“A white wine for me and another beer for Doug. And I’ll start a tab. Brooke and I are having dinner.”
She didn’t need to look at the menu to know what she’d be ordering—a juicy burger with a side of truffle fries. She’d been coming here since she was a kid, and the cook had stayed all these years. It was something she’d come to count on, she supposed. A reason why she stayed. Blue Harbor may not have offered her the exact life she’d been hoping for just yet, but what it did offer, she knew she couldn’t replicate anywhere else.
She glanced at Doug, wondering if the pull of this small community had been the reason for his return.
“Kyle joining you guys?” Jackson asked as he poured the drinks and handed them across the bar.
Gabby shook her head. Kyle was still in the process of transitioning management of Harrison’s to his brother, Ryan. It would take time, and he’d still be invested, but he now had the opportunity to pursue his true passion, making hand-carved furniture that looked more beautiful than anything she’d ever seen in a store. It was a reminder to her that things worth waiting for came in due time, and that she could try to be a little more patient and enjoy the journey.
“Ladies’ night tonight.” Her grin was only mildly apologetic.
Jackson and Doug exchanged a look and Doug held up a hand, grinning, “I was here first.”
“And there were no free tables,” Gabby was quick to add.
Jackson just shook his head. “I think you both protest too much.” With a low rumble of laughter, he flung a towel over his shoulder and walked to the opposite end of the bar.
Gabby stared after him and then slanted a glance at Doug. “Ridiculous. Don’t mind him. Everyone in this town is just determined to set me up.”
“Join the club,” Doug snorted.
“I take it your mother hasn’t backed off?” Gabby couldn’t help but like the camaraderie. Her mother was quiet with her opinions, but Candy was far from shy, and Maddie wasn’t far behind.
“Ever since I moved back.” Doug shook his head. “They don’t think I’ll be happy until I meet the right woman. Can’t seem to understand that I’m perfectly fine, just as I am.”
Gabby went quiet at that. Here was a man who was determined to stay single, not that it should matter much to her. Except that the more time she spent in his company, the more she was starting to think that there might be more in common between them than she’d first thought.
“I have another wedding this weekend. Client gig. But my mother has still taken it upon herself to inquire about the seating arrangements and guest list. She happens to know the manager of the Yacht Club. Popular place for weddings, it would seem.”
“The McBride wedding?” Gabby was suddenly alert. She’d been reviewing the order form today, checking her inventory, calling the flower market to be sure that her orders would all arrive in time.
His gaze snapped to hers. “Don’t tell me—”
She laughed. “I’m doing the flowers.”
“You’re really in demand, aren’t you?”
She felt her smile slip as she stiffened and sipped her drink. “It’s a full-time career, and admittedly this is my busy season.”
He cocked his head to the side, giving her a little nudge. “I see that now. You’ve turned me into a believer.”
Her eyes sprung open. “Is that so? You’re actually admitting that I’m right?”
“I’m admitting that I see your point about the benefit and allure of flowers, yes.”
“And here I thought I had turned you into a believer about love.”
His eyes went flat and for a moment she wondered if she had touched a nerve. But he just took a sip of his beer and said, “Can’t see anyone convincing me of that.”
“I suppose if all these weddings can’t change your mind, then it’s a pointless argument.” She sighed. “Although, I’m starting to get a little tired of filling all of my Saturdays this way.”
“You’re not alone. Looks like we’ll be stuck with each other for another Saturday night. Could be worse, right?” He gave her a long look, one that made her finally look away.
“It beats a root canal,” she said, sliding him a rueful look.
“Or a blind date,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
Leave it to him to have a better retort. Like always. “Okay, you win. But thankfully, I haven’t ever been subjected to a blind date.” Though at this rate, Candy was probably sure to find a way to make that happen. What Candy didn’t seem to understand was that she didn’t want to force love. She wanted to find it.
“I was thinking,” Doug said slowly, “that if we’re both stuck at another singles tables, we might think about going together. Or at least being each other’s wingman. You know, in case you’re seated next to another preteen.”
“Beats the married man,” Gabby said with a laugh. And for the first time all week, she suddenly found it all very funny, rather than so disappointing.
Doug covered his mouth, trying to hide his growing smile. “You should have seen the look on your face when he mentioned his pregnant wife.”
“You should have told me!” she scolded. But she knew that there was no way he could have, and she should have seen the gleam in his eye as fair warning that something was brewing.
With a nod of her head, she decided that setting herself up for more letdown was worse than spending another evening next to Doug. It would take the pressure off the situation, allow her to just enjoy herself rather than walk into every event hoping that this would be the night she’d find the one. Brooke would be pleased when she told her—if she wasn’t going to read way too far into it first.
She held out a hand to Doug. “Okay, you have a deal. We’ll be each other’s wingman. If your mom tries to set you
