“Rose doesn’t own the lodge. We do,” Mitch said. He managed to sound authoritative, but he mentally had his fingers crossed she wasn’t eavesdropping. “We’re taking a lunch break and I’m inviting you in to eat with us.”
Andy smiled. “You may own the place, but if my feet cross that threshold, her temper will level the place around your ears.”
That was probably true. “Let’s go into town, then. A burger sounds better than a bologna sandwich, anyway.”
“Sounds good to me,” Ryan said, while Josh shrugged and started toward the truck. “Give me a chance to meet the new owner.”
Mitch forced himself to keep walking and not give his brother the satisfaction of riding to the bait. Josh got to ride shotgun by default, because of the cast, so after Ryan and Andy crammed themselves into the not-quite-a-full-backseat of the truck, Mitch got in the driver’s seat and fired the engine. When the dash came alive, including the clock, he was a little relieved to see it was almost two o’clock, which not only explained the hunger, but also meant Paige would already be gone by the time they got there and, therefore, wouldn’t be meeting Ryan.
Except, as luck would have it, she was the first person Mitch saw when he stepped through the door of the Trailside Diner. She had her apron off and was leaning against the center island, as usual, talking to Ava. Paige turned her head to look when they walked in and she smiled at him, which was the best damn thing that had happened all day.
The urge to puff himself up like a rooster took him by surprise, though. Women smiled at him all the time. They smiled a lot, and he’d never gotten any kind of thrill at being the guy who’d put the smile on their faces. But, when Paige smiled at him, he wanted to pound his chest and let out a Tarzan yell.
Andy and Josh had continued on toward a table, but Ryan stopped next to him and waited. Mitch scowled at him, but he just grinned and made a none-too-subtle gesture with his head. Gonna introduce me?
Probably because they were standing in the doorway like idiots, Paige started toward them. “I was just on my way out. Stopping by for lunch?”
“Yup. This is my brother, Ryan. Ryan, Paige Sullivan. She’s owned the diner for two years now.”
Ryan laid on the charm with the smile and the handshake and the pleased-to-meet-you, but Paige turned her attention back to Mitch the second Ryan released her hand. “How are things going at the lodge?”
“Good. We’re making up a list of things to do, and it’s not too bad.”
“Glad to hear it. I have to run, but give my best to Rosie. Oh, and, if you’re really hungry, try Gavin’s special today—caramel apple pork chops and they’re so good.”
She was gone before he could form an opinion on the pork chops or even say goodbye, and Ryan’s low chuckle made him wish they were still young enough to get away with slugging his brother.
“Hate to break it to you, but that woman’s not into you,” he said before walking off to join the others at the table.
Mitch might have believed him and even found that thought a little depressing if Ava hadn’t paused on her way by with some menus. “Brothers. Can’t believe a word they say.”
*
There wasn’t much to do in Whitford on a Saturday night, so they all tended to make their own fun. And the first Saturday night of each month was the most fun for Paige because it was movie night with the girls. They rotated houses, though Paige never got to host since she had neither a television nor anyplace for more than two people to sit.
Tonight they were at Hailey’s, which was Paige’s favorite movie-night spot. Hailey had a cute Cape on the outskirts of town and no husband grumbling about being banished for the evening or kids who wouldn’t stay in bed. They didn’t have to worry about the movie’s rating and they could laugh as loudly as they wanted, which could grow more and more rowdy as the night went on, depending on who was mixing the drinks.
And, true to form, Hailey had chosen yet another romantic comedy based on how hot the leading man was rather than critical praise or word-of-mouth, never mind whether or not it was any good. If anybody asked what it was about, she’d hold up the DVD case and say, “Look at this guy!”
Paige wasn’t about to complain, though. Lauren had been on a Nicholas Sparks kick lately, which led to a shortage of tissues and a decrease in attendance. Fran was pushing for a Thelma & Louise rerun and the previous month, when Mallory had hosted, they’d sat through War of the Roses, which, considering her marital situation, made everybody a little uncomfortable.