Hello Dolly

by Reina M. Williams

  He couldn’t help the smile that broke out at her excited tone. “I’m sure we can get a tour another time. But, yes, it’s a vegetable garden, and an orchard. The more formal garden is toward the front, which is where we need to go. And, no longer a working ranch. I think the Middletons sold off most of the land over the years, before they sold to Brandon.”

  “Guess I better hem in my enthusiasm to see it all today, huh?” She tugged his arm. “Let’s see the other garden, and I want to surprise Aunt June. I didn’t see her at the wedding, and she doesn’t know I’m here.”

  “We’ll find her, then.” He’d also like to see June Gallagher surprised. It didn’t happen often. Actually, he didn’t think he’d even seen Mrs. G or Mrs. D surprised. They seemed to know everything that went on around here.

  “And we should get in the receiving line.”

  “Might be awhile,” he said. The line was long, snaking across the front lawn. Cutler and Nora and their attendants stood in the gazebo where guests walked in and out, directed by, of course, Mrs. G. “Want me to get you a drink for while we wait?”

  “Yes, thanks.”

  “That lemonade you mentioned? And I see your aunt.” He waved his free arm toward the gazebo, his words as quick as his movement, trying to cover that he’d been listening so closely to everything Dolly said.

  But it was worth it, seeing her smile like she did, as if he’d given her a fantastic gift. His chest lightened.

  “Yes, please.”

  Reluctantly, he unthreaded his arm from hers.

  “Come back and wait with me?” She touched his arm.

  The lightness made him feel like he walked on clouds. “Sure.”

  She joined the line and he strode quickly to one of the bar stations placed around the garden. Beyond the gazebo, two large floors had been laid, one for dancing, given the band already playing, and one with tables and chairs, probably where dinner would be served. There must be another one around near that hidden by the trees to accommodate this many people.

  He waited in line for drinks, saying hi to some people he knew. Once he got a pink lemonade for Dolly and a root beer for himself, two of the younger white guys who’d eyed Dolly earlier approached.

  “Luke, who’s that with you? She can’t be your girl,” Jason, a tall thirtysomething driver at Taft’s, said. “She’s hot. I’d like to get under her.”

  His companion, who was new to town and whose name Luke couldn’t remember, smirked in agreement, elbowing his friend.

  “Aren’t we all too old for locker room talk? Show some respect for a lady and knock it off.” Luke pushed past them, bumping the leerer’s shoulder.

  “Hey, watch it.” The guy grabbed Luke’s arm.

  He tensed his jaw and gripped the drinks tighter. “Make me spill the lady’s drink and you’ll lose more than your beer.”

  The guy stepped forward into his space, but Jason pulled him back. “Leave him, man. Now’s not the time.”

  Luke gave them a nod and walked away. When he’d first gotten to town, some of the guys had decided to throw their weight around. They soon learned Luke didn’t back down, and he didn’t allow disrespect, especially to women, but really not to anyone.

  And Luke had never had to throw a punch to get respect. Guys like that might not like him, but they didn’t mess around with him, or anyone, not in his presence.

  Though it seemed like Jason Riggs was planning something different, from his threatening tone. He gave the pair a last glare before reaching Dolly.

  “Things okay?” Dolly asked when he handed her the frosty glass. “Looked kind of tense back there.”

  “Just a couple of guys posturing. No worries.” He sipped his soda.

  She gave him an up and down appraisal, and he couldn’t help but splay his hand on her back in response. It was just to make sure she was steady as they moved forward in line. That was all.

  He turned his head. Who was he kidding? He wanted to touch her, wanted to hold onto her tight and not let go.

  “There they are!” Mrs. Davis’s unmistakable teacher voice rang out. Several people in line turned to her, no doubt many of them having experienced that voice during high school.

  Ken Taft trotted behind Mrs. D, holding their drinks in his hands. Mrs. D caught Luke’s gaze and waved to him and Dolly, confirming it was them she’d been talking to. The others around them turned and continued with their chatter, though Luke knew people were watching and listening.

