by LuAnn McLane
“So, what’s good here?” Addison glanced down at the menu.
“Unfortunately, everything. Just ask my expanding butt,” Mia replied with a roll of her eyes. “This used to be an old-fashioned diner but Jessica Robinson—well, she’s now Jessica McKenna, married to one of my bosses—took the restaurant over from her aunt a few years ago. Jessica took traditional diner fare and gave it an upscale twist. Oh, she was once a chef at Chicago Blue. You’ve eaten there, right?”
“Yes, I remember it.”
“Dad and I used to eat there. It was a hot spot, but I heard business has fallen off since Jessica left. Anyway, the food here is scrumptious.” She pointed over her shoulder. “Check out the desserts in the display case. I refuse to look at them.”
“Are you kidding?” Addison groaned. “I feel like I’ve eaten my way across America. I should probably go light.”
“Well, the soups and salads are great too. All made from scratch. Jessica’s chicken salad is wonderful . . . it’s the kind with grapes and walnuts.”
“Oh, my stomach is rumbling just thinking about it.” Addison opened the menu and chuckled. “Stone soup? Oh, and the fable behind it? How cute!” She closed her menu. “That’s it. I don’t have to look any further. I already know what I want.”
After Sunny delivered the drinks they both ordered stone soup and chicken salad sandwiches.
“So, catch me up on things,” Addison requested. “I think the last time I saw you was at your dad’s wedding a couple of years ago. How are Uncle Mitch and Nicolina doing? She was such a beautiful bride. And are you and her daughter, Bella, close? She seemed sweet but with a feisty side.”
“They’re doing wonderful except that Nicolina’s jewelry shop keeps her so busy that Dad has to sometimes kidnap his own wife.”
“A far cry from the work-driven Uncle Mitch that I remember.”
Mia smiled softly. “Yes, so true. Oh, and Bella is like a sister to me and she lives here now too. We’re like one big happy family. And now you’ve arrived! I have to say that life is good.”
“And how’s your hot baseball player doing?”
Mia twirled her straw in a sad circle. “Oh, I am so proud of his success in the minor leagues, but, like I mentioned, I miss him so much.” She brightened. “Hey, maybe we can hit the road in that sweet Mustang of yours and take in a few of his games?”
“I’d like that. I stayed a Cubs fan even after we moved to Los Angles. I love baseball.”
Mia arched one eyebrow. “I could introduce you to some really cute Cougar players.”
Addison shook her head. “I’m done with dudes for a while.”
“Did you just say dudes?”
Addison had to grin. Mia was already making her feel better. “California has left its mark in more ways than one. If I start saying hella you can smack me.”
“Well, before long you’ll be saying y’all and bless your heart.”
“I love a good Southern twang,” Addison said, but then shook her head. “But I have to admit that the mere fact that I’m here is still sort of surreal. A week ago I was planning my wedding . . . again.”
“Yeah, I got my invitation. Oh, Addison, I’m so sorry.” Mia’s smile faded and she shook her head. “You don’t have to, but do you want to tell me about the whole Garret Ruleman thing? I saw some stuff on TV but I know it’s not true. I won’t breathe a word.” She made a show of crossing her heart just like they had done when they were little. Before Uncle Mitch’s first marriage fell apart they used to see each other on a regular basis. And then everything had changed.
“I don’t mind talking about it.”
“It might help.”
Addison took a swallow of her cold tea and then began. “After Aiden cheated, I found myself mourning the loss of our friendship much more than the romantic side. I know now that something neither of us realized was missing. Something important called passion. But still, the whole thing tore me up and I fell into a blue funk.” Addison sighed. “When I met Garret he brought laughter back into my life. He had me trying new and crazy adventures like skydiving, swimming with dolphins . . . even silly stuff like karaoke.” Addison shrugged. “I simply adored being with him and assumed it was love. When he proposed it was a no-brainer, or so I thought.” Addison looked across the table at Mia. “So, how, tell me—how do you know when it’s the real deal?” Addison leaned forward with a hand to her chest. “Apparently I don’t have a clue.”
