upside down. Right now, it seemed as though Erika thought of Slade as an old high school jock who deserved what he got from his old girlfriend. And to him, that was better than his having to go down memory lane to talk about things that actually mattered to him, like his family.
In a sense, Penny was a good diversion.
“Since Drew kidnapped my kid, I’m free for the rest of the day. I could show you around Silver Ridge since you’re staying a little longer.” Erika bit her bottom lip as if she half expected Slade to turn her down.
She hadn’t brought up the subject of his family since he’d ignored her last question, but in this short time of knowing Erika, he knew she’d bring it up again.
He’d just have to figure out how to put a gentler spin on things.
After all, he was here in Silver Springs to have a little fun and quit bringing up things he had no control over, things that were in his past.
“I’d actually love that.” Slade only took one more bite of what was on his plate and pushed it away. He was stuffed, and it looked like the same issue was plaguing Erika.
Her gaze caught his, and he wondered how many more days he could spend in Silver Ridge. She was captivating even when she was doing nothing more than polishing off a pancake.
“Okay, well, then it’s a plan.” She folded her napkin just as the server stopped by with the check.
Slade reached for the bill, but Erika swooped it away. “Nuh-uh.” She smiled. “My treat.”
“I seriously can’t let you do that.” Slade shook his head, and she smiled and leaned closer.
“I’ve got a secret.”
Slade leaned in too. “What’s that?”
“I get a free brunch once a month for four people.” She winked at him, and he felt like the luckiest man in the world.
Slade sat back and laughed, shaking his head. “Well, thanks for using it up on me.”
“Anytime.” She slid a little card into the bill and filled out something before looking up at Slade. “Ready to hit the town?”
“Absolutely.” Slade stood and rubbed his belly, and Erika chuckled.
“Ho-ho-ho and Merry Christmas,” Erika teased, and Slade couldn’t help but laugh. “Can I rub it too? Will it give me good luck?”
“Man, you’re relentless.” Slade had never met a woman like Erika. She was soft and caring yet could cut a person down with one look. And maybe he needed that for a change.
“Sorry. I’ll try to behave.” She flashed a coy smile, which made her look even cuter as he followed her out of the dining area.
“Somehow, I think that’s a lost cause.”
She spun around and flashed another dazzling smile. “I suppose you’re right. Do you like antiques?”
The question was so random after the belly-rub comment that Slade just nodded.
“Good. Because we have an amazing antique store right in town. I’ll drive.”
Slade obeyed and followed her to her car. He climbed into her Jeep, and off she drove them, down the mountain and into town.
There was no doubt about it. This mountain town was idyllic in every sense of the word. Hanging baskets dripped flowers from lampposts. Colorful wooden benches dotted the sidewalks. Pocket parks lined the road leading into town. It was hard not to fall a little bit for Silver Ridge.
“Are you headed back tomorrow?” Erika asked, glancing over at him.
He noticed her sliding a couple of looks in his direction as she drove down the mountain, but he couldn’t tell their purpose. This one, however, kind of felt like she was checking him out.
Or it was wishful thinking.
“I think so. Although, the idea of extending my stay here is kind of appealing.” He sighed and glanced out the window. “I haven’t had a vacation in a really long time.”
Erika chuckled. “Vacation? What’s that?”
“It’s all relative, I suppose.”
“To be honest, I don’t have a pull to go anywhere else. I love Silver Ridge so much that I want to spend any days off here.”
“I can see why. It’s a really special place.”
She nodded and found a parking place pretty quickly.
“You said your sister lives on an