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I glanced toward Addy, then Doc. His poker face would have made Wild Bill Hickok envious. “Why don’t you come join us? We’re waiting for Addy’s cast fitting.”
“Sure, but first,” Wolfgang grabbed my hand and raised it to his lips, his cobalt eyes locking onto mine. “Let me just look at you for a second.”
I fidgeted under his stare, knowing my makeup had been rubbed off several hours ago and my hair was spiraling out all over my head.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you while I was gone.”
“Same here,” I lied, wishing it were the truth. I tugged my hand free. “Come on. Addy will be happy you came.”
I had trouble meeting Doc’s eyes as we joined the group, so I started the introduction with Jeff. “Wolfgang, this is—”
“Jeff Wymonds,” Wolfgang finished for me.
“Oh, that’s right.” I’d forgotten Wolfgang was a local. “You two went to school together.”
Jeff’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “How’s the jewelry business, Hessler?”
I glanced at the back of Jeff’s neck to see if it was bristling, but his scruffy hair covered any evidence.
“Booming,” Wolfgang’s grin dazzled as usual. If he was picking up on Jeff’s surly undertone, he hid it well. “How’s your wife?”
Alarm whistles blared in my head. I pointed at Harvey. “This is my friend, Willis Harvey.”
Wolfgang followed my lead without a hiccup. “Mr. Harvey. Didn’t you used to frequent the casino next to my store?”
“Sure did. I was dating one of the cocktail waitresses there—until her husband found out.”
I heard a quiet laugh come from Doc. “That must have put a kink in things.”
“Might of,” Harvey snickered, “if her old man had gotten a hold of my wedding tackle. His trick hip gave me the edge.”
“What’s wedding tackle?” Addy asked.
“A kind of fishing pole,” I answered, skirting the subject again, practically twirling as I danced through introductions.
Harvey snorted and smacked his leg.
“And this is Dane Nyce,” I turned to Doc, unsure why I chose to use his real name. “Another … friend of mine.”
Doc shot me a one raised-brow stare, then stood and held out his hand toward Wolfgang.
“Are you from around here, too?” Wolfgang asked.
“Nope.” Doc pulled his hand free and indicated toward the chair he’d just vacated. “Have a seat.”
“No, thanks,” Wolfgang said. “I don’t plan on staying long. I just wanted to make sure Addy was okay and give her this.” He pulled a small pink box from his pants pocket and held it out to Addy, who blasted him with both dimples and grabbed the box.
“Addy,” I chastised. “What do you say?”
“Thanks, Wolfgang.” With Kelly’s help, Addy tore open the box. She squealed down at a rhinestone-covered unicorn broach.
The broach reminded me of the crystal I’d found in his bathroom and pocketed. Unfortunately, Aunt Zoe had washed my lawn-mowing clothes the next day and I hadn’t seen the crystal since. I had a bad feeling the washing machine ate it, and unless I came across the crystal again, I wasn’t going to bring it up to anyone, especially Wolfgang.
“Also,” Wolfgang continued, turning toward me. “I wanted to see if her mother wanted to reschedule our date to Saturday night.”
It took me a couple of seconds to realize he meant me. Saturday? Wasn’t I doing something that night? Feeling the weight of all six pairs of eyes on me, I just smiled like an idiot. “Sure. Same time, same place?”
Wolfgang nodded. “Wear that red dress again. I have something special planned for you.”
