“When are you opening?” Silas asked.
“Right after the honeymoon.”
“You guys must be really busy with the wedding and the store,” Silas said. “Makes me wonder how you made time to come tour the Grand View Hotel.”
His eyes seemed to be full of questions. But what was the right answer? Did he want to believe I’d made time for him or would that just scare him away?
I shrugged. “My Best Man duties are important too.”
He smiled tentatively. “As a wedding planner, I approve of that statement.”
A server arrived with my plate of tacos. It was a huge serving, but I’d happily die under that pile of goodness.
I tore into the first one, a chicken adobo with a spicy sauce that was divine. I moaned appreciatively. “Wow. These reallyaregood.”
“They’re addictive,” Silas murmured.
“Is this what you order here?”
“No. The salad.”
“Silas enjoys denying himself,” Maverick said. “He resists all sorts of things that would be good.”
“I disagree. Those tacos would bebadfor me and my tailored suits. It’s not smart to indulge in everything we want.”
“Sometimes it’s worth it,” Jamie said quietly.
The conversation drifted from my work at the store to the latest dog grooming story from Jamie. He didn’t groom them, but his boyfriend did, and he was there to witness a lot of the work now that he sold his homemade dog treats there.
“Sam Murphy brought in a raccoon and insisted it was a Bichon frise until Hank gave up and groomed it.”
“You’re kidding!” Maverick exclaimed. “Aren’t there rules against that?”
“I don’t know,” Jamie said. “The little guy was really tame, though. He only growled once. I told Hank to wear extra protection. Can you imagine if he got bit?”
“Rabies shots suck,” I put in. “I’ve had to do it.”
Silas turned to me. “What? When?”
Was that concern in his voice?
“I was just a kid. Went chasing after a squirrel when I should have left it alone. Got bit and a whole series of rabies shots for my troubles. Not to mention, my mother lectured me for two hours about being reckless.”
“Good for her,” Silas said. “Where was Branson during all this?”
“Getting lectured for letting me be so reckless,” I said.
Everyone laughed.
“He’s the responsible one, huh?” Silas said. “You’re the free spirit?”
“I don’t know about free spirit, butspirited,yeah. Especially as a kid. I guess I follow my heart, you know? I go where it leads me.” I met Silas’s gaze. “Sometimes it leads me into trouble.”
A server arrived with the checks then, diverting all our focus to paying for our meals. I had to get a box for my heaping share of leftover tacos, and Silas waited with me while his friends discreetly took off.
Leaving us alone on purpose?
“I’m sorry,” Silas said quietly. “I didn’t mean to mislead you.”
