MHOS Part 3: The set up

I get ready for my date with Shawn, taking one last look in the mirror, then I head to the restaurant early so I can scope the place out before my date. It's nothing special, it's small, quiet and have a TV sitting above the bar playing the news. So I sit down, I pull out my little notebook and finish the notes on the last short story I wrote & I watch the news. As I am writing away in my notebook a plate of appetizers I never ordered is set down in front of me. I look up and there is Shawn, wearing an apron, carrying a notepad asking me if I'd like to order yet.

He caught me off guard, people don't do that.

I put my book back in my purse, stood up and gave him a half hug inviting him to sit down. He took the apron off and sat down across from me and he explained that being as we're in his hometown, he knows everyone and everywhere there is to go. "So I made the right decision saying yes didn't I?" His smile broadens as he pulls the seat out for me so that I may sit back down.

As we chat he informs me that he already ordered and that the rest is on the way. We're having 2 burger platters since my favourite food is burgers.

He knows too much about me already. I don't like it. I thank him and excuse myself to the bathroom to regain my composure. Don't be fooled by the charm Ella, it always starts off this way. In that moment I felt disaster already. I splashed water on my face, shook it off, and walked back to my table.

As I approach the table, he stands up, smiles, and pulls my chair out for me. We continue to have pleasant conversation as we enjoy our meal. The news turns dark. A man's body was just discovered in the trunk of his own car at a motel. They don't know anything more yet, but the police are still investigating. I look up and immediately recognize the car from my last exploit and cover my smile with a grimace asking if the manager can change the channel. I cant be distracted, this one watches me.

Like right now, he has a look of concern on his stupid face, it needs to stop.

I smile and mention how I love game shows & change the topic.

"I'm not around much longer, if you would like to go out again I'm free this weekend, there is a beautiful little hotel on the lake." I say to him as we are wrapping up dessert.

He says if I want real beauty only the locals have access to he has something in mind. He takes out his wallet and shows me pictures of a beautiful cottage in the woods that his family owns. One is a family picture of him and his parents as a child, the other is a picture of him fishing off the dock as an adult.

"Perfect" I think to myself, "No receipts, no witnesses and when the body is found in a local area, no outsider would ever be considered a suspect."