Not Quite Over You
Page 21
Her uncle had been a kind man. Older, with absolutely no experience with children. He’d given Silver plenty of freedom and she’d paid him back by doing her best not to be any trouble. Over time, he’d become a surrogate father and she hoped she’d made his life a little brighter.
When he’d been ready to retire, he’d sold her the bar. She’d worked it for a short time, only to realize she wanted something different. She’d found a buyer and had used the money to fund AlcoHaul.
He’d died a couple of years ago. Before he’d passed, he’d made sure she’d known he was proud of what she’d accomplished and impressed with her future plans. She had no idea what he would say about her being in business with Drew and had a feeling he would warn her to guard her heart. She’d done her best to avoid being like her mother—no in and out of love for her. But she often wondered how much of her mother’s wayward heart she’d inherited.
Silver pulled into the driveway of Drew’s sprawling two-story house. There had to be at least four bedrooms—maybe five. She knew the back of the house opened onto the golf course with the animal preserve beyond. She thought of her small loft apartment and wondered what Drew did with all that space. Whatever it was, it didn’t involve women. Since his engagement had ended, Drew hadn’t been involved with anyone she knew about. Maybe he went out of town to have his fun.
Not her business, she told herself as she collected her tote bag, along with three thick folders filled with plans and preliminary budgets. In theory, this was a working dinner, or it would be right up until she dropped the Autumn-sized bombshell in the middle of things.
She’d brought along a bottle of wine, then hesitated before grabbing it. He’d invited her to dinner, she told herself. Bringing along a thank-you gift was customary and wine was always welcome. Still, with alcohol came a risk of people getting a little too comfortable. Although she supposed the wine might make it easier for her to blurt out her news. As long as it didn’t cause her to notice how sexy he was and how she had occasional moments of attraction when he was around.
She picked up the bottle of Washington State Cabernet, then headed to the front door.
Drew let her in before she could knock.
“Hey,” he said with a grin. “You made it.”
He looked good, which she tried not to notice, despite suddenly going breathless.
“I did. I just pointed my truck to the rich part of town and here I am.” She smiled as she walked inside. “I’m very curious about what you do with all the extra space. Unless you’re taking in roommates to help pay the utilities.”
“Not a bad idea, but it’s just me.”
The entryway was large, with a two-story-high ceiling. She noted a home office on her left and a small powder room on her right before he led her into a huge open area.
The house had been built around the great room concept. One side was dominated by a huge kitchen, with a massive living space on the other. She counted two sofas, six chairs and a reading nook in the corner. The stone-clad fireplace rose nearly twenty feet. A doorway off the kitchen led to a formal dining room.
Everything she saw pointed out the gulf between them. Happily Inc didn’t have a “wrong side of the tracks” literally, but Silver had always known her life was very different from his. Funny how when they’d been together, all those years ago, it hadn’t been a problem. They’d just fallen in love and had wanted to be together.
“I’m cooking,” he said as they walked into the kitchen. “You should be impressed.”
“That depends on what you’re making. If it’s grilled steaks and a salad, then no, I’m not.” Although based on the delicious aromas, she would guess whatever he was serving was a lot more complicated than that.
“You always were a tough crowd.” He pointed to a six-burner stove where a couple of pans were simmering away. “Roasted vegetables, pesto risotto and pan-fried chicken with a mushroom reduction.”
She set down her bottle of wine. “Okay, I’m impressed. I never thought of your mother as someone who loved to cook.”
“She isn’t. I learned some from my grandfather’s cook and I’ve taken a few classes here and there. I like cooking. It’s relaxing, and then you get to eat.”
She eyed his lean, muscular body and decided he must have converted one of the extra bedrooms into a home gym. No one who could make mushroom reduction could look as good as him without working out on a regular basis.
For a moment she wanted to reach out and touch him, to feel his warm skin against hers. She’d always liked touching Drew and what happened when he touched her in return. She took a half step toward him only to remind herself that no, sex wasn’t on the menu and even if it was, she was far too smart to give in. Fool me once and all that.
“I brought wine,” she said, holding out the bottle.
