by Ginny Baird
Get it together.
“That makes us even.” His throat felt tender. “Because I’m sorry about what I said about yours back then, too.”
“The pot roast is ready. If you’re hungry?” Her dark eyes sparkled and he couldn’t help but imagine coming home from work to a woman like her. Meredith Galanes was going to make someone a great wife.
And it won’t be you.
He cleared his throat. “Pot roast sounds great, thanks.”
He cleaned up while she waited and then switched off some lights.
“You get your aunt settled in okay at the guest cottage?” he asked as they walked back toward his cabin. A full moon was on the rise and darkness cloaked the pines. In many other circumstances, the evening might have seemed romantic.
“Oh yeah. She was pretty impressed.”
Derrick quelled all thoughts of romance between him and Meredith. Olivia was arriving tomorrow. He needed to find a way to throw all his energy into thinking about her, and push any nonsensical thoughts about Meredith to the furthest reaches of his mind. “My grandparents are impressive people.”
“All of the Albrights are impressive,” Meredith said. “From my view.”
He glanced at her as he held open the cabin door, allowing her to enter first.
“Just look at you,” she said, sounding flirty, “holding open the door.”
His neck warmed but he hoped she wouldn’t notice. “This old dog can learn new tricks.”
“You’re not that old.”
“No, but I’ve been around the block a time or two.”
“Yeah?” she asked. “Which block is that?”
“The block. You know, the one that folks call life.”
“Ooh, that one. Sure.” She laughed and he liked how it sounded. “Yeah, I’ve been around that one, too. More than once.”
He stepped into his kitchen, unable to believe his eyes. The whole place was done up so homey, it was hard not to think he was standing in somebody else’s house. The cabin was tidy and smelled heavenly with the scent of pot roast in the air, and the table was set for a nice dinner. Meredith had found the blue-and-white checked tablecloth his grandmother had given him years ago and a couple of placemats from the pile he kept in the sideboard. Two places were set with cloth napkins, utensils, and dinner plates and bowls. She’d even managed to produce a candle from his emergency storm stash and plunk it into an empty beer bottle.
“I couldn’t find the matches,” she said, noting his eyes on the table. “But, given that you’ve got a fireplace and all, I’m assuming you’ve got some somewhere.”
“I do, indeed.” He cast a second glance at the makeshift candle holder and grinned. “Creative centerpiece.” It looked like it belonged in a cute little restaurant or something. He was actually kind of touched that she’d gone to the extra trouble.
“It’s all I could come up with in a pinch. If you’d had any empty wine bottles, that might have worked better, but since you don’t drink wine—”
“I don’t?”
“I didn’t see any around.”
“That’s because I keep it in the laundry room.”
She giggled. “Who keeps wine in a laundry room?”
He thumbed his chest. “Me. I’ve got a wine cooler in there, temperature controlled.”
“Oh!”
“You probably didn’t see it because there are some towels lying on top.”
She scrunched up her nose.
“Clean ones,” he said. While his bedroom was currently a mess, he wasn’t a slob. A man had to have some pride. “I ran the ones through the wash you and your aunt used earlier, but I didn’t get a chance to put them away yet.”
She stared at him with new eyes, like she appreciated the fact that he did laundry. Which was natural, of course, since he lived here alone. But maybe she was more surprised to learn that he had wine. “You’re a very interesting man.”
“Thanks. I think.” He walked to the high cabinet above the stove and asked her, “Were you hunting for wine for a reason? I mean, would you like some?”
“Um, sure. If you’re going to have some, too?”
He opened the cabinet door and took down two wine goblets. “Red?” he asked with a grin. “Or white?”
Chapter Fifteen
Meredith appreciated Derrick’s healthy appetite. He seemed to be really enjoying the food and he told her so several times. He apparently didn’t cook much for himself, and only enjoyed homecooked meals when his grandparents were in town and invited him over. For her part, she was enjoying the wine. So much had happened in these past few days it felt good to finally slow down.
While, outwardly, she’d worked hard to maintain her cool, inwardly, the whole scenario in Blue Hill had left her very wound up. First, there was the media fallout to deal with and Derrick’s initial reception had been less than gracious. After they’d begun cooperating with each other, he’d started letting down his guard. She’d learned more about him over the past twenty-four hours than she had during the entire wedding week in Maine last summer.
Back then, he’d mostly exhibited snark. Okay, she had seen a tiny glimpse into his spirit on that one moonlit evening, so maybe that should have told her something. There was more to Derrick than she’d at first given him credit for. One thing was sure—she’d never make fun of his profession again. The man was incredibly skilled with his hands, which probably meant he knew how to hold a woman, too. She tried not to dwell on this, telling herself that the only one who should be having those thoughts was Olivia.
She took another sip of wine, deciding to concentrate on one of her reasons for being here, rather than letting her mind take unproductive side trips. “I’ve got great news,” she said. “My assistant turned up more information on Olivia.”
