“Let me find a piece of paper and I’ll write it down.” Kady fumbled in her purse.
Editon grinned. “Don’t worry. I already have it.” He inched up his sleeve to expose the number she’d written on his wrist the night before.
Kady’s cheeks turned to an adorable shade of deep pink. She rolled her eyes. “I guess some things don’t change from school. How junior high can I be?”
“I’ll never take a shower or wash my arm again.” Editon faked a swoon and put his hand over his heart. His comment made her laugh, and her eyes brightened. Editon wanted to keep her happy, he didn’t like it when she was unhappy. He picked the bill off the table.
“Hey.” Kady reached for it. “I said that I would buy.”
He maneuvered it out of her grasp. “Don’t worry about it. Spending time with you again was thanks enough.” He paused, as he took out his wallet and tossed down a twenty-dollar bill. “Do you need me to drive you somewhere?”
“No. Thanks. I’ll walk.”
“I’ll stop by Tegan’s shop and give her your number.” He slid out of the booth and stood. “Maybe I can see you again?”
She smiled up at him, and his biscuits and gravy did a little flip in his stomach. “When I get settled. I’d like that. Maybe in a week or two?”
He was hoping Kady was going to say tomorrow, but he was a patient man.
“Sure. In a week or two. I’ll see you soon.”
Chapter Four
Kady took the job at Que Syrah Syrah, and life was starting to feel like it was finally falling into place once again one small piece at a time. Just as Editon assured her, Tegan was easy to work for, and she and Kady became fast friends. It had been a long time since Kady felt she had ‘girlfriends.? When she was alone in California, she was always so busy that she barely had time to eat and sleep.
The rustic shop was filled with wine racks and cute rustic knick-knacks. Tegan had good taste and displayed the items to draw interest. She also encouraged local groups to meet at the shop.
A couple times a month, this particular group of women met at the wine shop. Tegan told her that it had started out to be a ‘book club’ but they admitted that they were really there to chat and drink some of Tegan’s new wines. Tonight was one of the ladies meeting nights.
Kady dusted off the shelves, as the women talked and laughed.
“We can laugh about this all we want, but we’ve had a pretty good track record so far with The Love List. A lot of the people we have paired up have stuck.” Tegan tipped her glass forward to make a point.
“You didn’t get August when you drew out a name,” Chloe pointed out.
“No, I drew Richard.”
“Who tried to burn down your shop?”
“Yes…but, because of going out to the Vineyard to meet Richard, the psycho, I met August the wonderful.” Tegan grinned.
“It’s kind of like the degrees of Kevin Bacon game?” Rebecca said.
“You end up with who you should be with. Our random drawing is just that, random. But, it might help you think of someone in town you never expected,” Tegan said, as she turned and shook the basket in Kady’s direction. “Ready to jump back into the dating game and give The Love List a try?”
Kady looked around the circle of women. “I’m happy this ‘Love List’ has worked out for most of you…but, I think I’ll pass. I don’t have room for Mr. Right.”
“Everyone has room for ‘Mr. Right’. ? Tegan said with a laugh.
“Well, not me.” Kady went back to dusting the shelves.
“Maybe next time.” Tegan shook the basket once more and placed it back on the table.
The bell sounded over the front door, and Kady looked up. She was surprised when Editon walked through. Kady ran a hand through her loose hair which had slipped from her ponytail. Of course, she wore her baggier jeans and a stained T-shirt.
“Editon.” Tegan jumped up and went to give him a hug. “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” He held a single white lily in his hand.
“Can I help you with something? Do you have a date?” Tegan asked as she looked at the flower.
“Not exactly.” He shook his head. “I’m here to see Kady.”
“Kady?” Tegan looked from Editon to Kady, and then back. “Our Kady?”
“Unless there is another Kady here, I’m talking about the one who is standing behind the counter. I don’t mean to jump into your group here. I’d stopped and got this flower…and then I was going to go over to her house, but I saw the lights on and…”
Kady had to admit that Editon was even cuter when he was flustered.
Tegan grinned. “Well, don’t just stand there, Editon. Give Kady the flower.”
He walked over and handed her the lily. Kady took it and heard the other women sigh. These women were hopeless romantics, and as much as she tried to deny it, so was she.