Merry Manager: River’s End Ranch Series #17

by Kelley, Pamela M.

  "You have. Oh, he's about to ask the final question. We need to pay attention."

  The last category was food, which they liked, and with Simon's guidance, they bet all but two of their points. Simon was very good at calculating their odds and reserving enough points so that if everyone got the question wrong, they would probably still have more points than anyone else.

  "This is a good one!" Arthur seemed excited by the final question. "In the movie Psycho, what did they use to represent blood in that very famous scene? You have sixty seconds to answer."

  "Okay, blood, so ketchup is the obvious answer?" Wade said, looking around the table.

  "That seems too easy," Lily said. "But I can't imagine what else it would be."

  "It's not ketchup. It's chocolate syrup. Trust me on that, and pass the root beer pitcher this way Maddie, would you?" Jaclyn said.

  Maddie slid the pitcher her way while they all looked at Jaclyn in confusion.

  "Are you sure about that?" Simon asked. "Not saying I doubt you, but the color seems a little off."

  But Jaclyn just smiled, leaned forward and then spoke softly as Arthur walked toward them to get their answer slip. "Psycho was a black and white movie."

  "Chocolate syrup it is!" Wade jotted the answer down and handed the slip to Arthur. Moments later, he announced that only one team got the answer right and that anyone who guessed ketchup was wrong. There was a chorus of groans around the room and then Arthur said that their team had won.

  Jaclyn beamed as everyone around the table high-fived her.

  "I do like my movies," she said proudly.

  Maddie reached for her wallet when Barbi brought the bill, but Wade handed her his card and told the table he was picking up the tab.

  "There's no need for that. We always all chip in," Simon protested.

  "Not tonight. I'm on vacation, so I insist. I don't take vacation often, so it's not likely to happen again anytime soon," he joked.

  "All right. In that case…" Simon laughed.

  "We'll see you again next week, dear?" Jaclyn asked as they walked out of the restaurant.

  "Oh, I don't know. Maybe. I'd like to."

  "Come see me soon for tea, Maddie. Any afternoon will do."

  Maddie promised to stop by soon as she climbed into Wade's truck.

  Ten minutes later, he pulled up in front of her house.

  "I hope you're glad that you came out tonight?" he asked.

  She was, so glad. "Yes, thank you for suggesting it. It was the most fun I've had in ages, to be honest. I don't get out much."

  "We'll have to change that. What are you up to for the rest of the weekend?"

  Maddie thought for a moment. She had her date with Paul Saturday morning, but for some reason, felt funny mentioning it.

  "Grocery shopping Saturday morning. Then later, Vivian and I have some shopping and wrapping to do. We are secret Santas for a family that comes into the food pantry. So lots of wrapping and delivering gifts. That's about it."

  "That sounds fun, and nice of you both."

  "It's nothing, really. People were very supportive and generous to us when we needed help," Maddie said and then changed the subject. "What about you? Did Dani ever find a replacement Santa? Or do you have to work this weekend?"

  "She did! My career as a Santa will hopefully end tomorrow and the rest of my weekend is free. I'm back in the office on Monday, so I'll probably go through email at some point and make sure I'm ready to go."

  Maddie looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Are you telling me you haven't checked your email all week? I find that hard to believe."

  Wade laughed. "Ok, you got me. Of course I did. I wouldn't have been able to really relax otherwise. But it was reassuring to see that Dani and Bernie kept everything running smoothly. Turns out I am replaceable after all."

  "Hardly. But everyone needs a vacation. I suspect Dani will be more than happy to hand the reins back to you, and you can keep Bernie more involved so your workload will be manageable. That's the plan, right?"

  "It is." Wade was quiet for a moment and then asked, "Has Vivian seen The Nutcracker?"

  "No, not yet. We almost went last year, but didn't make it."

  "Would the two of you like to join me Saturday night to go see it? A good friend's daughter is dancing in a local production and in a weak moment, I said I'd go. I'm her godfather, so it's the polite thing to do. It would be a lot more fun if I had company and I bet Vivian would enjoy it."

