The smell of herbs and roasted garlic drifted through the air again as the waiter returned with their entrées. He set a steaming plate of linguine pescatore in front of Derek—plump shrimp, scallops, and mussels resting on a bed of pasta tossed in a light tomato broth. In front of Ryleigh, he placed her chicken marsala, smothered in rich mushroom sauce and paired with a generous helping of garlic mashed potatoes.
“Enjoy,” the waiter said with a polite nod before retreating to the back of the restaurant.
Ryleigh inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a second. “This smells like heaven.”
“Wait until you taste it,” Derek said, already twirling a bite of pasta on his fork.
As she picked up her knife, Ryleigh glanced at him thoughtfully. “Would it be okay if my questions got a little more… per