“Nice.” He took it from her. “Want me to open it now or want to start with a margarita?”
She laughed. “You’ve obviously been practicing. I’ll take a margarita. On the rocks.”
She set her tote on a side table by one of the sofas, then sat at the runway-sized island.
He collected all the ingredients, including fresh limes and a dish of salt. He used a quarter of a lime to moisten the rim of the glass before dipping it in the salt. He poured good quality tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice into a martini shaker, then put ice in the two glasses. After shaking up everything, he poured before adding a slice of lime to the salty edge of the glass.
He passed her the drink without saying a word. She took it and studied the color, then sniffed and took a sip.
The drink was the perfect combination of sweet, salty and tart. She smiled. “It’s good. Thank you.”
“Those internet classes are paying off.”
“Yes, they are.”
He took his glass and joined her, then nodded at her stack of folders. “Business first?”
“Can dinner wait?”
“It’s all at the simmering stage. Except the vegetables. They’re ready to pop in the oven, so we can take our time.”
She knew that last bit was about discussing business but for one heart-stopping second, she imagined he meant something else. Something that seemed to be bubbling between them—at least on her side.
Her three-month relationship with Drew had been more than falling in love—it had been about sex, as well. They’d had great chemistry, the kind that threatened good sense and made keeping their hands off each other impossible.
After they’d broken up, she’d told herself that she would find someone else just like him, or maybe someone better. She’d assumed that kind of attraction was normal but time had proved her wrong. There hadn’t been a lot of guys, but the few she’d slept with had been nothing like Drew. Or maybe she was the problem. Regardless, she’d never found that all-consuming white heat she’d felt with him.
She wondered if he’d experienced the same thing or if she was the only one forced to deal with a mild sense of disappointment.
“Then let’s go ahead and look at numbers,” she said, her tone light. If nothing else, she was good at hiding what she was thinking.
She took another sip of her drink, then opened the three folders. One contained the information from Walter—quotes, timetables and options on materials. The second folder had cash flow estimates based on different scenarios such as fixing up both trailers at once versus doing one and then waiting a bit to do the second one. The third folder contained cost estimates in a very professional spreadsheet. Drew had put together that one. Silver was a bit spreadsheet challenged.
When he’d been ready to retire, he’d sold her the bar. She’d worked it for a short time, only to realize she wanted something different. She’d found a buyer and had used the money to fund AlcoHaul.
He’d died a couple of years ago. Before he’d passed, he’d made sure she’d known he was proud of what she’d accomplished and impressed with her future plans. She had no idea what he would say about her being in business with Drew and had a feeling he would warn her to guard her heart. She’d done her best to avoid being like her mother—no in and out of love for her. But she often wondered how much of her mother’s wayward heart she’d inherited.
Silver pulled into the driveway of Drew’s sprawling two-story house. There had to be at least four bedrooms—maybe five. She knew the back of the house opened onto the golf course with the animal preserve beyond. She thought of her small loft apartment and wondered what Drew did with all that space. Whatever it was, it didn’t involve women. Since his engagement had ended, Drew hadn’t been involved with anyone she knew about. Maybe he went out of town to have his fun.
Not her business, she told herself as she collected her tote bag, along with three thick folders filled with plans and preliminary budgets. In theory, this was a working dinner, or it would be right up until she dropped the Autumn-sized bombshell in the middle of things.
She’d brought along a bottle of wine, then hesitated before grabbing it. He’d invited her to dinner, she told herself. Bringing along a thank-you gift was customary and wine was always welcome. Still, with alcohol came a risk of people getting a little too comfortable. Although she supposed the wine might make it easier for her to blurt out her news. As long as it didn’t cause her to notice how sexy he was and how she had occasional moments of attraction when he was around.
She picked up the bottle of Washington State Cabernet, then headed to the front door.
Drew let her in before she could knock.
“Hey,” he said with a grin. “You made it.”
He looked good, which she tried not to notice, despite suddenly going breathless.
“I did. I just pointed my truck to the rich part of town and here I am.” She smiled as she walked inside. “I’m very curious about what you do with all the extra space. Unless you’re taking in roommates to help pay the utilities.”
