“Good luck in a small town, buddy.”
The snow was rapidly accumulating when we pulled into Sanctuary Spirit’s parking lot. The liquor store was dog friendly so Mouse came in with us. Dutch grabbed a cart, surprising me.
“What are you getting?”
“I didn’t bother packing my bar for this impromptu trip. I’m not a huge drinker, but I do like wine and the occasional bourbon.”
“Did you say bourbon?” A spry octogenarian asked from behind us.
Dutch nodded. “Have a recommendation, ma’am?”
“Call me Judy.” She tapped her name tag. “I sure do. Went to a tasting this past summer. I know just the thing.”
His eyebrows climbed under his mess of curls. “Is that right?”
“Life’s too short to worry about my liver at this point. I may as well enjoy myself.” She waved us over. Mouse trotted after the woman first. “Well, aren’t you a beauty?”
Mouse’s tail waved merrily.
The woman patted his head. “C’mon then. I’m about to spend your master’s money.”
Dutch grinned and my stomach flipped. A full blown smile was rare from him.
The woman lifted glasses off her chest from a beaded chain and perched them at the end of her nose. “This one.” She pointed to the bottle on the fourth shelf. “Hillrock. Made in New York. Hudson Valley region to be exact. Not only did it win a few awards, but it actually tastes amazing. Will warm you right up tonight with all the snow coming.”
“Sold. Let me get that.”
The woman tipped her glasses down. “Your man has muscles in all the right spots.”
“Oh, he’s not mine.”
“Well, he should be.” She winked at me. “Nothing like a little slap and tickle on a cold night.” Then she cackled.
Dutch coughed around a laugh.
“Good advice,”I managed to say without laughing.
“Of course it is. Now let me show you our wines.”
“I need some Irish for hot cocoa, Judy.”
“I got you, girlie.” She wagged a finger in the air.
I followed behind her, Dutch bringing up the rear this time. By the time Judy was done with us, Dutch spent another three hundred dollars. Cash.
Who the heck kept that kind of cash on hand?
I didn’t bother fighting over the sticker shock. My idea of a decent bottle of wine was about twenty bucks. This wasdefinitely out of my league. Dutch carried the big box out to his truck and Mouse happily trotted beside us. He bounded around in the snow while we loaded the truck.
Dutch shook out a tarp to cover our packages from the worst of the snow. I hurried to my side of the truck and waved Mouse over.
“Bit of deja vu.” He slammed his door. “Seems like it’s going to be as bad as the one last week.”
“Good thing we have food and booze.” I laughed through chattering teeth. I wasn’t exactly dressed for snow.
He flicked on the heater on max as the truck fogged up thanks to Mouse’s panting. He kept making nose prints on the window.
“It’s too cold to roll down the window. Not all of us are mountain dogs.”
