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Beau shifted, dropping my arm, then putting his around my shoulders. “It might help if you talk about whatever is on your mind.”
“At the moment, it’s horses.”
He looked over at the ones pulling sleighs. “They’re gorgeous creatures, yes?”
“I know nothing about them. Or about taking care of vineyards, running a winery, or living in a house built over a century ago.”
“Most don’t, and as I said before, I highly doubt Cena managed it all on her own, especially at her advanced age. It’s a matter of hiring the right help, which may already be in place. And that, you have experience with.”
He was right, although I wasn’t successful at it. Once Addy got married and stopped working at Stave, it had been impossible to replace her. I’d hire people, and then after a few shifts, they either called and quit or didn’t show up. What if the same happened with the Lilacs? I wouldn’t know how to find people to even interview. Especially since I didn’t know a single person here.
Beau squeezed my shoulders. “Whatever else you’re thinking, I suggest again talking about it. It may help.”
“I don’t know anyone here,” I blurted.
“You know me.”
I shook my head. “You know what I mean.”
Beau stopped walking and turned to face me. “I’ll admit to being somewhat confused. Youdoknow me, Samantha.”
“You’re right,” I snapped. “But when you leave, I won’t know anyone else.”
“I won’t leave.”
I rolled my eyes. “Even if I eventually decided to live here, to do this? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I willnotleave,” he repeated.
“This conversation is pointless. I’m not staying here or, err, coming back here. If this inheritance is real, which I still don’t believe it is, I’ll have the attorney sell everything.” I knew I sounded callous, but what I’d do wasn’t the point.
“If you did, I’d buy it.”
“No, you wouldn’t.” I shook my head and laughed, pulling him to keep walking. “Come on, I’m hungry.”
Beau seemed disgruntled, but it was silly to talk about something that hadn’t happened yet and likely never would.
“What about this place?” I asked, stopping to peruse the menu posted near the sidewalk in front of a house that had been converted into a restaurant. It looked as though it had been built around the same time as the one at the Lilacs.
“It’s fine,” he responded.
“I’m surprised you’d agree, given there’s corn mentioned as an ingredient in every dish, including dessert.”
For the first time in several minutes, Beau smiled. “You do amuse me, Samantha Marquez.”
The way he looked at me made me weak in the knees. If only what I imagined I saw was real. The more uninterrupted time Beau and I spent together, the more I found myself falling for him. Heartache. That’s where I was headed. Worse, if he realized how I felt, it would ruin our friendship. Instead of being with him sometimes, it would become never. There was no way I could risk it. I’d take what I could get.
Two things happenedduring the course of our one-hour-plus dinner. First, I ate the best gnocchi I’d ever had. It was served with a Gorgonzola cream sauce, radicchio, and walnuts. Second, by the time we finished, Beau knew everyone who worked at the restaurant by name, and they knew him. He was kind enough to introduce me, not that I’d ever be as memorable as he was.
He’d asked all to whom he spoke about the Covert family, but no one knew them. While some had heard of Lilac Lane wine, most were unaware of the estate.
We received multiple “must-do” recommendations, including breakfast at a bakery on Elm Street, catching a movie at the historic Aurora Movie Theatre—located four blocks from the restaurant—and shopping at Berger’s Five and Dime store. “It takes up most of the block. My grandmother took my brother and me there when we were kids. Now, he takes his family. I’ll admit I still shop there. Best candy selection in the world,” our waiter informed us.
Beau’s eyes perked up at the mention of sweets. “Is it open now?” he asked.
“Sorry. They close at six, but they’re open on Sundays.”
“Don’t forget Linger,” said a waitress when she passed our table.