Mia frowned for a moment. “I don’t know if I can really explain it but I guess it’s the intensity of everything. Everything about being with Cam is just . . . more. I love him more, miss him more, and even get angrier than with anyone else I’ve ever known. I even get jealous from time to time, and I’m not that kind of person except with him. It’s because I care about Cam more than I’ve ever felt about any other guy before.”
Addison nibbled on her lip, thinking.
Mia grinned. “But do you want the easy answer?”
Addison nodded hard. “Please.”
“The kiss.” Mia closed her eyes and sighed.
“The kiss?” Addison sat back in her seat in disbelief. “Like, being a good kisser is the key to happiness?”
“Yeah . . . for real . . . it’s how you know.” Mia gave her a dreamy smile. “The kiss, especially the very first one, just blows you away. You can’t stop thinking about it, reliving it over and over. At the risk of sounding corny, you just sort of . . . melt.”
Addison looked at her while trying to recall if she ever felt like she was melting. Nope. But really, come on . . .
“Don’t roll your eyes at me.”
“I didn’t!” Addison laughed, while Sunny refilled their tea and put down a basket of crackers.
“Internally, you did. But anyway, finish your Garret story. What really ended the engagement?”
By the time Addison finished telling Mia about the reality-show idea, Mia was shaking her head. “Yeah, two broken engagements in less than five years is too many,” Addison lamented. After Sunny delivered the soup and sandwiches, Addison said, “I have enough wedding stuff to open my own store.” Addison took a sip of her soup and pointed to the bowl with her spoon. “Oh, this is so good.”
“Wow . . .” Mia raised her eyebrows. “Wow . . .” she repeated, and then smiled slowly. “You should totally do it.”
“Do what?” Addison asked absently as she scooped up another bite of the savory broth.
“You should open up a bridal shop.”
“I was kidding.”
“I’m not,” Mia said as she opened a pack of crackers. “No, seriously. Dad put in this gorgeous strip of shops down by the river called Wedding Row. The buildings are new but look like an extension of Main Street in Cricket Creek. Nicolina’s jewelry shop is next door, along with a bakery specializing in wedding cakes. There are a tuxedo shop and florist and soon there will be a photographer, but Dad has been searching for someone to open a bridal boutique, without any luck.” She lifted her palms toward Addison. “Voilà!”
“Mia . . .” Addison warned in a low tone, but there was no stopping her bubbly cousin.
“The shop is ready to go. I mean shelving, lighting, and everything. All it needs is inventory and someone to open it up.”
“Mia, I’m only here for a visit.”
“Yeah, so was I.” Mia raised her hands skyward. “So was my father, and look how that turned out.”
“But my family lives in LA,” Addison protested, but a tiny bit of excitement blossomed in her stomach.
“They would visit. It would force your mom to take some time off.” Mia took a drink of her tea and then tilted her head. “There aren’t paparazzi here in Cricket Creek.”
Addison took a bite of her sandwich and chewed slowly as she actually started to consider this crazy suggestion. “I do have a degree in business, but what do I know about running a bridal boutique?”
“Don’t you help your father run his art gallery?”
“Yes
.”
“There you go. Same concept. Just different inventory.”
“But would there really be that much demand for wedding dresses in a small town? I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“I’ll be your first customer. Cam has been bugging me to set a date. Well, okay, next September after baseball season is over. I want to get married here at Wine and Diner, I think. There’s a beautiful courtyard and gazebo. Cam and I met here, so it would be perfect. Granted, Cricket Creek is small, but we’re within a few hours of Nashville, Tennessee; Lexington, Kentucky; and Cincinnati, Ohio. And those are just a few of the urban areas close enough to drive from. Weddings are big business these days. That’s why Dad and Nicolina thought of Wedding Row. But you can think small and then grow. Hey, I rhymed.”
Addison chuckled. “You are very persuasive. You know that? I bet you’re good at your job.”
“Well, I used to plan lots of charity balls back in Chicago. I had more skills than I gave myself credit for. . . . Wait. . . .” Mia paused and then gasped. “You could plan weddings too!”
“Well, I do have experience in planning a wedding,” Addison said with dark humor. “Make that plural.” She held up two fingers.