  "I know she would. Thanks for thinking of us. What time is the show?"

  "At seven. We can grab a bite to eat before. There's a restaurant a short walk away. I'll see you at five thirty."

  * * *

  Maddie hesitated, and Wade worried that she was going to change her mind. Maybe suggesting dinner was too much? He was about to tell her they could skip that and just go to the show if she preferred when she surprised him by leaning over and giving him a hug and a sweet kiss on the cheek.

  "That's perfect and thank you for tonight, for getting me out of the house. I really appreciate it." He smiled at the idea of him doing her a favor when he'd been looking forward to this night all week.

  "See you on Saturday. Have fun shopping." He waited until she was inside her house and the door shut tightly behind her before he drove away. The idea of taking them both to The Nutcracker had come to him at trivia. He'd promised his buddy Rich that he'd go see Caitlyn dance, as he'd told Maddie. Since he was the child's godfather it was expected. He'd texted Rich during one of the trivia breaks to see if there were extra tickets and Rich assured him he could have as many as he liked.

  He still wasn't exactly sure what he was doing when it came to Maddie. Nothing had changed in that he still didn't think it was a good idea to be more than friends with her. But hearing that she was going on a date with Paul Shipley fired up a sense of urgency. It felt important that he spend more time with her now, before she and Paul became an item.

  When he saw Paul walk into the restaurant, he'd had such a strong reaction that it surprised him. He hated the idea of Maddie dating him. That was when he texted Rich. He knew that Maddie had noticed his reaction, but didn't know what it was about and he couldn't bring himself to point out that the handsome guy at the bar was her upcoming blind date—because Paul was considered somewhat of a catch. He wasn't just a food delivery guy. His father and uncles founded the company years ago and when Paul graduated college with a finance degree, he'd implemented changes that had quadrupled their business in recent years.

  Wade was pretty sure that Paul was a partner by now himself or on his way to being one. He'd always liked him, but had heard in recent years that he'd gained a bit of a reputation as a ladies’ man. Which was another reason he'd been surprised to hear that Sadie thought he'd be a good match for Maddie. Maybe she didn't know? Or maybe Paul was tired of playing the field and was ready to settle down? Either way, Wade didn't like it. Not one bit.

  Chapter 6

  “You're kind of dressed up for grocery shopping." Vivian stood in the kitchen, hands on hips, assessing Maddie's outfit as they were about to walk out the door Saturday morning. Maddie hadn't known what to wear for a morning coffee date. Jeans and a t-shirt seemed too casual. She'd settled on a soft pink sweater, but Vivian was right. It was dressier than normal for her on a weekend morning.

  "I just like this sweater and was a little chilly. Are you ready to go?"

  "I guess." Vivian was in a bit of a mood, Maddie noticed, and when they pulled up to Sadie's house, her daughter turned to her and asked, "Why can't I go grocery shopping with you, like I usually do?"

  "Well, for one thing, you hate grocery shopping. You tell me that every time we go. Secondly, it was very nice of Sadie to offer for you to visit with Violet. You don't want to disappoint her, do you?"

  Vivian brightened at the mention of her best friend. "No, I suppose not." She reached for the door handle and let herself out. "Bye, Mom."

  "Bye, honey. Tell Sadie I won't be gone too l
ong."

  Once Vivian was inside, Maddie turned onto Main Street and toward the coffee shop that Paul had suggested they meet at. She felt oddly not nervous, nothing like she'd felt when she was waiting for Wade to pick her up for trivia—which made no sense. But, maybe it was because she didn't really know Paul, so there was nothing to be nervous about. She was a little surprised, though, that she wasn't looking forward to their date. If anything, she was eager to get it over with—which again made no sense. Maddie decided that she was just so out of touch with dating in general that she didn't know how she was supposed to feel.

