Not Quite Over You

by Susan Mallery

  Drew grinned. “Maybe a few. I want to get more involved with the community. Be more friendly to small businesses.”

  “I heard about what happened with Silver’s loan.” His grandfather didn’t sound pleased. “Libby’s always had a burr up her butt about that girl. Or maybe it’s how she interacts with you. Maybe she’s worried that if you and Silver get back together, you’ll put down roots. I suspect she’s hoping your parents can lure you away and she can take over the bank.”

  Drew knew better than to be surprised by the old man’s comments and insights. Grandpa Frank had always known what was going on in his family. He listened and Drew was pretty sure he had a couple of employees acting as benevolent spies.

  As for him and Silver getting back together—it wasn’t the worst idea ever. Being around her, working together had been great. He’d always liked her, had always respected her. The first time around they’d been too young, but they were more mature now. Maybe they were finally ready for what they could have.

  “You know I went into business with her,” he said.

  “I heard. Interesting thing to do. How’s it going?”

  “So far so good. Last weekend I worked a couple of weddings with her. I liked it a lot. The bank is such an established institution. There are so many rules and regulations. Entrepreneurs often have to make it up as they go.” He picked up his coffee. “Have you ever thought of starting a venture capital firm and helping start-ups?”

  “That’s a young man’s game.”

  “You’re not so old.”

  His grandfather smiled. “Too old for that, but it’s an interesting idea. You should think about it.”

  “I don’t have the money. Besides, I’m the bank guy, remember?”

  “I do, and speaking of that, I’m going to officially retire. I’ll be announcing my decision in the next week or so.”

  The news was a kick in the gut. Drew had always known it was going to happen. His grandfather was well into his eighties, long past when most people retired, but still.

  “The bank won’t be the same without you,” he said honestly. “I’ll miss seeing you around.”

  “It’s time.” Grandpa Frank’s gaze sharpened. “I’m not naming you as my successor. I’m leaving it up to the board of directors.”

  Drew grinned. “You are so going to piss off Mom.”

  “That’s not why I’m doing it. You’ll have more power if the board votes you in.” He softened the words with an affectionate smile. “And we both know they will.”

  “If they have any doubts, I’ll convince them I’m the right person for the job.”

  “That’s my boy.”

  Drew didn’t point out he was well into his thirties. To his grandfather, he would always be the first grandchild and he was good with that. The old man had been a steady, loving force in his life.

  “If I get the opportunity to run the bank, I’ll make you proud. You have my word.”

  His grandfather smiled at him. “You always do.”

  * * *

  SILVER TOLD HERSELF not to get too excited. That whatever she imagined for the Airstreams was one thing, but the meeting with the contractor was going to bring things back to reality. They didn’t have unlimited funds or space.

  She and Drew had interviewed several contractors before picking Walter. The barrel-chested, bowlegged powerhouse of a man had built nearly every kind of structure there was in Happily Inc. He’d been intrigued by the limitations of their project and had offered a lot of good suggestions.

  As Silver walked through the fenced-in lot behind Wynn’s graphics company, she couldn’t help the little shiver of anticipation that tickled her belly. Both trailers were stunning, she thought, nearly giggling with happiness. Shiny and full of possibilities.

  She unlocked the trailers and walked into the larger one. Instead of scuffed flooring and torn upholstery, she envisioned a gleaming new refrigerator and custom shelves the right height for the plastic racks that held clean glasses. They could have liquor storage right in the middle, where they had quick access to whatever was being poured that night and more racks in the back to hold extra bottles.

  She wanted counter space that could be locked in place when they were at a job and then folded away when it wasn’t needed. And more than anything, she wanted an ice machine.

  She was still imagining the thrill of not having to haul ice when she spotted Drew walking toward the trailer. For a second her body went on alert and she had the most ridiculous urge to check her face in a mirror. What was up with that? She didn’t care what she looked like. She and Drew weren’t involved. They were business associates, nothing more.

  He walked into the trailer and smiled at her. “Walter’s pulling in right now.” He paused. “What are you thinking about?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You have an interesting expression.”

  She hoped she wasn’t blushing and tried desperately to think of something to say. “Ah, fine. You caught me. I was fantasizing.”

  “About an ice maker?”

  “I know it’s not practical for the smaller trailer, but if we could have one here it would be so magical.”

  “And to think some women dream of diamonds.”

