Reservations

“So how delayed are you this time?” she asked, already in her usual seat.

“Three hours,” he said, shoving each arm through a sleeve then zipping up his jacket.

Lightning flashed across the sky, fanning out in a dramatic display, drawing Thane’s attention at the same time a loud booming clap of thunder shook the ground underneath him.

“That was a good one,” Thane said, taking his seat in the comfortable patio chair he’d bought especially for all the hours he’d spent right here. When Erin didn’t speak, he glanced over, seeing he’d lost her to the enticing combination of thunderstorm and her long-time hobby, crocheting.

He didn’t interrupt, instead letting her work, knowing he had benefited from her insanely good skill, and was always grateful for her gifts. The trendy scarves and warm throws came in especially handy during the cold winters. She even sold some of her crocheted soap holders to Sweet Suds, a bakery concept bath confectionery shop located close to his office on Main Street. The owners, Autumn and Jared, were neighbors as well as mutual friends. As far as he was concerned, the popular little shop sold the best cupcake bath bombs and all-natural bath products on the east coast. He might be biased, but he took great pride in that store, spending hours and hours talking with the owners about the business side of such a venture.

Besides Erin’s knack for crocheting, she was a great conversationalist. They had shared more than one drunken philosophical conversation about the beauty and destruction of Mother Nature while splitting several bottles of wine. Her husband thought they were nuts. In that, he was probably right, but they had enjoyed themselves immensely.

“How long will you be away this time?” she asked, turning her full attention toward him, her fingers still manipulating the yarn with the hook in that repetitive, rhythmic pattern.

“Three-ish weeks,” he answered, distracted, even if she wasn’t, by the movement of her hands as she worked.

“That sucks even more. We’re having our Valentine’s Day yappy hour party next week if the weather holds.” With her disappointment, her hands stopped moving and the yarn fell flat on her lap as her accusing stare landed on him. “You planned this trip on purpose.”

“I keep telling you that I don’t fit into yappy hour because I don’t have a dog.” That seemed so reasonable to him. How did she not get it?

“You have a love of wine and can go get a dog from the SPCA to walk. You fit in just fine. You’re always trying to get out of it with your excuses,” she countered, not even teasing a little bit. More times than not, Erin and Corey had dragged him down the hill for yappy hour. They met their little group there, which included Autumn and Jared as well as his single neighbor, Brock. They all had animals. Generally, he was one of a handful of people there without a dog, but she was right. It was always great fun, even with having to explain over and over why he chose to remain animal-less in his life.

The only true drawback to the night rested in having to navigate all those steps back up to his house while drunk off his ass and seeing double. He’d skinned his knees more than once trying to get up those damn things.

“I wanted to surprise you, but Brock’s friend Noel’s planning to come and stay for a few days. I thought it would give you two time to get to know each other.”

“The same guy you tried to hook me up with before?”

Erin nodded eagerly.

“Absolutely not, Erin.”

“Noel’s fabulous and you should date him,” she demanded.

Instead of being sucked into another debate about his love life, or as Erin referred to it, his lack of love in his life, Thane quickly changed the subject. “I’m going to St. Louis tonight, then renting a car and driving in three- or four-hour intervals across the country.”

“No way. That sounds miserable.”

“Made more miserable by the fact I’m hitting my under-performing restaurants in a surprise attack. I’ll be laying down the law on them,” he said dramatically, waggling his brows.

“Okay, you’re right, that did get more miserable. They don’t know you’re coming?”

“Nope. After I finish up in Arizona, I’m heading to Coronado, taking a few days off there.”

“I love Coronado. I bet it’s warm there right now,” she said dreamily, and her body gave a shiver. “Okay, listen. I’m getting cold, but did you hear the old colonial on the hill’s going on the market?” Erin asked.

“No. Where did you hear that?”

“I just met with the old man’s granddaughter. They’re selling the place and moving him to a senior center.”

The old home, built in the 1800s, sat at the top of the hill and was the focal point of the whole town. He’d always loved that place, had even wormed his way into an invitation inside. The house would require a complete overhaul, a total remodel, but would be worth every single dime. “I’d be interested in that house.”