  The coffee shop was a cute one, a small independent store that roasted its own beans and had an eclectic feel with paintings on the wall from local artists, exposed brick and wood beams and a cozy fireplace with a crackling fire. It was mid-morning, a little past ten, so the breakfast rush was over and there were just a scattering of customers nibbling on pastries and sipping coffee. Maddie looked around the room and saw one single man sitting alone at a table for two near the fire. He had thick, back hair and was wearing a bright red sweater. He smiled when he caught Maddie's eye and waved her over. He looked familiar, but Maddie couldn't place where she'd seen him before.

  He stood when she reached his table. "I hope you're Maddie?" he asked. She liked the sound of his voice. It was deep and friendly and matched the warmth of his brown eyes and easy smile. She reached for his outstretched hand and shook it.

  "Yes, and you're Paul?"

  "I am. Have a seat. There's a waitress that should be by soon."

  Maddie settled into the chair opposite his and felt the warmth of the fire. A young waitress came by seconds later, and they both ordered coffee and Paul got a pistachio muffin.

  "Do you want a muffin or bagel or anything?" he asked.

  "No, thanks. I had breakfast earlier."

  "So, how do you know Sadie?" Paul asked as their waitress set their coffees and his muffin on the table.

  "Our daughters are best friends and we both work at River's End Ranch."

  "That's right. I think she mentioned that you give a great massage." He grinned at that and Maddie felt a twinge of uncomfortableness. She was proud of her work and felt somewhat defensive when people joked about it. Not that Paul was doing that, but there was something in his tone that she didn't like. She was probably being overly sensitive.

  "I run the spa there and am licensed in therapeutic sports massage," she said.

  Paul looked suitably impressed. "That's great. An in-demand skill, I would imagine?"

  She wasn't quite sure how to take that. "Yes, I have a lot of repeat business. It's very busy at the spa."

  "I'm sure it is. So, what do you like to do for fun?"

  "I have an eight-year-old daughter, so I don't really get out much. I did go to trivia the other night, though, and that was fun."

  "No kidding? At the restaurant at the ranch? I was there—well, for the end of it. I met a friend at the bar. They really pack them in on trivia night."

  That was it. It was Paul she'd seen from a distance. And he was the reason Wade had tensed up. How interesting. And he'd been meeting a woman there. Maybe it was his sister?

  "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" she asked.

  "A younger brother. No sisters."

  Maddie stirred a bit of sugar into her coffee. She usually drank it black but it was slightly bitter and the sugar took the edge off it.

  "Sadie says you work in the family business. Do you enjoy it?"

  Paul's face lit up. "I do. It's a great business. I'm mostly in the office but do deliveries one day a week, to get out and see customers. Their feedback is helpful, especially when I'm placing big orders. I buy way ahead, so I can get the lowest prices and then pass the savings on."

  "Is it a very competitive business?" Maddie asked. She didn't care particularly one way or the other, but figured she had another twenty minutes or so to kill before she could politely escape.

  "It is very competitive. Customers will often quit over a five-cent difference in cheese prices. But then they're easy to win right back, too." It was obvious that he loved the business. It didn't sound very exciting to Maddie, though—ordering and delivering cheese and milk? But she did admire his passion for it.

  "That sounds exciting," she said, for lack of anything else to say.

  "What about you? Any family in the area?" he asked.

  "No, just Vivian. Her grandparents live nearby, though, so we see them often."

  "Do you want more of them?" Paul looked at her closely and she sensed that her answer was important to him.

  "I don't know. I thought that I did, while I was still married to her father. I haven't really thought about it much since then. I guess my answer would be a strong maybe. If it's meant to be, then sure."

  Paul nodded. "I'm not really looking to have kids. I've never been very good with them. I like to be honest and up front with people about that, so there are no unpleasant surprises."

  "That's admirable of you." Maddie supposed that it was, in a way. It must help to avoid heartache down the road, though she wondered how many women secretly thought they might be able to change his mind. Maddie had no interest in even trying. She glanced down at her cell phone which was sticking out of her purse. Was it too soon to say she had to go?

  She was about to say something when she heard a phone ring and realized it was Paul's cell phone. He glanced at the caller ID, then shut the sound off.

