“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. What did you do before?”
“Before I was laid off, I was a financial planner. I helped clients finance crazy ventures like this, although on a higher and more corporate level most of the time. I was good at it, but ever since I raced up here the day I was let go”—I bit back a smile when Jude’s eyes narrowed at me—“I couldn’t find it in me to go back. Kelly Lakes seemed like a vacation whenever I came here to visit, and I always joked to Peyton about leaving the big, bad city and staying for good. So now I guess I’ll be living the dream.” I raised my water bottle in a mock toast.
“Is that what you were talking to Larry about that night?” Jude asked. “At Leo and Kristina’s party?”
“Yes, I asked Larry how much he was selling the place for, and he agreed to meet with me about it once I convinced him that I was serious. He was too distracted and too busy to iron out all the details since he’d had a date lined up for later that night, so I met with him the next day to get all the info I needed.”
The last part wasn’t totally true—or I didn’t know it for sure. A woman at the bar was pissed enough at me as Larry and I spoke, and he went right over to where she was sitting when I walked away. I’d assumed but never confirmed, so I embellished.
When I spied the relieved drop in Jude’s rigid shoulders, I felt good about my white lie.
Maybe I wasn’t being direct as Peyton had suggested, but if I pushed aside any suspicion Jude might have had of something going on between Larry and me, I could clear the way a little bit better to see what I was dealing with. A guy who didn’t like me talking to other guys or one who just didn’t likeme.
“Congratulations. I agree with Dad, Halman’s could use some new life.” A slow smile drifted across the mouth I couldn’t seem to ignore. It was gorgeous enough to make me shift in my seat to shake off the butterflies ricocheting around my belly.
“Thanks. The fact that you both don’t think I’m crazy makes me feel better. I know there are licenses I have to get, but I’m hoping that growing up in a restaurant will make the learning curve a little less steep, at least for the basics. Once I get the loan and Larry formally accepts my offer, I’ll figure the rest out.”
“Do you have any ideas yet?” Jude asked. “That place has been overdue for an upgrade since I was a kid.”
“Some. Comfortable seats are all I have on the list so far. I’ve been flipping through one of Jake’s architecture magazines, and a few things caught my eye. I’m afraid to get my heart too set on anything until my loan comes through.”
“A few simple changes would make a big difference. New paneling on the walls, maybe some new flooring that looks like it comes from sometime this century. I’m excited to see what you do with it.”
His lips curved up, regarding me with something like awe. I could only nod, gulping a few cold slugs of my water bottle to drown those butterflies in my belly that were now out of control. I smiled back despite the thud of my heartbeat against my rib cage.
“If this comes through, I’m hiring Russo’s Contracting to make the upgrades, so you’ll probably get to see whatever I do before anyone else. You help Jake in all his restorations, right?”
“Most of the time, but I’d ask to work on this. It would be a fun one,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest as a slow smile crept across his mouth. “A new and improved Halman’s withmuchbetter ownership.”
My cheeks heated again, preening over his compliment. I hadn’t preened or blushed before I’d met Jude, and while it still annoyed me, I couldn’t help leaning into it.
“Larry said the name was inherited from twice-former owners and there are no Halmans in town, so I’d want to change the name. The Pour House is what I came up with since I’d still keep it just a bar where residents could get a goodpour.” I leaned back and squinted at Jude. “What do you think? Too silly?”
“Not at all. I think it’s a good start to the upgrade.” There was that raspy edge to his voice. I was almost certain Peyton was right. The ice I’d felt from him at the end of the night at the bar and in the market had been because he was irritated about the possibility of something between Larry and me.
But he still didn’t want to date me or anyone, so what did I do with that?
“What I should do is go there and take a really good look at the place. Maybe figure out what I want to change and what I could leave alone, at least for now. Would you want to come with me one night? I could use a designer’s eye.”
The offer came out in a rush. Maybe Ididknow what to do with that. Ballbusting and relentless Claudia was still in there somewhere.
“I think that would be a great idea,” George said, nodding as he looked between us. “You can help Claudia figure out what needs to be done, and I get a night to myself. I fully support this.”
“And being out together may be good for exposure. Keep the single ladies and moms of the single ladies away,” I blurted out, pushing and not leaving well enough alone, which, again, was my old self. It was helpful in business but not so much in my personal life.
“Exposure?” George asked, glaring at his son.
“I asked her to pretend we were together in front of Mary, so she’d stop trying to set me back up with Renee and use her big mouth to keep everyone else off my back,” Jude said, the playful husk of his voice and tease of a smile gone as he went back to finishing his plate.
George fell back in his chair, shaking his head with a humorless laugh.
“Well then, a night at Halman’s to help her figure things out is the least that you can do for her in exchange, right?”
“Yes,” Jude agreed, his tone flat. “We could go Tuesday night if you have no plans. It may be easier to look at the details of the place without the weekend crowd. You can see where you’d want to spend the loan if you get it and what you can keep for now.”
“Sure,” I said, clearing my throat when my voice squeaked. “I haven’t had plans since I came into town,” I joked, but it did nothing to ease the tension simmering between the father and son at the table. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
I rose from my chair, almost flipping it over when one of the legs caught in the dips in the grass.
