We all take a long sip and set our drinks down on the island. I thought for sure I’d be bombarded with all the questions about Dane when I walked through the door, but they’re tame tonight. I pick up some grapes and pop them into my mouth. Then, I make myself a prosciutto and cheese sandwich on a couple of crackers, and within a couple of bites, it’s gone. We all continue to eat off the board.
Addison snags a fig and starts eating it as she leans further into me. “Is it time for you to tell us what happened with…Dane?”
At first, I was shocked that she knew his name, but then I remembered I had mentioned it in my text message this morning.
“Yes, do tell, do tell.” Faith rests her elbows on the island and folds her hands together, waiting for the juicy details of my night.
I’ve been waiting all day to share. “I have to admit, it was hard to leave this morning. I tried to play it off as casual, but I’m not sure I pulled it off as well as I think I did.”
I dive right in, starting with the moment I stepped into the hotel room, how he asked me to stay the night, the morning with breakfast, and how he knows the building inspector.
“Wait, you gave him your business card after telling him it was casual?” Lane shakes her head.
“I hate to admit it, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him again, but I have my doubts that’s really what he wants. We didn’t get too much into it. It sounds like he has been a one-night stand kind of guy for a while. I can’t deny the electricity bouncing around inside of me with every touch, every look, and it’s like fireworkswhen we kiss.” I shrug my shoulders, knowing this is different from anyone else before.
All three of them stare at me with their heads tilted. Silence. All I hear is the hum of the refrigerator.
Breaking the silence, Lane says, “Are you feeling okay? You haven’t talked about a guy, never mind fireworks, in…forever.”
I stare down at my drink. She has a point. Bringing my face back up to them with a small smile, I say, “I know.”
“What are you going to do now?” asks Faith, pressing her hand to mine.
“Honestly, at this point, I need to make it through this final inspection. All my attention will be on that and then the grand opening. I don’t have time to figure out how I’m feeling, and I’m not sure I really want to. If that makes sense.”
“I get that. And like you said, maybe it’s not even what he really wants and was talking out of his ass this morning.” Faith moves back and takes a sip of her drink. “You might not even see him again, and then it’s a moot point.”
My heart drops to my stomach at the thought of him just forgetting about me. I ignore it and continue to pick at the charcuterie board. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” The dread that rolls through my body has me questioning everything about the last twenty-four hours.
SIX
Dane
This woman has a hold on me. She’s all I thought about the rest of the weekend. And now I’m heading to the Town Hall to give Roland a push to close out her permits. He shouldn’t be giving her a hard time, and it will be remedied this morning.
I swipe my suit jacket off the passenger seat and hop out of my car, throw my suit jacket on, and march through the doors. Once I’m at the building department, I walk in and look for Roland.
“Ah, Walsh. What brings you to this side of town?” he asks, his tone deceptively warm.
“Roland…I heard through the grapevine you’ve been holding up some permits,” I say casually.
“What are you talking about?” Roland dramatically waves his hands in the air.
“There’s a salon on Main Street that’s expanding. Ring a bell?”
He freezes for a second and looks sheepish.Caught ya, asshole.This guy is constantly overstepping.
“Ah, yeah. I have a meeting with her this morning.”
“You’ll approve everything, as there’s no reason to delay this small business opening any further, correct?” Heat is rolling upmy neck, and I’m getting fired up. It’s one thing to do your job, but it’s a whole other ballgame when you decide to make it harder for others to get permits.
“Of course not,” Roland stutters, clearly thrown by my involvement.
“It’s nice to know you’ll do the right thing, Roland.”
What a fucking schmuck. My good deed is done; off to the office.
That guy practically shit his pants. Experience should’ve taught him better than to delay permits. We had to file against the town a couple of years ago, and that seemed to wake them up. Yet, they didn’t fire this guy. I suspect he knows someone higher up, and that’s how he keeps his job. Hopefully, my visit will not only help Kendall, but I’m sure there are other small business owners he is trying to bend over the barrel. Not on my watch.
