Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
“Again, you make it sound like that’s a bad thing.”
I follow her out the door, all fucking smiles.
I reach around her to open the car door. She murmurs a quiet thank you and slides into the passenger seat. I round the hood and take my place behind the wheel.
Wills glances at the house as she buckles herself in. “Should we invite your parents?”
“They’re not home. It’s summer festival weekend, so Mom’s already there helping set up for the pie-making contest.”
“Oh wow. I totally forgot about that. I haven’t been to the festival in forever.” Every year, they shut down Main Street on the second weekend of July for a huge summer market and regatta. There are sailing competitions, loads of vendors, the prize pig event, and the pie-making competition.
“If you’re feeling up to it after breakfast, we can stop by to check things out. If not, I can bring you back here and then head over to give my mom a hand for a couple hours.”
“If I’m remembering correctly, you used to make pies with your mom. I swear I remember that—and you wearing an apron with flowers on it.” She rubs her temples, clearly fighting the champagne headache.
“You’re right. It’s tradition. I’ve been in the bake-off with my mom since I was a kid.”
“She almost always wins, doesn’t she? Or she did when I was younger.” Willy crosses her legs, and her dress rides up, exposing more of her creamy thigh.
“Until an out-of-town couple won two years ago. They were also professional chefs and a big draw for the summer folk.”
“A little unfair that they tarnished her perfect record.”
“She took it in stride and felt pretty good about coming in second.”
I park in one of the many public lots, and we walk the two blocks to Two Guys and a Stove. It used to be our regular hangout between classes and on weekends. The decor is reminiscent of an old-fashioned diner, with red plastic bench seating and white tables with chrome edges. Chrome-and-red stools line the counter where regulars drink coffee and chat. It’s busy this morning, which is to be expected with the fair and the regatta.
The place is full of familiar faces—even the hostess is the younger sister of a guy we went to school with. It only takes a few minutes for us to get a table, and Wills slides into the booth. I take the seat across from her.
One of the servers stops by our table to take our drink order and does a double take. “Oh wow! Hey, Dallas! I heard you were in town.” She turns to Wills and gives her a shy smile. “I don’t think we know each other, but my dad did some work on your moms’ house last year.”
“Oh! You’re Vicki Cooper.” Wills smiles. “Your dad and his crew did a great job on the new deck at my moms’! They eat out there almost every night in the summer.”
“That’s great!” Vicki beams with pride. “Congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thanks.” Wills stiffens before she shifts into the professional smile she wears when we’re at a promo op.
Vicki glances around and drops her voice. “Brooklyn and Sean were all anyone could talk about until you two. It was so romantic. We were all watching the game, because you know what it’s like around here. Having a Huntsville bred hockey player on a pro team, it’s like, a huge deal, right?” Vicki laughs and rolls her eyes. “Of course you know what that’s like, duh.” Her cheeks flush. “Anyway, it was so cool to watch it happen on live TV. We all felt like we were part of it.” She turns her attention to Wills. “Can I see the ring?”
“Of course.” She holds out her hand, and Vicki leans in.
“Wow. It’s just so beautiful. Like, the most beautiful engagement ring I’ve ever seen.”
“Dallas has incredible taste in jewelry,” Wills says, her smile firmly in place.
“He really does,” Vicki agrees.
The door tinkles with the arrival of new customers, and someone calls Vicki’s name from the kitchen. “Shoot. I should probably get back to work. Can I start you with coffee and water?”
“An intravenous drip of coffee would be stellar,” Wills says. “But if that’s not available, I’ll just take your biggest mug.”
“You got it.” Vicki nods, and I request the same as she takes off.
Wills pulls her laptop out of her bag. “I need to take care of a couple of emails.”
“Everything okay with work?” Offseason is low-key for me and the rest of the team, but it’s the opposite for her. “Everything’s fine. I’m working on a project with the women’s hockey team. I don’t trust Topher to handle things while I’m out of the office.” Her fingers click on the keyboard.
“Is he giving you problems?” I’ve heard them having it out in the past.