Luke came up next to me again. “The walls will be neutral all around, but I was thinking a backdrop on each side would give the place an extra dimension, an unobtrusive point of interest.”
“I know what would work perfectly,” I said as an idea came to me. “Imagine wood planks, like two by two in a natural finish, and you cut them at varying lengths. You mount them horizontally on the wall equally spaced, maybe two inches between them vertically.”
“I’m with you. So just horizontal boards?”
“That’s the base, but then you can have all kinds of modular options for decor. You could have removable shelves that slide between any two planks that could be used for plants or flowers or framed photos. Or whatever decor fits the event. You could also create a modular plaque or chalkboard. The sky’s the limit once you have the planks on the wall, and they look classy and add warmth even without any additions. People could add twinkle lights, ribbons, whatever suits them.”
“What is it with women and twinkle lights anyway?” he asked.
“They’re a vibe. They soften anything. Make it more inviting.”
“So I need to stock up on twinkle lights.”
I nodded. “I think you should hang them along some of the ceiling beams.”
He glanced up to the super-high ceiling, looked doubtful, then said, “Let’s tackle the wall thing first. It sounds simple enough.”
“There’s a similar one in the bar at the Marks Hotel,” I said. “I could take you to see it.”
“You want to take me to a bar?” he said in an amused voice, knowing full well he was twisting my words.
“This is business, Luke. Do you want to see what I’m talking about?”
“Yeah. I do. When can you go?”
“You’re about to start Christmas tree season. You tell me when you can make it.”
He seemed to think through his schedule. “I could take some time off tomorrow evening, after dinner with my daughter.”
“That works for me.”
“Okay then.” He sent me a slow, sexy smile. “It’s a date.”
I wanted to contradict him. It wasn’t a date, but I could tell by the spark in his eyes he was trying to get a reaction from me.
“It’s a business meeting,” I said confidently. “We’ll get a drink, discuss furniture, and take pictures of the wall feature.”
He approached me again, closed in on me, then kissed me soundly on the lips. “I’ll pick you up at eight tomorrow night.”
Chapter Sixteen
Magnolia
For nearly twenty-four hours, I’d tried to brainwash myself that this was a business meeting with Luke, not a date.
The memory of that kiss last night was louder in my head though.
That and I could admit he cleaned up well. I mean, I found him appealing in his work clothes and a day’s worth of dirt and dust, but showered? Wearing black jeans, black boots, and a black, plum, and white buffalo plaid flannel open over a tee? I’d spent the evening so far waffling between reminding myself my goal was Presley’s wedding and getting wrapped up in our nonbusiness conversation.
The bar at the Marks Hotel, The Harbor, was calm and classy, with country music playing quietly. I was surprised to find Josh Mulligan, a guy we’d gone to school with, behind the bar, and Sarah Valdez, who was a few years younger, waiting tables.
Luke was fascinated by the feature wall we’d come here to see. He’d taken several photos of it, and we’d discussed ideas for options. The plank design was simple but versatile. Even though it would be a permanent fixture, it could easily look different for every single event, thanks to the modular elements.
Once we’d checked it out, Luke had convinced me to stay for a drink and a snack. Truth? It hadn’t been tough to persuade me. It was just a drink and some mozzarella sticks.
We sat at a high-top table close to the wood-slab wall. Several other tables were occupied, keeping Josh and Sarah, the only server, busy.
The weeks when Luke and I had gotten close back in high school had been in the late spring, when Luke’s family’s farm was in the midst of strawberry season. Back then I’d made him tell me all about that operation, loving the stories about all the facets of a working berry farm. Tonight I questioned him about the Christmas tree business. He’d explained how they first harvested several acres of trees to be sold in retail outlets around the region. On Thanksgiving, their focus switched to the cut-your-own segment.
