Riley reached for Hannah's hand, and grinning, he led her out the front door and down the stairs to where his red CRX was parked. The drive took the better part of an hour, but once they arrived and were seated, Hannah realized it had been well worth the effort. The smells were incredible. The scent of warm bread mingled with garlic and freshly fried oysters.
Hannah piled her plate high with steamed clams and hot bread. As soon as she was finished, she returned for a slice of grilled salmon and barbecued shrimp, balancing a cup of thick clam chowder on the edge of her plate. The waitress came by with a glass of milk, which Riley had apparently ordered for her. She was pleased to note that he chose coffee for himself.
"This is wonderful," she exclaimed, after returning to the buffet table for the third time. She took a sampling of finger lobster and some oysters.
Riley was openly staring at her.
"Is something wrong?" she questioned, after adjusting the napkin on her lap.
"I would never have guessed one person could eat so much."
Hannah gazed at her plate. "I've made a glutton of myself, haven't I?" She rebounded quickly and smiled up at him. "You have to remember, I'm eating for two."
"You're eating as if you're expecting triplets," he teased, but the way his mouth lifted up at the corners told her he was pleased.
Breaking off a piece of bread, Hannah reached for the butter. "Is there anyone you want to tell about the wedding?" she asked conversationally.
"Who do you mean?" Her question appeared to displease him.
"Family," she said, not understanding his mood.
"I don't have any family."
"None?" It seemed incomprehensible to Hannah, who was so close to her own.
"My father ran off when I was eight, and my mother… Well, let's put it this way: she wasn't much interested in being a mother. I haven't had any contact with her in years."
Hannah set the bread aside. "I'm sorry, Riley. I had no idea… I didn't mean to bring up unhappy memories."
"You didn't. It's in the past and best forgotten."
"How'd you end up in the Navy?"
He seemed to find her query amusing. "How else? I enlisted."
"I see." It had been a stupid question, and she grew silent afterward.
They left the restaurant a few minutes later. A full stomach and the warm blast of air from the heater lulled her into a light sleep. She was only mildly aware of Riley turning on the car radio, switching stations until he found one that specialized in Easy listening.
Hannah woke when he stopped the engine. It took her a second to realize her head was resting against his shoulder. She straightened abruptly as though she'd been caught doing something wrong. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize – "
"Don't be," he said brusquely, as though she'd displeased him far more by offering an apology than using his shoulder as a support.