I grinned.
“That is totally unnecessary. I’m glad I could help.”
“We are so grateful,” Greg continued. “There’s a new pub in town. It’s not very fancy, but one of our former employees and her husband just opened it. We like to eat there as often as possible to bring in business. Please join us there tonight.”
Smart again, I thought. I knew Greg was interested in this woman, as I was, but that did not seem like a full court romantic night and more like supporting one of our employees.
She nodded. “What time?”
Chapter three
Anelya
“Ithink I should just wear my black shorts,” I said to my reflection again, tugging on the skirt Carolina told me to wear.
I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d worn a skirt. And the shoes were also my sister’s, black strappy sandals. They covered my toes, thank goodness, as I also couldn’t remember the last pedicure I’d had.
I looked at my nails. I’d filed them and put a couple coats of clear nail polish on them that I’d found in my sister’s closet.
“What am I doing?” I asked my reflection, tugging up on the v-neck of the shirt she’d told me to wear.
My phone buzzed.
“Send me a picture.” Carolina demanded.
I snorted but complied.
She returned with some fire emojis, and I returned with some eye roll emojis.
A glance at the clock told me it was almost time for them to me to leave. I’d insisted on meeting them, and I could tell that didn’t sit right with them, but clearly they had work to do and didn’t want to press me on picking me up here at Carolina’s townhome.
It wasn’t a date anyway, I told myself. For one thing, there were two of them. And for the other, they were the kind of bossy guys I usually avoided. I tried to remember the last guy I’d dated for more than a few dates, or even spent the night with. Jack? Jason? What was his name again?
Jax. That’s right. He’d been in the EMT program with me and was now engaged to another paramedic friend. I was friends with both of them now. I barely remembered our one night that was two years ago.
That has nothing to do with tonight, I reminded myself as I hurried out the door.
***
The Exchequer was a small pub on the square surrounding the gazebo, and I’d had to park two blocks away. I was hurrying along, trying not to trip in the unfamiliar sandals, through the crowd of people still milling around for the last day of the Lumberjack Days.
Several people smiled and waved at me. I returned the gestures, feeling uncomfortable as I didn’t really recognize people. I supposed the sight of me the night before covered in blood was memorable.
Burris and Greg were waiting outside. I paused my steps, catching my breath for a minute before joining them.
Burris was wearing a dark green polo that looked amazing next to his light brown skin. His short curls and faint beard scruff looked hot along with his toned arms.
Greg’s folded arms in his blue dress shirt and tight jaw were a bit intimidating, and I wondered what they were talking about, but his smile met his eyes as I approached.
“I hope I’m not late,” I said, stopping in front of them.”
“Not at all,” Burris said.
Greg held the door open for me and leaned close. “We had some business at the police station and were in town anyway.”
I thought about the pieces of the saw from the night before and wondered if that was connected.
“Three please on the private patio, Jules,” Greg said, as we walked in, to the hostess.
