“That’s something only a high-maintenance person would worry about,” Tyler noted.
Cooper pinned him with a furious glare. “Way to make things worse.”
Tyler merely shrugged. “I aim to please.”
HANNAH AND COOPER OPTED FOR THE patio at the restaurant, which was the same location they attempted to eat during their previous visit. They scanned the people surrounding the table they were seated at, and when they were both assured that things looked normal, they perused the provided menus.
“This is already better than last time,” Cooper noted, smiling when he felt her slide her feet between his under the table. It was a way for them to touch without looking like hormonal teenagers. “What are you going to get?”
“I don’t know. What would a low-maintenance person get?”
He frowned behind his menu, made a plan to wrestle Tyler down and throw dirt on him the following day, and then decided to play the game. “Probably a salad with lemon juice and no cheese.”
Hannah wrinkled her nose. “That doesn’t sound very fun.”
“No,” he agreed. “A high-maintenance individual would probably go for the prime rib and carrot cake. You’re not that sort of person, though.”
“Ha, ha.” Hannah tapped her feet against his. “I do like carrot cake.”
“I know. I now automatically pick it up from wherever I’m getting takeout if they have it.”
“They have molten lava cake, too, though.”
“And what’s that?”
“Chocolate cake with ice cream and hot fudge.”
“That is a tough choice.”
“Maybe we can split that so I don’t have to worry about all the calories.”
“No way. If there’s hot fudge involved, I want an entire dessert to myself.”
Hannah couldn’t stop herself from chuckling. “Well, that’s something new I didn’t know about you. I’ll have to file that away to think about later. We could each get a separate dessert and share.”
“No way, baby. I don’t hate carrot cake, but it doesn’t hold a candle to hot fudge.”
Because she agreed, Hannah went back to staring at her menu. “I know you were joking, but prime rib does sound good. I try not to eat overly fatty servings of beef, but I guess it couldn’t hurt, just this once.”
“I happen to agree.”
“Since when do you count calories?”
“Hey, I try to watch at least some of what I’m eating. I work out a lot so I can get away with a few lax meals over the course of the week.”
“You definitely work out,” she commented. “That’s why you have such a cute butt.”
“Oh, that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me,” Cooper crooned. “It’s not even a little high-maintenance. You love my butt. I love your butt, too.”
The waitress picked that moment to sidle up to their table, her face welcoming. If she’d heard the statement, she didn’t show it. “Would you guys like to start with some appetizers? Maybe a glass of wine?”
“I’m not a big wine drinker, but I’ll take whatever you have on tap,” Cooper countered. “As for appetizers ....” He flipped to that section of the menu.
“I’ll have a blueberry margarita and a glass of water,” Hannah said.
“And we’ll take the three-sampler appetizer,” Cooper added. “We’ll have the mushroom caps, calamari, and stuffed tomatoes.”
“Absolutely.” The waitress shot him a blinding smile. “I’ll go put your appetizer order in, get your drinks and be back in a few minutes.”
“We’re looking forward to it.”
The waitress held Cooper’s gaze for an extended beat, cast him a flirty smile, and then moved to a nearby table. Hannah waited until she was certain the woman was out of earshot to speak.
“I don’t want to be high-maintenance or anything…” she started.
The sigh Cooper let loose was long and drawn out. “Can you just let it go?”
“No, because you said yourself that I’m easygoing and now you’re saying the opposite.”
“When did I say that?”
“You’ve said it a million times.”
“I believe I said you’re easy to get along with,” he clarified.
She hesitated, briefly wondering if she’d misheard him all those times before, and then shook her head. “How is that different?”
“It’s very different.” Even though he wasn’t in the mood for a fight — whether it was a largely manufactured one or not — Cooper was thrilled to have something to talk about besides the worry Hannah was harboring regarding Casper Creek’s future. This was a much more savory discussion. “When I say you’re easy to get along with, I mean that you’re unbelievably sweet and don’t put up a fuss when it comes to ordering takeout or picking a movie to watch.”
“See. I’m low-maintenance.”
“No. You’re still a bit dramatic, and you dig your heels in when you want to, and you refuse to follow directions in a dangerous situation.”
“Maybe you’re high-maintenance,” Hannah muttered.
He laughed at the way her pretty pink lips rolled into a pout. “I think I’m definitely high-maintenance. Maybe that’s why we’re such a good fit.”
“Maybe. I still don’t want to be high-maintenance, though.”
“I don’t think you have a choice in the matter. You are what you are. I happen to love you regardless.”
She couldn’t help it. His earnest expression made her go warm all over. “I guess it’s okay that I’m high-maintenance. I would like you to agree that I’m a low-maintenance high-maintenance person, though. It’s not like I’m one of those reality show chicks or something.”
“You most definitely are not. I will give you that.”
“Okay.” She danced in her chair. “Did I mention I’m glad we finally get to eat at this place? I’m just relieved to have a few hours out and about, just the two of us.”
“I’m right there with you. How about we take a walk downtown when we’re finished?”
“We’re going to have to if we’re digesting that lava cake and all the appetizers you ordered. That’s not even counting the prime rib.”
“Good point.”
THEY WERE STUFFED TO THEIR GILLS WHEN they finally departed the restaurant two hours later. Cooper left an absolutely massive tip for the waitress, who Hannah had no doubt would’ve