Derrick looked up. “Yeah? Like what?”
Meredith filled him in. He appeared a little surprised that Olivia had never practiced law, but seemed to take it in stride that she’d gone to law school. He was relatively nonplussed by the fact that she’d had a serious attorney boyfriend.
“All adds up,” he said, sipping from his wine. He’d opened a bottle of hearty cabernet sauvignon, which was delicious. “That’s the route she said she’d always wanted to take, and the sort of guy she seemed to want to latch onto.”
“Latch onto? What do you mean?”
“Someone educated and accomplished. Someone not like me.”
“You’re educated and accomplished,” she told him.
“You say that now—”
“I already said I was sorry, and I meant it.”
The hard edges of his features softened. “Yeah, I know. Apology accepted.”
“In any case,” she said, turning the conversation back to Olivia, “the attachment didn’t last.”
He eyed her in the candlelight. “Did your assistant learn why?”
“She’s a good data tracker but she can’t read crystal balls.”
He gave a melancholy laugh. “Yeah, suppose not.” Derrick appeared pensive a moment before speaking. “You know, one of the problems between us was that she thought I lacked ambition.”
“You take pride in your work.”
“I do. I’m a good instructor, too.”
Her lips twitched at the self-congratulatory statement. “If you say so yourself.”
“I do say so myself.” He clinked his wineglass to hers in a toast. “Just like you say you’re a great matchmaker yourself.”
Meredith laughed. “So, when do your classes resume?”
“A week from this coming Monday.”
“So, after I go, you’ll have the rest of that time with Olivia?”
“Nobody says she’ll be able to take the time off, or that she’ll want to stay.”
“You have to make her want to stay,” Meredith said emphaticall
y. “By romancing her.”
He set down his wine. “Sorry. Don’t do that.”
“What? Romance?”
“You’re talking flowers and such? Chocolates?” He shook his head. “No.”
“Those things are cliched,” Meredith told him. “Sometimes romance isn’t in the big gestures. It’s in the smaller stuff. Like, the things you notice about her. Things that are special about her and make her different. When you acknowledge those attributes out loud, she’ll feel appreciated. Noticed.”
“I think I know what you mean.” He stared at her and heat rose in her cheeks. She ducked her chin and drank some more wine before returning to her dinner. “Make her believe that I see her, right?”
“Yes! That. Exactly.”
His eyebrows knitted together. “What if I don’t like what I see?”
“Well then, it’s all over. Romantically, that is. You’d just use your reunion as a growth experience for both of you. A chance to put old hurts behind you and part on better terms. Sofia would probably like that, right?”
“I’m guessing yes.”
“And maybe, so would you?”
He shrugged. “Sure.”
“Derrick, I know this is weird, but the hardest part is going to be that first hello. After not seeing her for so long, it could feel a little awkward. But, don’t try to fight it. Just lean into that feeling and say something like—”
“Hey, this is awkward?”
“You got it.” Meredith winked. “Once Olivia knows the situation’s uncomfortable for you, too, she’ll be more at ease.”
“Okay. And then what?”
“I can’t tell you play-by-play. Some of it’s going to depend on your initial reaction to each other. If it’s favorable, and you want to pursue things, I’ll be there to help with any advice.”
“Nothing like having a resident expert on hand.” He cocked an eyebrow. “And right under my roof. How do you think Olivia’s going to take that?”
“Probably fine, when we explain that we’re just friends. We can tell her that’s why I’m here for the christening. You and I got close last summer, and I’m a friend of the family.”
“Yet no other family friends are invited?”
“Besides her!”
“Seems fishy. Olivia’s too bright for that. I’m not sure she’ll buy it, especially with your aunt here.”
“Okay, then. Maybe something else?” Meredith thought a moment. “How about we say, I showed up in town unexpectedly and surprised you. My aunt and I were together and…going on a road trip!”
He sat back in his chair. “In separate cars?”
“You’re right, that won’t work.” She frowned. Then she got another idea. “Maybe we can say I was up in the area for another reason, and then popped in to see you? Since it was close to the baptism and I know your family, you asked me to stay?”
“All right, but what about your aunt?”
“She, er…was coming to meet me for whatever touristy thing I’d planned to do. I’d raved about Blue Hill from last summer and she wanted to see it. Honestly. I doubt Olivia will think too much about it, one way or another. She’ll just be feeling happy about being included herself. You know, on the short list?”
“Short list, right.” He sighed. “I should probably have my head examined.”
“First things first. Let’s take this one step at a time and see how everything goes tomorrow when you see her.”
“I don’t want to take the focus off of Julia and her christening.”
“You won’t! This will all be under the table.”
They noticed at the same time they’d both finished eating.
“Let me help pick up,” she said.
“Nothing doing.”
Derrick grinned, and for a nanosecond she wondered what it would be like having dinner with him every night. Then she squashed that thought—pronto.