  "That's the office calling. I should probably head over there and see what's going on. They only call on the weekends when there's a problem with a delivery. Are you just about done with your coffee?"

  Maddie pushed the cup away. "I'm totally done." She reached for her wallet.

  "Don't be silly. I can buy you a cup of coffee," he said with a smile as he pulled some cash out and waved to the waitress, who brought the bill right over.

  "Thank you," Maddie said.

  "My pleasure. We should do this again sometime, if you're interested?"

  This was the awkward part. Maddie smiled and nodded. "Sure, that would be lovely."

  "Great, I'll call you sometime next week and we can make a plan. I'll talk to you then."

  They walked out to the lot and Paul's car, a sporty black BMW, was parked right in front of the door. Maddie waved goodbye as she turned toward her own car, a used, white, Volvo sedan that she adored and felt safe in with Maddie. She'd done all her research and went for practicality and safety records when she picked out the car.

  She watched Paul pull out of the lot in a hurry and hoped that he wouldn't call.

  * * *

  Maddie stopped by the grocery store and did a quick shop of all the essential things she needed and was out of the store in half the normal time, without Vivian slowing her down and asking if they could get this or that. She smiled thinking of her. She really didn't mind that it took longer to shop when Vivian was with her.

  When she knocked on Sadie's front door, she was there in a second.

  "I heard you pull into the driveway. The girls are upstairs but will be down in a minute. So, how did it go?"

  Maddie shrugged. "He's very handsome."

  Sadie looked disappointed. "But did you like him?"

  Maddie wasn't sure how best to answer that. Did she like him?

  "Did he ask you out again?" Sadie persisted.

  "Sort of. He said he'd call next week to set something up."

  She seemed relieved to hear it. "Good! Definitely go out with him again if he calls. You always want to give a guy a second chance. First dates can be awkward. Sometimes people grow on you."

  Vivian came flying down the stairs with Violet close behind her.

  "We'll see."

  Chapter 7

  The rest of their afternoon was lovely. Once they'd gone home and Maddie put away all the groceries, Vivian grabbed the list for their secret Santa family and they set off shopping. They bought clothes and toys, and came home and wrapped it all in brightly colored foil t
ied with shimmery ribbons and bows. Then they piled it into trash bags, loaded up the car and dropped it off at the food pantry.

  They got home with about an hour to spare before Wade was due to collect them for dinner and the show. Vivian went off to read a book, while Maddie settled at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and a cooking magazine. She was looking forward to their evening out. Vivian had been excited to hear that they were going to see The Nutcracker but also a bit puzzled.

  "Your boss got us tickets? And he's coming with us? Why?" she asked.

  Why, indeed? It had seemed like such a lovely idea when he’d suggested it. But she didn't want Vivian to be confused.

  "Wade is a good friend. His friend's daughter is in the show and he thought we'd both enjoy it. It's very thoughtful of him."

  "Okay." That was the end of it with Vivian and she was off asking questions about something else.

  Maddie wondered, though, if it was that black and white. Was Wade just being a friend? Or was it possible he might be interested in something more? She'd always found him attractive but it was easy to admire someone who was completely off limits. It was safe that way. She had never let herself be attracted to him. She frowned, thinking again that given their working relationship, it simply wasn't an option.

  She liked her job at the spa and was grateful to Wade for hiring her. She didn't want to do anything that could jeopardize that. Bottom line was it wasn't fair to Vivian. No matter how tempting the idea was, she had to think of her first. And there was no guarantee that Wade was even interested in her that way. He was probably just being nice, the way a friend would be. She sighed. It was fun to dream about, though.

  She saw his car turn into their driveway at five thirty sharp and called to Vivian. She came running into the kitchen as Wade knocked on the door. He was smiling and holding two bouquets of flowers. Vivian eyed them curiously.

  "What are those for?" she asked.

  "Well, it's my understanding that if you know someone in one of these shows, it’s polite to give them flowers when they finish. And I thought since I was getting them for Caitlyn anyway, I'd pick up a bunch for the two of you to enjoy, too."