This Side of the Sun (The Sun Trilogy) by M. Lauryl Lewis Page B

down were steep, and I gladly held onto Saul’s hand as I stepped down just in front of him. Music from the 90’s was playing in the background, but thankfully not too loudly. I had hoped for some quiet time.
    “Mind if we take a booth in the back?” asked Saul.
    “That’s fine.” I smiled at him sweetly.
    He kept hold of my hand and I followed him to a booth with brown vinyl seats. I slid in ahead of him, and he sat beside me. I tucked my purse onto the bench beside me, next to the wall. There weren’t many other people near us, just an older couple sitting at the bar and a single man at a small table near the center of the room.
    “You and Everett okay?” he asked.
    I looked at him and smiled gently. “Yeah. He apologized. I forgave.”
    “Good. He seems like an okay guy other than being a jerk to my girl.”
    “We’ve been friends a long time.”
    A waitress walked up to our table. She wore a tank top and a short black skirt that showed off her long legs. Her bright red hair was tied up in an intricate bun.
    “Welcome to The Tracks,” she said. “My name’s Carrie. What can I get for you two?”
    “I’ll have a Mac & Jack’s Amber, on tap.”
    “Great choice,” answered the waitress. “And for the lady?”
    “Know what you want, babe?”
    “I’ll have the same.”
    I had no idea what a Mack & Jacks Amber was, but figured I’d give it a try.
    “I’ll just need to see some ID, sorry.”
    “No problem,” said Saul. He fished his wallet out of his pocket and handed her his driver’s license.
    “Ah, cool,” said Carrie. “You and I have the same birthday! Down to the year.”
    “Well happy birthday,” said Saul.
    “Sweet twenty-four,” she said with a smile.
    I handed the waitress my own license, and she looked it over before handing it back with a smile.
    Carrie left our table and I looked over at Saul.
    “When’s your birthday?” I asked out of curiosity.
    “May first.”
    “I just missed it?”
    “Yup,” he said with a smile.
    “Can I ask you for a huge favor?” I asked.
    “Sure.”
    “Is it ok if after dinner we just go to your place? Just have a quiet night?”
    “Of course. Anything you want.”
    “Sorry plans got all screwed up.”
    “I’m not. As long as I get to hang out with you.”
    He kissed the top of my head and mumbled something about sunshine and honey. The waitress came back over with our two beers and a bowl of ice cream with chocolate syrup and whip cream.
    “On the house,” she said. “For a belated birthday.”
    “Thanks, Carrie,” said Saul. I liked how he called her by her name. I thought it was pretty classy.
    “Anytime. Just let me know if I can get you anything else,” she said as she set two napkins and spoons down.
    “That was sweet,” I said.
    Saul held a small spoonful of ice cream smothered in chocolate up for me to taste. I did so, my eyes never leaving his.
    “Good?” he asked.
    I nodded. “Very. You should try it.”
    He leaned forward and softly placed his lips on mine, opening my mouth gently. His tongue was warm in my frozen mouth, and he groaned as he tasted both me and the ice cream. The feel of his hand running through my hair as he deepened the kiss made me feel warm inside, and left me near breathless. He ended the kiss as suddenly as he had begun.
    “Yup, it’s delicious,” he said. His voice was deep and husky, and filled with desire.
    “You’re kinda driving me crazy,” I whispered.
    “I hope so. I told you I’ll make sure you have fun tonight.”
    “Let’s skip dinner,” I answered.
    “No way.”
    I sighed.
    ***
    We finished our beers and most of the ice cream before Saul paid and we headed back to his truck. I had offered to pay for my own, but he just rolled his eyes at me.
    The drive from the bar to the steak house was short. We arrived a few minutes early, so sat in the truck to talk.
    “Promise me we can leave if Helen starts talking about her garden gnome collection?”
    Saul laughed. “We’ll