He pushed away from the counter he’d been leaning against and headed for the back door. “I’ll leave you ladies to your stories.”
After he chugged down his soda and pulled off the T-shirt, Mitch threw himself back into the work. So what if Paige seemed to be a perfect fit for the lodge and for Rose and for the whole damn town? Didn’t make her a perfect fit for him.
She stayed another half hour, which he knew because, no matter how hard he tried to put her out of his mind, he kept listening for the door. Unfortunately, when she did finally come out, she didn’t head for her car and leave so he could get his head back on straight. She headed straight for him.
“You guys are really making a mess.”
“It’s supposed to be heated parking for the guests’ snowmobiles, but I don’t know how they get any in here with all the crap piled up. But we’ve got to redo the floor, so out it goes.”
“Lucky you.”
“Have you ever been sledding?” He wasn’t sure why he asked, since what he really wanted was for her to leave.
“Nope. They look fun, but the winter activity I’m best at is reading.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it with a snap when he realized he was about to offer to take her out for a ride. He’d probably be making a few trips back now that the lodge’s future was uncertain, so he could take her out once there was snow. But that would be as good as telling her that, after he left this time, he’d be back and he’d want to see her again. Mitch didn’t do that.
“Reading’s good,” he said.
“I should get going. I have some bookkeeping to get done and I need to review Gavin’s upcoming specials. He’s on probation because people found out he’d fed them tofu.”
Mitch laughed, trying to imagine that reaction. “Bet that went over well.”
“Gavin keeps telling me they liked it until they found out what it was, but I told him you can’t just spring that sort of thing on people raised on meatloaf and shepherd’s pie.”
When she turned to leave, he grabbed her hand, threading his fingers through hers. “Ryan leaves tomorrow and I have to catch up on some work—real work—but maybe Monday night we could go out somewhere. Get some dinner or something?”
Her smile heated his body in a way the sun and exertion couldn’t. “That sounds great. I’ll see you then. About six would be good.”
“Wear that red sundress you wore for Old Home Day.” He leaned in and kissed her, not really giving a damn who might be watching. Then he stood there like an idiot, watching until her car disappeared down the driveway.
Chapter Fifteen
By the time six o’clock rolled around on Monday, Paige had managed to make herself feel utterly ridiculous. It was silly how much time and effort she’d put into her hair and makeup just to go to dinner with Mitch.
When he’d requested she wear the red sundress, she’d gotten a thrill from the realization he’d probably spent some time remembering how she looked in it. And she’d also assumed that meant they wouldn’t be taking his motorcycle. She liked riding the bike, but knowing her hair wouldn’t be plastered to her head by the helmet had her taking the time to style it. She kept the makeup light and put on a pair of sandals that were comfortable, but dressy enough to go someplace nice if that was what he had in mind.
The nerves took her by surprise. Even though she didn’t have to worry about a good-night kiss or any awkwardness about inviting him in, her stomach was jumpy and her color was high when she checked her reflection in the mirror for the umpteenth time.
Tonight was different somehow, she admitted to herself. This was a date and that didn’t mesh with the rationalizations she’d used on herself to get into bed with him in the first place. It was too real and neither of them did real.
She was in trouble. Besides offering her some temporary fun, Mitch had shown her just how lonely she’d been. Two years alone had been good for her—she owned a home and a thriving business and that sense of home she’d always craved—but it was time to start thinking about sharing that life with somebody.
And, stupid her, she couldn’t fall for somebody as grounded in Whitford as she was. There had to be some nice single men in town looking for a local woman to settle down with. They’d make a life together, send their kids to the Whitford schools and watch them grow up in the community Paige had come to love. But no, she had to let her head be turned by a man who had his own life somewhere else and absolutely no interest in returning to Whitford for good.
Well, she wasn’t giving up her dream, lonely or not, she told her reflection. She was going to go out and have a good time and maybe, after Mitch left town, she’d start looking for somebody who wanted the same things in life she did. And if she couldn’t find another man who made her feel the way he did, at least she’d still have her home and her diner, because she wouldn’t throw it all away to chase after him.