Read Online Letting Go by Meg Jolie - Free Book Online

this time.
    Not anymore.
     
    ~*~*~
     
    “I had a reservation,” Luke grumbled.
    Quinn put a comforting hand on his arm. “It’s okay, Luke,” she said with a smile. He did, indeed , have a reservation. Yet, apparently too many earlier patrons were taking their time with their meals. A table wasn’t available yet. “She said it would be just a few more minutes.”
    He nodded. There had been seating available at the bar but Luke had declined, not wanting something so casual for tonight. The seats had quickly been taken by someone else. Luke had originally requested a booth because he knew Quinn preferred the privacy of a booth. Especially when a restaurant was as crowded as The Emerald Grill was. So, since it was a booth he’d reserved, it was a booth they were going to wait for.
    “This place is gorgeous,” Quinn said as she glanced around. The restaurant had a rustic feel, yet it seemed that no expense was spared to make it appear that way. The walls were painted a deep pumpkin. The tile was a rich chocolate tone. Bronze light fixtures hung from the ceiling, emitting a soft, subtle glow. The aroma that had hit them the moment they’d walked in had caused Quinn’s stomach to rumble.
    Now, they were seated on the long, padded bench near the entryway. They weren’t alone in the waiting area. Even though the establishment had been open a few months now, it retained its popularity. Especially on a Friday night.
    Quinn looped her arm through Luke’s as she leaned into him.
    He was still frowning. “I hate that we have to wait.”
    “Really, Luke. It’s okay,” she assured him.
    He frowned at her. “It’s not. I heard your stomach growl. You’re hungry. I should be able to feed you.”
    “I think I’ll survive,” she teased. She didn’t tell him that she was so hungry because she’d been too nervous to eat earlier.
    He got to his feet, despite her protest , to get a progress report. Quinn watched him. She was smiling as she was shaking her head. Usually he was a lot easier going. She knew he was only being so finicky because he wanted this night to be perfect.
    “Quinn?”
    Quinn snapped her head around at the sound of her name.
    “Lily!” she said as she leapt up from her seat. She covered the short distance to her friend who had just walked through the door with her husband, Nate.
    After a quick greeting for Quinn, Nate excused himself to check in with the hostess.
    “I almost didn’t recognize you!” Lily said.
    “It’s the hair,” Quinn pointed out. “I almost never bother to straighten it anymore.”
    “You look fabulous. I can’t believe you came to town and didn’t call me!” she admonished as she released her friend from a hug. Lily had been one of Quinn’s best friends for years. She’d moved to Baxter the year prior with her husband.
    “Well,” Quinn said, “I really didn’t know that I’d be here. It was a bit of a surprise.”
    “What do you mean?” Lily asked.
    “Look who I found,” Nate said to Lily as he came back.
    “Oh, hi , Luke,” Lily said, treating him to her typical sweet smile. “It’s good to see you.”
    “ You, too,” Luke said.
    “I think we might want to try somewhere else,” Nate said to Lily. “There’s about an hour wait.”
    “Alright,” Lily agreed. “It was really nice to run into you. We really need to get together soon,” she said to Quinn. “It’s been way too long.”
    Luke glanced at Quinn, his expression held a question. She gave him a small nod.
    “You know, we have a booth,” Luke said. “You can join us. We should be seated any minute. They’re just getting it ready now.”
    Nate glanced at his wife . He looked relieved. Lily beamed at all of them. “We’d love to! I’d love to catch up with both of you! I want to hear what brought you to town. And why you didn’t let us know you were coming.” She gave them a stern look.
    Then she faltered, as if seeing them for the first time. Or perhaps for the first time noting