Dinner was great, if a little agonizing with all of Carlotta’s moaning and sensual eye rolls. Conversation flowed freely, better than any real dates I’d been on in the past year.
The server showed up a few minutes after we finished our last few bites. “Room for dessert? We have an excellent brownie pie, or if you’d like, a brisket brittle.”
Carlotta groaned. “Please tell me that is as heavenly as it sounds.”
“More than heavenly,” the server said with a smile.
“I’ll have an order of that, to go please.”
“Make it two,” I added just before we were left alone again. “Wicked woman.”
“Thank you?” She laughed, and the sound filled me with genuine warmth. Heat too, but also the warmth of affection.
“My pleasure.” I meant those words deeply. Carlotta was the friend I didn’t know I needed. She was playful, and didn’t let me take myself too seriously without diminishing my job as a small town mayor.
By the time we landed back on her doorstep, I was definitely feeling that this was more like a date than just dinner between friends. I felt my pulse increase. “I had a wonderful time tonight, Chase. Really. Dinner with you was better than any date I’ve been on in years, and not just because I got to eat my fill of barbecue.” She laughed, but her words held a ring of truth to them.
“Actually, I had that same thought over dinner. And you should always go out with men who appreciate your appetite, it’s not something you should have to be worried about.”
“You’re great Mayor Chase, you know that?” She didn’t wait for me to respond, just wrapped her arms around me and pressed her lush, feminine curves against me as she squeezed tight. “Next time, dinner is on me.” Then she kissed me, right on the cheek.
Totally platonic, which should have made it feel like the kiss of death.
Except it didn’t.
It felt like a reason to hope.
Then again, maybe that was just wishful thinking.
Chapter 9
Carlotta
It was difficult to stand beside Chase inside The Old Country House barn after our non-date this past weekend.
It wasn’t awkward or weird, but that goodbye hug and G-rated peck on the cheek felt charged. Sexually, and electrically charged. My heart had raced like crazy the whole time, and even after Chase had said goodnight, he filled my thoughts. Dirty thoughts. Sexy thoughts.
All around inappropriate thoughts.
But I was a professional, and today we were meeting for business. Well I was meeting for business, he was here as a favor to his sister. “I think this barn is perfect for what Pippa described as her dream wedding space, but without a tentative guest list, I can’t say for certain.”
“Why?” Chase looked around the now empty barn with a frown on his face. “This place seems massive.”
“It is, but it will fit one hundred people, possibly one-fifty. But don’t forget that the groom is a very famous rock star, which I’m guessing means a much larger guest list.” I assumed there would be plenty of executives and agents and assistants invited to the event.
Chase shook his head. “It’s a wedding, not a business meeting.”
Those were my exact sentiments, but I’d been planning weddings, christenings, Mitzvahs, and everything else for years, from my experience, I knew that people with money often blurred the lines.
“You’d be surprised how many weddings were filled with business associates of the bride or the groom, and in a lot of cases, the parents of the bride and groom.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, unfortunately.” I gave the barn one last look, because I could already see Pippa’s vision coming together. This place with hay on the ground, a small dance floor inside and a larger covered one on the outside. Twinkle lights and sparkling ribbons hanging from the ceiling. It would be rustic and sophisticated, just as she wanted. If we could just get a tentative head count for the guest list.
“No offense, but all this seems so extravagant for a wedding.”
“None taken,” I assured him. “Weddings are meant to be extravagant and over the top. It’s the one day you’re allowed to do the most, and all in the name of celebrating your love.” I was a romantic at heart, even though with each wedding I planned, I grew more certain that it wouldn’t happen for me.