“I could help in the baseball off-season. Actually, with Cam gone so much I could find time to help you even now. We could have the boutique stocked and ready to open inside a month, maybe sooner. Dad wants to add a hotel and convention center down by the stadium, so that could eventually bring in out-of-town guests. The marina is going to expand too. This little town is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. I even heard that they are expanding Whisper’s Edge, the retirement community down by the riverfront. The owner, Tristan McMillan, teamed up with his mother, who just moved here and opened up a real estate office on the corner of Wedding Row, and it’s doing well. As a matter of fact, Maggie McMillan is in charge of leasing the remaining space left in Wedding Row, so we’ll get the key from her later. See? No one wants to leave Cricket Creek once they come here,” Mia said before happily sliding a spoonful of soup into her mouth.
“Oh, Mia, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t have a place to live. . . .”
“Well, there are a couple of choices. You could lease a condo high-rise where I live. Dad checked and there is one available. But there are really cool lofts above the shops in Wedding Row. Nicolina used to live above her jewelry shop before she and Dad built their own house. She still uses it as an office. Maggie McMillan lives above her real estate agency as well. The lofts have a big open floor plan and view of the river, hardwood flooring, exposed brick walls, and beamed ceilings. The appliances are stainless steel and the countertops are granite.”
“Your dad always did do things top-notch.”
“They’re pretty sweet.”
Addison thought of having her own place, her own business. No cameras following her around. “Mia, my head is spinning.”
“So you’re giving it some thought?”
“Yes,” Addison said and Mia’s face lit up. “I’ll take a look.”
“Shut the front door!”
Addison tossed her head back and laughed. “Of course, I’d like to see the loft too.”
“Yes!” Mia smacked her hands down on the table so hard that the ice jingled in the glasses. “This is awesome!”
“I know I’m just looking, but even so, I’ve never done something this spontaneous. I feel as if I’m jumping without a net. My heart is pounding so hard right now!”
“Doesn’t it feel great?” With another laugh Mia stood up and danced in a circle with her nose up in the air.
“What in the world are you doing?”
“The Snoopy happy dance! Come on, get up and do it with me!”
“Mia! We’re in public!” Addison reminded her cousin with a laugh.
“Oh, believe me, I’ve created much more commotion in this restaurant than a mere dance.”
Sunny came over to check on them. “Hey, I know the chicken salad is good, but dang, girl.”
“No, I just found out that my sweet cousin Addison is going to move here.”
“Potentially,” Addison reminded her.
“Oh, you will,” Mia said firmly.
Sunny sat the pitcher of tea down on the table. “Well, now, Mia. That does call for celebration,” Sunny said, and started doing the dance with Mia. Sunny added finger-poking moves toward the ceiling. “Join us, Addison!”
“You guys are seriously crazy.” Addison looked around, but no one seemed to act as if dancing in a diner was out of the ordinary. With a grin she slid from the booth and started doing the happy dance with them.
“What are y’all drinkin’?” asked an elderly woman a couple of booths over. “Sunny, I’ll have whatever they’re havin’.”
“Just tea, Violet,” Mia answered with a laugh. “We’re just high on life.”
“You go, girl,” Violet answered, and raised her water glass.
Laughing, they sat down and Sunny refilled their glasses.
“That’s Violet, who owns Violet’s Vintage Clothing down the street,” Mia explained. “A totally sweet lady. I shop there all the time and she helps me run Heels for Meals, a charity we started for needy people in the area. Sunny, our waitress, helps out too, along with a few other ladies in town. I’ll have you on board too.”
“Wow,” Addison said, “it sure seems like you’re living a nice, fulfilling life here in Cricket Creek. I have to tell you I’m surprised that you and Uncle Mitch ended up in a small town in Kentucky. I remember being in awe of that huge house you used to live in.”
“I know.” Mia grinned. “Last week I never could have guessed that you’d be sitting across from me at Wine and Diner. Life is full of surprises, so get ready, girlfriend.” She did a little snap of her fingers and a head bop, making Addison laugh.
