Faith screwed on the top of the last ketchup container and shrugged. “I’ll probably go home and chill.”
She was hoping for a continuation of the previous evening, and her cheeks flushed pink at the thought. Would this whole blushing thing ever stop?
“Iknewit.” Cassidy moved closer and lowered her voice. “You had sex last night.”
She whipped her head up, a denial hot on her tongue, but it was no use. She couldn’t lie. Didn’t want to lie if she were being honest. Besides, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror behind the bar. She looked like the proverbial cat who had had all the cream in the world and wanted more. It was written all over her face.
“Greatsex, if I’m reading your face correctly.”
Faith glanced over her shoulder and spied Hal at the opposite end of the bar. She tried to wipe the smile from her face but couldn’t. “It was mind blowing, if you must know.”
“God, I knew he’d be good in in bed.” Cassidy moved back with a sigh. “Where’s his pal, Walker? I haven’t seen him around. Maybe he and I can hang out sometime.”
“I don’t know. I think he took off for a few days.”
Cassidy shrugged. “My table is flagging me, but I want details, okay? Like, all the good stuff.”
Bemused, Faith got busy with her own tables. By the time she was ready to cash out, Cassidy was still working, which allowed Faith to sneak back to the office without being waylaid. She didn’t want to talk about the night before. Didn’t want to share the intimate details because they were hers. They belonged to Faith and Gus, and she wanted to stay in this little cocoon of yumminess for as long as she could.
She thanked Hal once again for watching Taco, then fetched her dog and bike. The thirty-minute ride home was a favorite for both her and her dog, who happily jogged at her side while she slowly pedaled.
It was mid-afternoon, which was nice — the only good thing about opening the bar. The road to Fire Lake was quiet, not unusual for a Sunday afternoon in July. Townies were relaxing in their backyards, or those with properties on the lake joined the tourists renting cottages who were busy boating and floating. A lot of them would venture out for food and drink by dinnertime.
When Faith finally cycled up Cedar, it was nearly four o’clock, and the driveway was empty. Disappointment came swiftly, and she got off the bike slowly. She parked it in the shed, the warm glow she’d enjoyed on the trip home nearly gone.
Which was ridiculous. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Why would she expect Gus to hang around Lawson House when he could be out enjoying himself on a boat or relaxing on someone’s deck enjoying a cold beer? Or maybe he had to go to the Boone estate for something.
“Don’t be dumb,” Faith muttered as she headed toward the front porch. They were a casual couple. Nothing more. He didn’t run his calendar by her, and she didn’t run hers by him.
Candy was in the foyer arranging a fresh batch of daisies in the vase on the table when Faith pushed inside. Her silver hair was wrapped in Velcro rollers, and she wore a pretty pink dress with a wide cream belt. On her feet were pink fuzzy slippers.
“Are you going out?” Faith asked, one foot on the bottom step that led upstairs.
“I am. First Sunday of every month there’s a fish fry at the church. You’re more than welcome to come along.” Candy shuffled over and gave Taco a scratch. “They even allow dogs.”
“Thanks for the invitation but I just finished a long shift and the only thing I want is a hot shower and some down time.”
Faith took another step up but paused. Candy had a weird expression on her face. “Was there something else?” she asked.
“Not really.” Candy picked at some invisible piece of something on the bodice of her dress. “I saw Gus leave earlier with a young woman, and I wondered if you knew who she was is all. I didn’t recognize her. Truthfully, she kind of looked like one of those bohemian types. You know the ones who travel out here to find Woodstock and pretend they live in a generation when Woodstock was possible.”
A woman? Faith kept her face neutral. “No. I don’t know who it would be.”
“His friend was with him, too. You know, the one with all the tattoos.”
“Walker?”
Candy nodded, a little pink in the face. “He’s a handsome man. I don’t mind saying.”
Faith smiled at that. Walker had more charm in his little pinky than most men could hope to have in a lifetime. Something he and Gus had in common.
“Both of those boys remind me of someone I used to know a long time ago.” Candy’s voice was soft. Kind of sad. “He left and took a piece of me with him, and he did it easily.”
Uncomfortable with the turn in the conversation, Faith didn’t quite know what to say, but she was saved when Candy sighed and turned around. “Don’t mind me. These days I’m spending too much time in the past wondering about all those, what ifs.” The woman paused and glanced over her shoulder, one hand on the door to her unit. “You’re a sweet girl, Faith. A bit of advice if you don’t mind.”
Faith gave a slight nod. What else could she do?
“Be sure about the people you give your heart to. Don’t end up like me. Alone in a big old house with no family. No children. Just getting by living half a life.”