  And Mrs. D knew that too. Did she not care that she was creating a strong potential for gossip about him and Dolly? Then again, he could’ve prevented that by saying no to the older woman’s ideas in the first place. And not acting like Dolly was his since they’d arrived.

  “Dolly, you look beautiful,” Mrs. D said, her cheeks pink and wrinkling with glee. “Doesn’t she?”

  Luke kept his mouth shut. Ken Taft, not surprisingly, echoed Mrs. D. “Beautiful. Good to see you again, Dolly.”

  Dolly waved to the older man and echoed his greeting. Taft turned to Luke when Mrs. D monopolized Dolly’s attention with talk of the wedding.

  “Luke, you’re a lucky fella, escorting Dolly Gallagher.” As usual, Taft’s voice carried as much as Mrs. D’s. Taft had hearing loss in one ear, and he was used to shouting orders around work sites with heavy machinery operating.

  Luke nodded.

  “About time you settled down.”

  Luke rubbed his neck. Luke didn’t appreciate Taft’s implication that he and Dolly were already dating, and seriously for that matter, or could be.

  “I’m settled already. Dolly just didn’t want to miss the wedding, and since you stole my date...” Luke glanced at Mrs. D then back at Taft with a shrug.

  Taft chuckled. “I’d be worried if I didn’t know Betty isn’t interested in you that way, or you her.” Taft leaned closer, lowering his voice. “She does keep a man on his toes. Men like us need that.” Taft elbowed him and sipped his drink.

  Luke wasn’t sure how he felt about Taft thinking they were similar, but he knew the man meant it as a compliment. But he was delving into private territory.

  “I’ve got everything I need,” Luke said.

  Taft threw his gaze at Dolly. “That’s what you think.”

  They were steps from the gazebo now. “If you’ll excuse us,” Luke said to Taft, touching Dolly’s elbow.

  Mrs. D patted Dolly’s arm. “Well, you two hold onto each other and have fun. We’ll catch up later. Ken?” Mrs. D turned to her escort, who offered his arm, which Mrs. D took. They walked away, their heads together in conversation.

  “They’re a funny couple,” Dolly said. Her voice wavered slightly. He hoped she was okay.

  He took her elbow as they stepped up the stairs into the gazebo. They greeted Dean, Maya, Brandon, and Ana—the groomsmen and bridesmaids, as well as the closest relatives of the bride and groom. He knew them all, and Dolly had met the Manning brothers when they were younger. Moving on, Cutler clapped him on the shoulder and looked from him to Dolly appraisingly. Luke tried to shoot his friend a warning look, but Cutler wasn’t the kind to pay attention to those.

  Dolly said congratulations to Cutler and Nora, who responded politely.

  Cutler gripped his arm. “Love is in the air, huh, Luke?” He smiled at Dolly while he said it.

  Luke wished he’d stayed home. Dolly blushed, and dang if it didn’t make her look even prettier.

  Nora glanced between him and Dolly then grasped her new husband’s hand. “Cutler, not everyone needs to be in love today.”

  Cutler laughed and nodded to Dolly. “Sorry. I’ve been told.”

  Dolly shrugged, her color returning to its normal peachy complexion. “We can all love life, right? Thanks for including us.”

  “Thanks for coming. Hope to get to know you better,” Nora said, tucking a stray lock of her black hair back. “Come by the bakery anytime.”

  “I will,” Dolly said. “I’ll be right across the street. Happy to have such g
reat neighbors.”

  “We are too.” Nora smiled.

  Luke beamed with pride, even though he didn’t have anything to do with how gracious and wonderful Dolly was. Still, he felt included in her circle, especially when she’d referred to “us” as if they were a couple. He touched her back, following her down the other set of stairs.

  Dolly listed to one side as she stepped onto the grass. He caught her, holding her close. Her breathing quickened as he held her around her waist, lifting her upright.

  “Oh, that was a close one,” she said, lifting each ankle and circling it. She winced.

  “Hold onto me, tight.”

  She circled her arm around his neck and he tried to hold her weight on his side as they walked forward. Was that her sweet scent, or the blooms in the garden? Her smooth skin against his caused more sensations than he’d felt in a long time.

  “I can carry you,” he offered.