“Yeah, I guess Dad was right. I needed a change of atmosphere.”
Mia raised her glass. “Here’s to fresh starts.”
Addison touched her glass to Mia’s. “Well.” Addison grinned back at her cousin. “And there is one other perk of running a bridal boutique.”
“And what’s that?”
“I’ve sworn off men and marriage. Any guy coming into the shop will be someone’s fiancé.” She held up her left hand. “That should keep a ring off my finger.”
“Maybe in the shop.” Mia crumbled some crackers into her soup. “But I wouldn’t be so sure. There are a lot of cute guys here in Cricket Creek. Not only baseball players, and, oh, those country boys in their Wrangler jeans can be pretty darned sexy. . . .” She paused and raised her eyebrows.
“What?” Addison thought about her image of potbellies in overalls.
Mia nodded toward the front door. “Don’t look now, but one just walked in. Hmm, haven’t seen him around here before.”
“Mia . . .” Addison warned in a low voice. “I’ve sworn off men. Remember?”
“He might just change your mind. Don’t be obvious, but look!”
“No way. I’m not looking.”
“Oh yeah. He’s heading to the stools at the counter, close enough so you can see him. Check him out,” Mia urged in a stage whisper. “Yeah, baby . . .”
“I’m not interested,” Addison insisted. She scooped up a bit of soup but turned her head to look nonetheless. The spoon paused halfway to her mouth. Oh my . . .
He was tall with brown hair kissed by the sun and just shy of needing a trim. A white cotton T-shirt tucked into jeans showcased his broad shoulders and bulging biceps. He walked slowly while looking down at his phone, and Addison wanted to but just couldn’t look away. Sexy stubble shadowed a firm jaw and when he licked his bottom lip while reading, Addison felt as if she needed to fan her face. Both Aiden and Garret were handsome men, but this guy had a rugged edge instead of glossy perfection and damn if she didn’t find it sexy as hell.
The waitress behind the counter greeted him. “Well, hey there. If it isn’t Reid Greenfield! Long time, no see, Sugar Pie. What brings y
ou back to Cricket Creek? Family visit?”
Addison watched Reid swing one long leg over the stool and sit a very fine butt down on the red vinyl.
“Hi, Myra. Sure is good to see you too. Yeah, I’m here to help out on the farm for a while,” he answered in a soft Southern drawl that slid down Addison’s spine like smooth Southern Comfort. “I’d like a glass of your sweet tea, if you don’t mind, while I look over the menu.”
“Your sweet, sexy self can have anything your little ole heart desires,” Myra answered with a sassy sway of her hips.
“Is she really flirting with him?” Addison felt an odd stab of jealousy. “She’s got to be old enough to be his mother,” Addison grumbled, but kept her eyes on Reid.
Mia chuckled. “Oh, that’s Myra for you. She’s got that free-spirit, hippie thing going on like Uncle Paul and pretty much says whatever she wants. Even though she turned the restaurant over to her niece, Jessica, she still works from time to time, ever since Jess and Ty had a baby. She’s a trip, for sure, but she’s happily married to Owen Lawson, the groundskeeper at the baseball stadium and father-in-law to Noah Falcon, the hometown hero who built the stadium. As a matter of fact, Myra hired me as a waitress when I first arrived in town.”
“You were a waitress?” Addison asked absently. Most of her brain was still focused on Reid.
“For, like, a minute, until I caused a fight that landed Cam in jail. I actually jumped on the back of a guy and pulled his ears until he cried uncle.”
“That’s nice,” Addison said, but then blinked and finally tore her gaze from Reid. “Wait. What did you just say?”
Mia laughed. “It’s a long story that I’ll save for later. It gets better if I have a martini or two. Hey, speaking of martinis, we should go to Sully’s Tavern later and have a couple after I show you around. Stay with me tonight and we can walk from my place. We have a lot to discuss!”
“Sounds like a plan,” Addison agreed with a grin. It was difficult not to get pulled in by Mia’s enthusiasm.
“Maybe Reid over there will show up and pull you onto the dance floor and do a little two-steppin’.”
“I’m guessing that’s nothing like Dubstepping.”
