“Are you free Wednesday?” he asked.
That was only two days away. No worries. He’d never get a table. “I am.”
He typed on his smartphone. “This shouldn’t take long.”
“What are you doing?”
“Making a reservation.” His phone buzzed. He stared at the screen. “Wednesday at eight. It’s a date.”
“How did you manage that?”
“I grew up here.” He looked so pleased with himself. “I have a few connections.”
And now she had a date with Caleb Fairchild.
The realization of what she’d agreed to hit her like a two-hundred-pound Newfoundland dog wanting a hug. Hope turned to an impending sense of dread. Her sandals felt more like cement blocks. Becca trudged to Snowy.
A date with Caleb Fairchild.
She opened the door and attached Snowy’s leash to his collar. She would need something nice to wear, nicer than one of her dog-show suits.
Snowy trotted out.
She would need to know what utensils to use when. Was the saying from the outside in or was it the inside out? She would need to look up rules of etiquette and table manners on the Internet.
She would need to figure out what to say or not say to Gertie about going out with Caleb.
“Snowy looks like a champion,” Caleb said.
Becca nodded, but she couldn’t relax.
Her muscles bunched. Her stomach clenched.
A date with Caleb Fairchild.
A man who could get a table at the hottest restaurant in town with a simple text was the last guy she should ever want to date. Or kiss. Or...
No falling for him. A date was one thing. A kiss another. Anything more could be...disastrous.
* * *
On the patio, Caleb stood back while Gertie, Becca and Snowy took the spotlight. Becca’s confidence blossomed around the dog. He wished she exuded the same confidence when she wasn’t with one of the dogs.
Courtney sidled up next to him. “Not what you think. Really?”
“Drop it.”
“No.” She leaned closer, sending a whiff of expensive perfume up his nostrils. “I saw the direction of your hand. Becca didn’t seem to mind one bit. You like her.”
“I enjoy spending time with her.”
“You like her.”
Becca stacked Snowy, the way she had in the ring. The dog ate up applause and attention as if it were beef jerky.
“How long have you been dating?” Courtney asked.
“You’re not going to let this go.”
“You dating someone takes pressure off me.”
She flipped her hair behind her shoulder with a practice move rumored to have cut men to their knees. Not any man Caleb would want to know.
“So spill,” she said.
“We’re not dating, but I’m taking Becca to Pacifica on Wednesday.”
“Fancy-schmancy.” Courtney used her favorite saying since childhood. The words described his sister’s lifestyle perfectly. “You’re out to impress Becca.”
“I want her to enjoy the evening.” But Caleb realized he did want to impress Becca. “I want her to feel comfortable, not intimidated.”
Courtney grinned as if she’d been handed a platinum Visa card with no spending limit. “Leave it to me, bro.”
Two women couldn’t have been more different. He eyed his sister warily. “What do you have in mind?”
* * *
Wednesday morning, Becca released the dogs into their run. She cleaned the kennel from top to bottom—sweeping, scrubbing, disinfecting. The entire time she thought about Caleb. Tonight was their date.
She ran through all the things she’d been learning online about eating at an expensive fancy restaurant. Use flatware from the outside in. Napkins are for dabbing, never wiping. Bread should be torn, not cut with a knife. Her parents had taught her a few of the rules like no elbows on the table, don’t take a bite until everyone had been served and don’t slurp soup or drinks. Maybe she would be able to pull this off.
If not, it was only one date. No big deal.
Yeah, right.
This was the biggest deal since Gertie had hired her.
Mopping the floor outside the dog stalls, Becca pictured the outfit she was going to wear. She’d gone through every piece of clothing she owned and settled on a slim black skirt, white blouse and a pair of black pumps. A scarf would add a burst of color. Silver hoop earrings and a bracelet would be her jewelry.
She wanted to look elegant. Most likely she would be dressed too plainly for a place as trendy and hip as Pacifica.
Maybe she should cancel.
Becca rested against the mop.
You could take a mutt into the show ring, but no matter what she wore or how she acted, the maître d’ would know she was a mixed breed, not a purebred. No sense pretending otherwise.
Her cellphone rang. “Hello.”
“Please come to the house right now.”
The urgency in Gertie’s voice made Becca drop the mop. “On my way.”
She ran to the house. The family room was empty. The kitchen, too. “Gertie?”
“Upstairs.”
Becca climbed the stairs two at a time, her heart racing, worried about Gertie. She entered Gertie’s bedroom, her gaze scanning the room. Unique antiques. Luxurious textiles. Exotic treasures.
On the bed was something new. A pile of clothing. Shoes, too.
Gertie stood with a beaming smile on her face and a familiar twinkle in her eyes. Courtney was next to Gertie. Mrs. Harris and Maura were there, too.
“What’s going on?” Becca asked.
Courtney motioned to the bed with a pile of clothing and shoes on top. “I have a bunch of stuff that isn’t the right color or style. We’re about the same size. Maura, too. I thought the two of you might want to see if there’s anything you like.”
