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After a moment of blinking at me, recognition finally dawns. “Oh my gosh, I couldn’t tell it was you without your glasses! And your cardigan!”
“I gave it some thought and decided not to hide behind wool tonight,” I joke.
“You look incredible, sweetie. And you!” She turns her attention to Noah, and I’m thankful for that. “Who wrestled you into a suit and tie?”
“Once she got me in a headlock, it was all over,” Noah says.
Juniper laughs and playfully whacks him on the chest. I know she’s married to the grumpiest, hottest tow truck driver in three states and that she most likely thinks of Noah as a brother, but I still feel a pang of possessiveness when she touches him.
A dog barks, drawing all of our attention to the ball of yellow fluff bounding our way. “Calm down, you big dummy,” Juniper says, rolling her eyes and signaling to the mayor, Flash, to sit. “He wasn’t attacking me; we were just playing,” she says to the dog.
“I need to get a golden retriever to keep people in line at the pharmacy,” I say, scratching the mayor behind the ears.
Juniper winks. “Sweetie, you already got one.”
I truly hope she can’t see me blushing, but I feel it all the way from my chest to my hairline.
When we move past the entrance, the grand hallway is lined with banquet tables displaying silent auction items, most of them things that I have no use for: A brush hog. A deer blind. Baby portrait sessions at the new photography studio in town. An hour of reiki and gemstone massage by Maren from the aromatherapy place. Car detailing, season tickets to the Reds, tickets to the Kentucky Derby. Horseback riding lessons. Skydiving class.
One thing does catch my eye, though. On the sheet describing, “Two nights’ stay plus a full day of pampering at The Four Seasons in Nashville.”
Holy heck, how did they manage to score that for a little ol’ auction in Fate? Somebody worked some magic.
I place the first bid at $100, probably less than 1/20th the full price.
“I’m sure I won’t get it, but I figure it can’t hurt to try.” I look at Noah, who stands at my side, his hand never having left my lower back, and smile shyly. I don’t know why I always feel the need to explain myself around Noah.
“I hope you do get it,” he says, leaning in to press a kiss against my temple. His kiss there, combined with his hand at my back, feels so natural and comfortable. He does this like a married man who’s done this a thousand times.
And just so he doesn’t get any ideas, I add, “Jasmine’s getting married on New Year’s Eve, and I think it would be a great bachelorette weekend getaway for her and me. I’ve been a little neglectful since she got engaged.” I don’t want to dig into why that is, though I know it’s got something to do with envy. Jasmine has it all figured out, and she’s so damn happy.
“That’s really generous. I do hope you get it.”
Noah doesn’t say anything else. Nothing about how I’m dreaming if I think I’m going to get that for $100. Nothing about how it’s too extravagant of a gift.
Nothing except “Come on, let’s go eat.”
“Ah, the magic words.”
We are joined at our table by the sheriff and Lucy and Ruby from Ruby’s Diner and her new husband, Nick. Fortunately, everyone is a lot more chatty and already a tiny bit buzzed, because they carry the conversation. They’re all friendly and sweet, and I find their dynamics amusing.
Noticing me squinting at the menu, Noah leans over and reads it for me. He doesn’t tell me I shouldn’t have left my glasses at home. He just says, “You want the braised short ribs or the chicken?”
“Ribs. Definitely.”
“Good choice.”
Everything about Noah so far is affirming. Every choice I make is not subject to critique. It’s refreshing.
This is just a date. This is just fun, I remind myself.Enjoy it, then move on. Go back to Nashville and start over with a spring in your step.
When the food arrives, everything smells incredible. The sheriff tears into the meat like a man starved. “Babe, eat all your greens. Remember what the doctor said,” Lucy says.
“It’s a party,” Mooney chuckles.
“Every day is a party with you. You need to eat something resembling a vegetable once in a while. Do it for me.”
Mooney takes a nibble of iceberg lettuce and a slice of carrots. “There. Happy?”