  “I think I’m all right. It just hurt for a moment.” She eased herself away slightly, but he continued to hold onto her. He didn’t want anything to happen to her.

  Something was happening to him, though, being this close to Dolly. Something that felt like a cross between a lightning bolt and a warm spring breeze. Something he had no use for in his settled life.

  “Let’s get you to the table,” he said. Once they were seated, and dinner served, it might provide enough distraction. At least enough that Dolly might not notice how he felt around her, and how he was falling for her despite his best efforts not to.

  Chapter Seven

  Wish You Were Closer

  Dolly let Luke guide her into her seat at the table. Hopefully he hadn’t noticed how unsettled he made her, to the point that she lost her footing back at the gazebo and almost sprained her ankle just because he’d touched her back. And maybe because of the way people kept assuming they were a couple. And maybe because part of her wanted that to be true. And the thought of him carrying her only made her swoon, so she was glad to be sitting here.

  Then he knelt in front of her, and her blush returned full-force. With tentative fingers outstretched, he glanced at her. “Okay if I take a look at your ankle? Want to make sure it’s okay.”

  “You a doctor too?”

  “No, but my dad was,” he said in a quiet voice.

  She got the sense that this wasn’t information he shared readily. “Then okay.”

  Luke probed her ankle gently, his touch firm but tender. “Seems okay. No swelling or heat.”

  He was wrong about that last one. There was heat, too much, from his nearness and his touch.

  “W-was your dad a GP or specialist?” Heat washed over her again at her wobbly words.

  Luke slid back into his seat. She twirled her ankle, just to distract her body from the lingering effects of his touch. It was as if an imprint remained from where he’d touched her, a yearning ache, on her back, her hand, her arm, her ankle.

  “GP.”

  “Did he want you to be a doctor too?”

  Luke hitched his shoulders. “You feeling okay?”

  Clearly, he didn’t want to talk about his dad. “I’ll be up in no time dancing.”

  He nodded. “Save me some dances? Some of these guys can get rowdy. Want to make sure that ankle gets treated right.”

  She wouldn’t mind saving him all the dances. But she wouldn’t. “You’ll get your turn,” she said instead.

  “Guess I have to take that.”

  She smiled. He looked away. More guests entered the area, heading for their tables.

  “A lot of suits with cowboy boots,” she said.

  “Ranching country. Not used to it?”

  “Actually, I have some friends in Sonoma County who favor that look. Especially Dr. Art.”

  “Yeah? Anyone special? Maybe you need a rush on your apartment?”

  “Why?”

  “Visitors.” He crossed his arms.

  What was going on with him? Then again, she didn’t need to know. She’d spent her college years dating guys who’d get all distant, and she didn’t need that anymore.

  “No. I know a lot of people but wasn’t really close to anyone. Not close enough that they’d visit.” She poured some water and sipped it. Part of her missed the deeper connections, but she had chosen her life the way it was. The deeper the connection, the more it hurt when you lost it.

  “I understand,” he said. “I have a rule about not getting close. Except Mrs. D bends that rule.”

  Wow, there was his truth, laid bare. “You have a rule about not getting close?”

  “You could say that.”

  “You’re the one who said it.” Her alarm bells went off. There was no point even daydreaming about someone that emotionally unavailable. She’d been starting to question whether she could consider being closer to people, even Luke. But she wasn’t going to work at it with him if he ruled out closeness as a rule. She’d learned that lesson.

  “You’re right, I did.”

  Someone clapped Luke on the shoulder. “Luke, how’ve you been?”

  Luke turned. “Adam, hey, good to see you.”

  Dolly hopped up to greet Minnie Molloy, who she’d met last time she’d been in town. Minnie worked with her aunt Irene at Molloy’s Miscellany. “Minnie! You look beautiful! Love your hair.”

  Minnie touched her shorter blonde hair. A diamond ring flashed on her pale finger. “Thanks.” She smiled.

  “And it looks like congratulations are in order,” Dolly said. “Another Manning wedding?”

  “Yes, thanks. We just got engaged last night. This is my fiancé, Adam Manning. Adam, Dolly Gallagher.” Minnie leaned into the tall, solid man who beamed down on her. Those Mannings were an attractive bunch, all brown-haired and even-featured.

