The Restaurant (The Nantucket Restaurant #1)(36)

“Can we walk to Millie’s?” Mac asked. “If not, my rental car is right here in the lot by the grocery store. I was running an errand earlier.”

“We need to drive there. It’s not too far, and right by the ocean.”

Mac led the way to his rental car, a red Jeep Wrangler. Jill directed him, and ten minutes later, they arrived at Millie’s. It wasn’t crowded yet as it was still early and they went to the upstairs bar area, where the views were better and settled at a high-top table.

Jill ordered a margarita on the rocks and Mac another local beer, this time Cisco’s Indie Pale Ale. They both ordered the fish tacos and shared an appetizer of guacamole and chips. While they snacked on the chips, Mac entertained her with funny stories about some of the other restaurants he’d evaluated. While he talked, she couldn’t help think what a catch he was. He was around her age, mid-thirties, came from a successful family, was smart, funny and handsome. Yet, as they ate their dinner and got to know each other, as much as she enjoyed his company, she didn’t feel much of a romantic spark. He seemed like a really great guy though.

“So, enough about me. When you’re in Manhattan, not running a restaurant on Nantucket, what do you do?”

“I’m a recruiter, a headhunter, in the financial services space.”

“New York is a good place for that. Do you like it?”

Jill smiled. “I do. I love it actually. My friend Billy and I used to work together and left to open our own small firm. I miss the energy of Manhattan and being in the office,” she admitted. “But, I’m enjoying being here too. It’s nice catching up with my sisters. We don’t see each other often enough. Do you have any siblings?”

“I do, one of each. Both work in the family business. My sister manages the office and my brother runs the front of the house at our flagship location. I’m the oldest.”

“Are you always traveling for your job?” Jill imagined he probably was and knew she’d hate that aspect of it. Every once in a while would be fine, but more than that, no.

“I do travel a fair amount, but it seems to go in spurts. There are months where all the clients are local, which is nice.”

“I’m traveling back to New York once or twice a month now, which is more than I’ve done before. I don’t know how you do it.”

He grinned. “It’s really not that bad. And I get to meet interesting people, like you. In fact, if you’re up for it, we could go out again one of these times when you’re back in town.”

Jill did enjoy talking to Mac. He was charming and funny and good company overall. So, she didn’t hesitate to say yes. Maybe she needed to give it more time, give him a chance for the attraction to grow.

“I’d like that.”

His eyes lit up. “Great. Just get in touch whenever you want to get together and we’ll make a plan.”

When they finished eating, Mac insisted on paying and when he pulled up to Gram’s house, he parked and walked Jill to the door.

“Thanks for showing me around today. Millie’s was great, as you said and I’m glad I finally saw the museum.”

“I’m glad you did too, and thanks for dinner. It was fun.”

“My pleasure.” Mac pulled her in for a hug and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

“I hope I get to see you again soon?”

“I’ll be heading back in a few weeks. I’ll get in touch then.”

“Perfect!”





Chapter 15





Mandy was grateful that she had the restaurant to focus on because otherwise, she suspected she would have been tempted to crawl back into bed after dropping the kids at school and stay there. She did give in once, when she wasn’t expected in the restaurant and spent the entire day lounging on her living room sofa, watching classic sitcoms and romantic comedies and eating the things in her freezer that she usually avoided—mac and cheese, and ice cream. She thought she was all cried out, but it turned out she was wrong and had to buy more boxes of tissues. She never knew when it was going to hit her and the tears would fall.

Sometimes it was the littlest thing, like once when she was folding laundry and a picture fell off her dresser. She picked it up, and it was of her and Cory on their wedding day. They looked so young and in love that the pain of it made her gasp, and she had to sit down. When she finally calmed down, she stuffed the picture in a drawer so she wouldn’t have to look at it and finished putting the socks away.

Cory called the day after he moved out to let her know where he’d landed. He’d made one phone call to a local real estate office, and they hooked him up with a stunning, three-bedroom rental in Brant Point, their neighborhood, one of the most desired areas of the island. He’d said it was on the water and had everything he and the kids needed, so he could keep them on the weekend. The location was good though a little too close for Mandy’s liking as it was just a few streets away. But she realized it would be convenient for the kids.

She still hadn’t had the conversation with them, yet. She was dreading it, but knew she had to do it soon. They probably sensed that something was up, as she’d been quieter than usual and Cory had been gone all week. She’d simply told them that daddy was busy with work, which they didn’t question as he was always busy with work.