Becca imagined her not unsuitable but not perfect outfit for tonight. She couldn’t believe her luck or Courtney’s generosity. A lump of gratitude clogged Becca’s throat. Tears stung her eyes. She covered her face with her hands.
Gertie put her arm around Becca. “What’s wrong, dear?”
“This is so nice. The timing is perfect,” Becca sniffled. “I have a date tonight, but I don’t have anything nice enough to wear, so I’ve been thinking about canceling.”
“Don’t fret,” Gertie said in a voice that made it seem as if the world could end and everything would still be okay.
“And please don’t cancel,” Courtney said. “We’ll find you a knockout outfit to wear. Some of the clothes still have the tags on them.”
Becca rubbed her eyes. She didn’t understand rich people.
“Courtney is a shopaholic. Something she may have inherited from me,” Gertie said to Maura and Becca. “It’s about time others benefited from my granddaughter’s addiction.”
Maura stepped forward. “I’d love some new clothes. Tags or not.”
Most of Becca’s clothes came from thrift stores or consignment shops. She had no issue with hand-me-downs. “Me, too.”
“Where are you going tonight?” Gertie asked.
As soon as Becca told them where, they would know she was going with Caleb. But she couldn’t lie. “Pacifica.”
Both Mrs. Harris and Maura gasped.
A snug smile formed on Courtney’s lips.
“A lovely restaurant.” Beaming, Gertie led Becca toward the bed. “Let’s find something that’ll make Caleb’s eyes bug out and want to go straight to dessert.”
CHAPTER TEN
DINNER AT PACIFICA was a hundred times better than Caleb had expected. It wasn’t the mouthwatering Northwest cuisine from the award-winning chef. It wasn’t the all-
star service from the waiter dressed in black. It wasn’t the romantic atmosphere with flickering votive candles and fresh flowers atop a linen-covered table for two. It was the woman sitting across from him who made the night memorable.
Caleb squeezed Becca’s hand. “Have I told you how stunning you look tonight?”
Her smile meant only for him made Caleb feel seven feet tall. “About ten times. But I don’t mind.”
“Then I’ll keep saying it.” She wore a one-shoulder floral dress with a tantalizing asymmetrical hem. The heels of her strappy sandals accentuated her long legs. She’d glossed her lips and wore makeup. “You’re the most beautiful women in Boise.”
Her cheeks flushed, a pale pink that made her more attractive. “Only because I had your sister to help me.”
“You don’t need makeup and clothes to be beautiful.” He pointed to her heart. “It’s all right there. The rest are optional accessories.”
Gratitude shone in the depths of her eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Caleb didn’t have room in his life for a girlfriend. But he liked being with Becca. Maybe she’d be up for a casual relationship. Time permitting. He kissed the top of her hand. “But even though your dress is spectacular, I kind of miss seeing you covered in dog hair.”
Her laughter, as melodic as a song, caressed his heart.
“I doubt they would have let me in with a speck of hair or lint on me.” She glanced around, then lowered her voice. “I’m so relieved I made it through dinner. I kept thinking if I made a mistake, used the wrong fork or something, they’d kick me out.”
“You didn’t make any mistakes.”
She kissed his hand. “It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.”
Their waiter, dressed in a black tuxedo with a gleaming bald head and an equally bright smile, dropped off the leather case containing Caleb’s credit card and the bill.
Becca rubbed his hand with her thumb. “Thank you for tonight. I’ll never forget this evening.”
He wouldn’t, either. “We’ll have to do it again.”
“I’d like that, but...”
“What?”
Mischief filled her eyes. “You’ve given me a peek into your world. If we do this again, I want to show you mine.”
“Not if, when. That sounds like fun.”
She shimmied her shoulders, as if excited.
Caleb wanted to lean across the table and kiss her bare shoulder, then trail more kisses up her neck until he reached her lips.
“How does Friday sound?” he asked.
“This Friday?”
He might not want a girlfriend, but a few dates didn’t mean anything. He liked hanging out with Becca. No big deal. He could walk away any time. But for now he would enjoy her. “Yes.”
* * *
On Thursday, Becca printed out a stack of emails for Gertie. “These are product orders. Too bad we don’t have any products to sell.”
Gertie’s smile kept widening as she thumbed through the pages. “We can make up some batches in the lab. Sell those.”
“Is that legal?”
“We’re using natural, known ingredients, so we shouldn’t have a problem.” Gertie looked at Becca. “But double-check with Caleb to be on the safe side.”
Becca would love to hear his voice. His good-night kiss in the parking lot had tempted her, but common sense won out over raging hormones. She was growing fonder of him each time she saw him. Still no sense taking a swan dive into an empty pool. “I’ll text him.”
She didn’t really need to hear his voice.
Gertie tapped her chin. “We should pick a show, set up a booth and debut the products.”
“Stumptown is in July, but that’s too soon. The Enumclaw show is a couple weeks later in August. That one draws people from all over and has lots of breed specialties going on, too.”
“Sounds good. Mark your calendar.”