“Not a bad idea, but it’s just me.”
The entryway was large, with a two-story-high ceiling. She noted a home office on her left and a small powder room on her right before he led her into a huge open area.
The house had been built around the great room concept. One side was dominated by a huge kitchen, with a massive living space on the other. She counted two sofas, six chairs and a reading nook in the corner. The stone-clad fireplace rose nearly twenty feet. A doorway off the kitchen led to a formal dining room.
Everything she saw pointed out the gulf between them. Happily Inc didn’t have a “wrong side of the tracks” literally, but Silver had always known her life was very different from his. Funny how when they’d been together, all those years ago, it hadn’t been a problem. They’d just fallen in love and had wanted to be together.
“I’m cooking,” he said as they walked into the kitchen. “You should be impressed.”
“That depends on what you’re making. If it’s grilled steaks and a salad, then no, I’m not.” Although based on the delicious aromas, she would guess whatever he was serving was a lot more complicated than that.
“You always were a tough crowd.” He pointed to a six-burner stove where a couple of pans were simmering away. “Roasted vegetables, pesto risotto and pan-fried chicken with a mushroom reduction.”
She set down her bottle of wine. “Okay, I’m impressed. I never thought of your mother as someone who loved to cook.”
“She isn’t. I learned some from my grandfather’s cook and I’ve taken a few classes here and there. I like cooking. It’s relaxing, and then you get to eat.”
She eyed his lean, muscular body and decided he must have converted one of the extra bedrooms into a home gym. No one who could make mushroom reduction could look as good as him without working out on a regular basis.
For a moment she wanted to reach out and touch him, to feel his warm skin against hers. She’d always liked touching Drew and what happened when he touched her in return. She took a half step toward him only to remind herself that no, sex wasn’t on the menu and even if it was, she was far too smart to give in. Fool me once and all that.
“I brought wine,” she said, holding out the bottle.
“Nice.” He took it from her. “Want me to open it now or want to start with a margarita?”
She laughed. “You’ve obviously been practicing. I’ll take a margarita. On the rocks.”
She set her tote on a side table by one of the sofas, then sat at the runway-sized island.
He collected all the ingredients, including fresh limes and a dish of salt. He used a quarter of a lime to moisten the rim of the glass before dipping it in the salt. He poured good quality tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice into a martini shaker, then put ice in the two glasses. After shaking up everything, he poured before adding a slice of lime to the salty edge of the glass.
He passed her the drink without saying a word. She took it and studied the color, then sniffed and took a sip.
The drink was the perfect combination of sweet, salty and tart. She smiled. “It’s good. Thank you.”
“Those internet classes are paying off.”
“Yes, they are.”
He took his glass and joined her, then nodded at her stack of folders. “Business first?”
“Can dinner wait?”
“It’s all at the simmering stage. Except the vegetables. They’re ready to pop in the oven, so we can take our time.”
She knew that last bit was about discussing business but for one heart-stopping second, she imagined he meant something else. Something that seemed to be bubbling between them—at least on her side.
Her three-month relationship with Drew had been more than falling in love—it had been about sex, as well. They’d had great chemistry, the kind that threatened good sense and made keeping their hands off each other impossible.
After they’d broken up, she’d told herself that she would find someone else just like him, or maybe someone better. She’d assumed that kind of attraction was normal but time had proved her wrong. There hadn’t been a lot of guys, but the few she’d slept with had been nothing like Drew. Or maybe she was the problem. Regardless, she’d never found that all-consuming white heat she’d felt with him.
She wondered if he’d experienced the same thing or if she was the only one forced to deal with a mild sense of disappointment.
“Then let’s go ahead and look at numbers,” she said, her tone light. If nothing else, she was good at hiding what she was thinking.
She took another sip of her drink, then opened the three folders. One contained the information from Walter—quotes, timetables and options on materials. The second folder had cash flow estimates based on different scenarios such as fixing up both trailers at once versus doing one and then waiting a bit to do the second one. The third folder contained cost estimates in a very professional spreadsheet. Drew had put together that one. Silver was a bit spreadsheet challenged.
