“Not exactly,” he replied, his head cocking to the side. “I live in the city now, but I’m from Long Island.”
“Where on Long Island?”
His mouth quirked up in a smile. “Queens.”
She couldn’t help but smile back. “That’s the city.”
“Not to people from the city.”
She almost laughed. He wasn’t wrong.
“Tristan is a party and events promoter, has some incredible connections,” Hank said with a satisfied nod. “After I convinced Marv to give HamptonFest a line in the town budget, Tristan here reached out and, let me tell you, he has some huge ideas. Reallyhuge. I’ve hired him as a consultant to help grease a few wheels. He even has a plan to get those permits for Gretna Island so we can build a more permanent setup. Can you imagine? It’s going to be huge!”
“Huge, you say?” Lizzy said, unable to help her teasing tone.
Tristan mirrored it back. “No. Really huge.”
They stared at each other, each biting back their own grin, as Hank laughed. “Exactly!”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lizzy,” Tristan said, extending his hand.
She took it, letting his long fingers envelop hers for a moment longer than she probably should have. “You, too.”
“Like I said, huge ideas,” Hank continued. “We’re making the rounds, seeing if there are some opportunities for synergy. We have so many locals who have always wanted to get in on the ground floor of something like this.”
Tristan nodded as if he endorsed every word Hank was saying, even as he snuck a sly glance at Lizzy. Something in his gaze seemed brazen, and suddenly she felt a rush of warmth to her cheeks. Was she… blushing?
“I was thinking Tristan should meet your dad,” Hank said, oblivious. “Walk him through the whole proposal and see the big picture. Is he around?”
“You just missed him.” It was a blatant lie, but Lizzy was also under strict instructions to deflect as many of Hank’s visits as possible.
“Well, I could walk you through it,” Tristan said. His voice was deep and warm.
“Oh!” Hank’s eyes lit up. “Even better!”
“What do you say?” Tristan nodded down the street. “Want to grab a coffee before the storm sets in? I could give you a quick rundown of the project.”
Lizzy hesitated. She knew better than to get involved, but as Tristan’s full mouth ticked up in a playful grin, she convinced herself that she could at least listen. After all, she didn’t want to be rude. “Sure.”
Hank clapped. “Synergy!”
And then there was a loud ping, a text message alert from Lizzy’s back pocket. For a moment she debated ignoring it, but another rang out seconds later.
“Could you excuse me for a minute?” she asked, then turned around and pulled her phone out.
A message from Jane illuminated the screen.
JANE
Hey! Dad just called and said you’re closing early. Any chance you can drive me to Charlie’s?
JANE
Just wondering!
LIZZY
I thought you were borrowing Mom’s car so you could leave Charlie’s before the weather got bad?