  “You can’t make ice with a diamond.”

  They walked outside and shook hands with Walter. Silver had already laid out her sketches so the contractor could look them over. She’d noted dimensions as best she could. With some of the existing built-in cabinetry, she couldn’t access every corner.

  Walter studied the drawings, walked into the two trailers, then came out and looked at the drawings again.

  Finally he rocked back on his heels and cleared his throat. “The way I see it, we have three big issues. Space, weight and practicality. We have a limited amount of space to work in. Add to that, you’ve got to be able to set up and break down quickly. No point in designing something amazing if it takes two hours just to set up the bar.”

  He pointed at the bigger trailer. “Next is weight. Airstreams are well built and can haul a lot, but you’re already committed to some heavy equipment. The refrigerator alone is one big girl. Add everything else and you’ll be testing the frame. We need to work with materials that are lightweight and strong. Easily cleanable, too, I’d guess. Last, practicality.”

  He pointed to the existing door. “That’ll have to be what, twice as wide? Three times would be better. You want to have access to all your raw materials, so to speak. Clean up, inside and out, needs to be fast and efficient. No deep corners for dirt to hide out. You need to have restaurant-level cleanliness with minimal weight and no space. All on a budget.”

  “Still interested?” Drew asked.

  “I am. This is going to be a fun challenge. I’m going to make these two trailers everything they can be.”

  “Do you think I could have an ice maker?” Silver asked hopefully.

  Walter rubbed his chin. “Let me think. It’s going to be big and heavy. You won’t have any control over your water source so you’ll want one with a good filtration system, which means you’ll need it placed such that you can change filters and hook up anything from a faucet to a hose.”

  He considered for a moment, then shrugged. “As long as you accept you’re giving up storage space for it, I don’t see why I couldn’t put one in.”

  Silver had to consciously keep herself from dancing with excitement. “Walter, it’s possible I’m falling in love with you.”

  He grinned. “I get that a lot. This is where I tell you that I’m happily married and the missus runs a tight ship.” He winked at her. “Not that I’m not flattered.” He turned back to the trailer. “I’ve been doing a lot of kitchen remodels lately. I look forward to the change.”

  “And the stripper poles,” Drew added.

  Silver sighed. “You told him about t
hat?”

  “He did,” Walter told her. “I was very impressed.”

  * * *

  NEARLY A WEEK LATER, Silver drove up to Drew’s house. She knew where he lived—like nearly everyone in town, she’d walked through the big houses on the golf course when they’d been under construction. But once she’d heard he’d bought one and the sold sign had gone up, she’d avoided the neighborhood.

  Their conversation with Walter had gone better than they’d hoped, and the contractor had gone right to work on getting them quotes on materials along with a timetable. When Walter had sent the email with his bid, Drew had texted, suggesting they get together and talk about what they wanted to do. He’d invited her to dinner and before she could think things through, she’d accepted. A three-hour appointment with a new couple planning a wedding had kept her distracted all afternoon but as she headed up the hill toward Drew’s place, she found herself fighting nerves.

  Stupid man, she thought in annoyance. There was no reason he should get to her. He was just her business partner. They were going to grow AlcoHaul together. Their past made a great story but it wasn’t relevant. Well, maybe a little relevant what with them having a daughter together. A daughter he technically knew about but didn’t actually know about. A daughter he would be meeting in a few weeks.

  Tonight, she promised herself. She would tell him tonight. She was a mature, thoughtful woman who made good decisions. She wasn’t that eighteen-year-old girl too in love to think sensibly. Not anymore.

  Silver’s mom had always been a fool for love, going from man to man her entire life, falling madly in love, sure that this time would be forever. She’d dragged Silver all over the country until at fifteen, Silver had begged to be allowed to go live with her uncle in Happily Inc. Her mother had been about to join her latest one-true-love on his fishing boat in Alaska, so had agreed. Silver had settled in easily, loving everything about the quirky town and appreciating how she wouldn’t have to worry about moving on in a few months.

  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.

  He settled next to her at the island bar. He was close enough to be a distraction but not so close that she could complain he was invading her space. Dinner had not been a good idea, she thought with mild resignation. She should have suggested a coffee date at a public place. Something that wasn’t so...intimate.

  Focus, she told herself. Work and only work. Work, then dinner, then she could tell him about Autumn. The plan made sense and no matter what, she was going to stick to it.