“You brought the pot roast,” he continued, “I can pop things in the dishwasher.” He started to blow out the candle and then asked, “Want anything for dessert? I’ve got ice cream.”
“No, thanks.” She sent him a hopeful glance. “But I will take just one more glass of wine? I’ve got a small amount of work to do on the computer, if that’s all right.”
“Work? Lady, you’ve been working practically since you got here.”
Meredith conceded that she felt exhausted. “That’s true.”
“So why not take the night off? Things are only bound to get busier starting tomorrow.”
With Olivia arriving, she agreed he had a point. “Maybe I could use some downtime.”
“You definitely could use some downtime.” He grinned. “So could I.”
She stared at him surprised, because it sounded like he was suggesting they hang out together. “What did you have in mind?”
“TV? Maybe a movie?”
She yawned, not sure she could last through a whole film after these super busy past few days. She observed the widescreen TV mounted over the fireplace. “How about we stream something?”
“Cool.” He started rinsing things to load in the dishwasher, then paused, drying his hands. “Your wine?”
“I’ll get it.” She lifted the bottle from where it stood on the table. “Plenty of practice.”
His eyebrows arched.
“But not that much.” She laughed. “Come on.” She poured her wine and set the cork back in the bottle.
“Hey wait!” he said. His eyes sparkled. “Don’t forget to pour me some, too.”
“Aye, aye captain,” she said, joking.
“That will be the day.” He rolled his eyes. “When you let me skipper the ship.”
…
Derrick finished loading the dishwasher and Meredith located the remote on the mantel.
“Go head and sort through some choices,” he said.
She laughed. “You and I probably don’t watch any of the same shows.”
“You’re right. Probably not.”
She settled in on the sofa with the remote and her wine, feeling happy about relaxing for a while with Derrick. It was hard to imagine the two of them letting down their guard and just being together. It reminded her of their brief time spent last summer on that dock. Things felt strangely comfortable between them, and she was glad to feel her tensions ease.
Most of her life she’d stayed tensed up, chasing after one goal or another. The fact that she generally achieved them only made her more anxious, not less. Because every mountain she climbed only reminded her that there was higher peak, just beyond the next ridge.
She flipped on the TV and a menu popped up for different streaming services. She clicked one of her favorites and a banner appeared for recently viewed shows.
She giggled and glanced back toward the kitchen. “You do not watch Date My Mother.”
His neck reddened. “I might have seen it once or twice.”
“Wait.” She goggled at the screen. “Indian Matchmaker, too?” She turned and lobbed a small sofa pillow at him. “You great big fraud!”
He dodged the pillow, but he was laughing so hard. “Hey! Watch it!”
“Yeah that! When did you watch it?”
His whole face turned crimson. “Okay. Maybe I saw an episode or two last summer. After.” He shrugged. “You know.”
She couldn’t believe it. He had to have been curious about matchmaking after meeting her. “Der-rick.” She found herself giggling again. “You watched all of season one!”
He picked up the sofa pillow and his wineglass and came over to join her. “Hey, maybe I would have watched your show if it had been syndicated back then.”
She blushed, in a strange way believing that was true.
“So what will it be?” he asked, glancing at the screen.
“You’re letting me pick
?”
“You’re my guest.”
She felt hot all over. “Yeah, but not that kind of guest.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure your parents were relieved to find that out.”
She laughed at his very correct assertion. “Right, hmm.” She scrolled through some shows. “Ooh, how about House Hunters?”
“Great one. I love the remodels.”
She viewed him admiringly. “Do you?”
“I redid my grandparents’ kitchen, you know.”
“Up here? No, I didn’t know that. But I’m not surprised.” She sassily set her chin. “You’re very good at all that manly handyman stuff.”
He laughed. “Manly? Maybe you need to watch some more shows. Women remodel, too.”
“Oh yeah, that’s true.”
“But not you, huh?” His forehead rose.
“Trust me,” she said. “You don’t want to see me with a hammer. I break things.”
“Intentionally?”
She shoved him and he chuckled. “No, you goofball. By accident.”
“I’m glad you told me before I asked you to help out in the workshop.”
“I like it that the workshop is all yours. Your zone.”
His eyes sparkled and he leaned toward her. “What’s your zone?”
“Er…other than matchmaking, you mean?”
“Yeah. What do you do for fun?”
“I guess I watch shows like these.”
“All right.” He sat back against the sofa, looking settled in. “Then let’s have ‘fun’ together.”
She playfully rolled her eyes. “That would be a first.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” he said and her heart stilled. Then it started beating faster because of how he gazed at her.
“Shows!” she said, clicking the remote. “Right. How about we start with this one…”
…
Two and half hours later, Derrick yelled at the screen. “No! House Three! Pick house Number Three!”
Meredith couldn’t believe they’d stayed up this late. They’d only intended to watch one episode, but they’d gotten sucked in. Then, the time had simply melted away.
“It’s going to be House Two, and you know it.”