August wasn’t that far way. “It’s going to be a busy summer with all the dog shows we’ve entered.”
“Have Caleb go with you.”
Thinking about spending the summer at dog shows with Caleb made her pulse race faster than a Greyhound chasing a rabbit. But Becca could never ask him to do that. She couldn’t lower her guard that much and open herself up to more heartache. “We’re not...”
“Friends? I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” Gertie raised a white eyebrow. “He’s never looked at another woman like that. Not even his ex-fiancée.”
Becca had heard about his ex from Courtney the other night doing Becca’s makeup for her date. Becca realized how much Caleb and she had in common with their past romances. No wonder he hadn’t trusted her when he first met her. It would be hard to trust anyone after almost being scammed by someone who claimed to love you. At least they were past that now.
“That makes you happy.” Gertie said.
Yes, very much so. But Becca didn’t dare admit that aloud.
A little voice inside her head whispered a warning. The caution reverberated through her. Getting her hopes up too high could mean a long, hurtful drop. The last thing she wanted—needed—was for her heart to go splat. But there was something she could say. “Caleb is a nice guy.”
“Yes, but my grandson is still a man,” Gertie said. “They’ll take whatever you offer and try to keep the status quo as long as possible.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Don’t sleep with Caleb until there’s a wedding band on your finger.”
Becca’s cheeks burned. “We’ve only kissed a few times.”
“Some pretty hot kisses from what I saw.”
She covered her mouth with her hand, unable to believe Gertie talked so openly about kissing and...sex.
“Don’t be embarrassed. I might be old, but I was young once,” Gertie said. “Remember the adage about the cow and getting milk for free is as true today as it was when I was your age.”
Becca knew her boss had only her best interest at heart, but this was awkward. “I’ll remember.”
Not that she and Caleb were even close to...that. Taking things to the next level would be a game changer.
What had Caleb said?
Win-win.
She’d always come out on the losing side before. She didn’t see that changing, even if a part of her wished it would.
But Becca knew one thing. She wasn’t sure she was ready to trust her heart again. Or if she ever could.
* * *
Friday evening, Caleb arrived at what looked to be an Old West saloon for his date with Becca. He hadn’t seen her in two days, two of the longest days of his life.
If he wasn’t thinking about her, he was texting her. If he wasn’t texting her, he was figuring out the best time to call her. If he wasn’t calling her, he was back to thinking about her. A vicious cycle. One that left him distracted and behind at work. One he wasn’t used to and wanted to stop.
No matter. This wasn’t some serious relationship. They shared a few interests and sizzling chemistry. That was what drew him to her, nothing more.
Becca stood outside the restaurant, waiting for him. She wore jean shorts, a red lace-trimmed camisole with a red gingham button-down shirt over it.
His heart tripped over itself at the sight of her. His temperature skyrocketed at the tan, toned skin showing.
“You came straight from the office,” she said.
“I got stuck in a meeting.” He kissed her cheek. She smelled sweet like strawberries. “I’m overdressed.”
“Take off your jacket and tie.”
“It’s fine.”
She tugged on his tie. “I’m serious. You need to take this off now.”
“Don’t worry.”
“You’re going to regret not—
”
He touched his finger to his lips. “Shhh.”
“Your loss.”
Caleb had no idea what she was talking about. “How was your day?”
“Good. I reviewed our new website and made a list of changes for the web designer.”
“Text me the URL. I can’t wait to see it.”
“Courtney came up with the name. Gertie’s Top Dog Products.”
He opened the door to the restaurant. “I’m surprised Grams dragged my sister into this.”
Becca entered. “Courtney wanted to help.”
“She must have an ulterior motive.”
“Being nice isn’t enough?”
“Not for my sister.” Inside, he took a step. Something crunched beneath his shoe. He looked down. Peanut shells. “Interesting floor covering.”
The entire place was interesting. The hole-in-the-wall grill was a far cry from Pacifica. The smell of hops and grease filled the air. The din of customer’s conversations and cussing rose above the honky-tonk music playing from speakers.
Becca pointed to a No Ties sign. “You should take yours off.”
“No one cares what I wear here.”
She dragged two fingers over her mouth, zipping her lips. “Won’t mention it again.”
The hostess wore supertight, short jean shorts, a spaghetti-strap top and a ponytail. She led them to a table.
Caleb sat across from Becca. A tin pail full of shelled peanuts sat in the center of the table next to a roll of paper towels.
The hostess handed them menus. “Your server will be right with you.”
He looked around. Customers had engraved their names on the wood planks covering the walls. He doubted they used a butter knife. That told him a lot about the clientele. He would have to bring Ty here the next time his friend was home. “Come here often?”
“No, but it’s one of my favorite places in town.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“It’s time you discovered one of Boise’s hidden gems.”
Hidden, yes. A gem? Becca would have to convince Caleb. But he had no doubt Ty would love this place.
Caleb read the menu. Lots of red meat and potatoes. Fried, French, mashed, baked. Okay, maybe this place was okay.
The Man Behind the Pinstripes Page 14