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I look up at him and before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “You do realize, my friends snagged the only two single men to hit Elk Lake in forever.”
Teddy reaches out and takes Faith’s hand. “You know Faith was my first kiss when I used to visit here as a kid, don’t you?” He looks at her with such devotion, my heart clenches. “It’s like she claimed me for her own all those years ago.” Even though I’m not a diabetic, I suddenly feel the urge to check my blood sugar.
Faith and Missy both look like they’re going to melt into a pile of mush, so I hurry to interject, “Is it too much to ask that you all tone the lovey-dovey stuff down for the evening?”
“I’m not sure that’s possible.” Jamie winks at Missy like he can’t wait to get her alone.
“Somebody hand me a set of car keys,” I joke. “I’m going home.”
“You’re not leaving,” Faith says. “We’ll be good.”
After turning our outerwear in to coat check, we proceed down the hall to the Premier Club dining room. It’s just as fancy as the name suggests—like we’ll be eating on aMasterpiece Theaterset. I’m pretty sure if you flipped open any issue ofTown and Countryyou’d see the same gorgeous scene of navy walls, dark wood paneling and rich velvet curtains. It’s mega dreamy.
The host, Martin, bows at the waist when he sees us before greeting, “Mr. and Mrs. Helms, Mr. Riordan, Miss Corner, and Miss …” His not remembering my name is the cherry on the sundae of my day.
“You can call me Wheely—you know, as in thefifth wheel.” I hope my smirk makes it look like I’m teasing and not complaining.
Martin tries to hide a smile. Before he can do as I suggested, Missy interjects, “This is Paige Holland, Martin. She’s a good friend of all of ours and you’ll be seeing her often.”
Martin tips his head in my direction. “Of course, Miss Holland. I should have remembered your name. My apologies.” He picks up menus before adding, “We have your table ready. Please follow me.”
He leads us to a large round table in the middle of the dining room. It’s located directly under a massive chandelier, and if I had to guess, I’d say it’s the best table in the house. Teddy and Jamie immediately pull out my friends’ chairs for them. As Martin reaches for mine, a voice behind me says, “I’ve got it, Martin.”
I turn around and come face to face with Tim. Instead of thanking him kindly, as basic manners would dictate, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
His eyebrows nearly rise to his hairline. “I work here, remember?”
My companions all start talking at the same time, and a cacophony of questions rings through the air. “Tim, howareyou?” “We hardly see you anymore. Why is that?” And, “If you have time, why don’t you join us?”Hurray, now they’re trying to match me up, so I don’t make their meal awkward.
Tim doesn’t seem to be annoyed at being the focus of so much interest. Instead, he says, “I’ve been good. I haven’t been working nights for a while now. And I’d love to join you. Let me just grab a bottle of wine, and I’ll be right back.”
Faith and Missy share a glance that suggests they might really think Tim and I are destined for romance, so I tell them, “Don’tget any ideas. Tim Ferris is not interested in dating, and I’m not interested in being his rebound.” I don’t reminisce over the fact that Tim was Mr. Popular in high school and I was the girl trying to align her spine. Not exactly two people you’d pick for a love connection.
“Oh, I know he’s not looking to date,” Missy responds. She should, as she went out with Tim a few times before Jamie declared his interest. Jamie was as determined not to get into a relationship as Tim seemed to be to find one. Jamie thought he was protecting his daughter, and Tim thought that by dating multiple women at once, he was protecting his heart. But that’s a whole other story in itself.
When Tim comes back to the table, he’s carrying six glasses and a fancy bottle of Bordeaux. I recognize the label from the time we drank the same vintage to celebrate Missy and Jamie’s finally getting together. Tim puts the bottle down before uncorking it and filling our glasses. Then he sits next to me.
He lifts his glass and toasts, “To friends!” As I take a sip, he whispers in my ear, “I got some tea for you from Trina today.”
My wine immediately goes down the wrong way, and I start to cough. As my arms flail, I knock over my drink. All eyes at the table turn to me in concern, so I do my best to wave them off. When I’m finally able to speak, I gasp out, “I’m fine.”That is if you don’t count the new burgundy-colored splatter on my dress.
The waiter hurries over to assess the damage and wipe up as much of the mess as he can. After he leaves, presumably to either get more towels or retrieve a straitjacket for me, I turn to Tim and quietly ask, “Did she say how horrible I was today and how they’re going to kick me off the show?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all. She said she hopes you’ll match with some lawyer named Fielden.”
“Oh, that.” I roll my eyes. “She told me I’m the provincial Cinderella who everyone hopes will wind up with the prince.He’ssupposedly a lawyer from Chicago.”
The rest of the table is not-so-subtly eavesdropping. I knowthis because Missy’s mouth is wide open like she’s trying to catch flies. “You can’t leave Elk Lake!”
“I’m not going to,” I assure her. But then I start to wonder what the chances are that my other half will be a man willing to relocate to a small tourist town. So, I add, “I mean, I don’t want to, but there are middle schools everywhere.” Maybe the thought of my jumping ship will spark fear in their hearts, and they’ll quit being so nauseatingly romantic around me.
Jamie puts his glass down. “Both Teddy and I moved here, so let’s stay hopeful that whoever Paige falls for will do the same.”
The waiter comes back to the table and announces, “If you’ll all step aside for a moment, we’ll change your linens.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Tim tells him. “Just cover the stain with a clean cloth and Paige and I will go sit at another table.”
“What? No!” Missy declares like I’m the best part of her evening.