  All this romantic love softened a part of Dolly that she’d been ignoring for years. Luke rose and shook Adam’s hand. “Congrats, you two.”

  “Thanks,” Adam said. “Dolly, haven’t seen you since we were young. You here with Luke?”

  “Just so I wouldn’t miss the big event. Mrs. D suggested it,” Dolly said, feeling that pit in her stomach that she was about to overexplain. So she pressed her lips together.

  Adam nodded and he and Minnie exchanged a glance that peaked Dolly’s curiosity, as if they knew something about Mrs. D and her suggestions.

  Dolly caught Minnie’s gaze again. “Minnie, I was hoping to talk to you about business. I want to make sure I won’t be stepping on any toes around town with other businesses.”

  “Let’s meet with Aunt Irene for a lunch one day. How about Tuesday at Gallagher’s?”

  “Perfect.”

  “Luke, hope to catch up later,” Adam said. “We should get to our table.” Adam grasped Minnie’s hand. If it were possible, they looked even happier than the bride and groom.

  They said their goodbyes and Dolly and Luke sat back down.

  “I think Cutler had it right—love is in the air.”

  “Do you believe in that kind of stuff?” Luke crossed his arms again.

  “What? Love?”

  “Love infecting people, like you could catch it in the air.”

  “I didn’t say that. But I do feel that witnessing others’ love can make us more open to the feeling. Or, for some of us, anyway. Not saying you’d be prone.” She gulped water. She hadn’t meant to sound sour.

  He rubbed his neck, which was red. “Fair enough.” His tone was low.

  The classical music continued in the background, and the noise increased as more people filled the tables. Waitstaff appeared carrying trays of what looked to be bread and salads.

  “Were we supposed to order on the invitations?” she asked Luke.

  “No, they’re going to have stations for the main course, so you can order whatever you want. Here’s the menu.” He handed her a paper from the other side of one of the low red rose centerpieces.

  “Thanks.”

  “Luke, just the man I need to talk to,” a white man who looked older tha
n them, but not as old as Ken Taft, said and sat with a brunette woman next to Luke.

  “Tim, Denise, how are you?” Luke asked.

  “Good, you?”

  “Fine. Tim and Denise Raines, this is Dolly Gallagher.”

  They exchanged pleasantries, and then Tim and Luke started talking about business, and Denise seemed to know the people who’d just sat next to her, another couple who looked vaguely familiar. They introduced themselves, greetings were exchanged, then they went back to talking to Denise. A lone man approached and sat next to Dolly.

  Luke glanced over, and all the people at the table said hello. Tim continued speaking to Luke, so Dolly turned to the man, who’d introduced himself as Nathan Shepherd.

  “Are you related to Mrs. Gallagher?” Nathan asked. Like Luke, he was lightly tanned, as if he worked outside a lot, and had short brown hair and a trimmed-close beard.

  “Her niece. Are you from Loving?”

  “No, grew up in Wyoming on a sheep ranch. And I know, the name fits.” He smiled. “Moved here, north of town, and am working my own little ranch now.” He rubbed his beard.

  “Good for you. How do you like it?”

  “Love it, actually. Has its challenges, but so does anything.”

  Dolly smiled. “Agreed.”

  “What about you?”

  “Moved here just yesterday, arrived from California. Moving truck’s coming tomorrow, and I bought a building over on Riverwalk where I plan to live above my bookshop.”

  “Sounds ambitious. What’d you do in California?”

  “Bookshop. I sold it. It was time for a change, and Aunt June and I are the last ones in our family. I want to be closer to her, especially since... Well, we’re all getting older.”

  “I bet she’s happy you’re here. And, to use your words, good for you. It’s an adventure, moving out and somewhere else.”

  “I like adventure.” Though for a while now, it had been only adventures in the pages of books. Same with romance.

  “Then how about coming out to my place? Ever been to a sheep ranch?”

  An eerie feeling sluiced onto her, like an ice cube run down her arm, as if she were being watched. Glancing at Luke, she found that she was being watched, though he looked away as soon as she met his gaze.