Page 30 of Legacy

I smiled. “I will get my work done, don’t worry. We’re only heading to Summit Grill together for lunch.”

“Oh? Going to hang out with your brother? I thought maybe you would go for The Range.”

The Range was a higher-end restaurant on the north end of town that was run and operated by Finnian Ashford, Callum’s youngest brother. “I think that’s a little too fancy for a lunch date.”

“You never know. You young people always surprise me these days.”

“Keely is just a friend. At least I hope she’ll be a friend. She seems nice and new.”

“And she runs the restaurant at Hill Country Bed and Breakfast. Perhaps you’ll end up there for lunch for another lunch date.”

“They’re not serving lunch right now, but I know it’s something that Promise wants to add. Maybe that’s what Keely’s here for.”

“Well, as we do their books, we’ll be able to tell them exactly what timing is good for them money-wise. Now, I need to head to my doctor’s appointment.”

I stiffened. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m seventy-three. Nothing’s exactly okay. But I’m just fine. It’s a normal appointment. I promise.” He patted my cheek like he had when I was a little kid and went to pick up his cane. “I will see you after your lunch. You text me if you need anything.”

“Because you’re so fancy with the texts these days,” I teased.

“I may be old, but I’m up with the youths and their technology.”

I threw my head back and laughed, and he skipped out of the office, not leaning on his cane at all.

I seriously loved that man.

I worked for a couple more hours, and then it was finally time for lunch with Keely. I put on a little lip gloss, fluffed my hair, and then realized that it felt like I was getting ready for a date.

I used to be great at making friends. It had just been long enough that I wasn’t quite good at it yet. But I would learn. Right?

It didn’t help that my brother and all of his friends and most of the people that I knew around town were just a little bit older than me. Usually, it wouldn’t matter, but many of them were single parents or happily married parents as well. Meaning they were in different stages of their lives than I was. While that really didn’t bother me, in some aspects, though, it meant that finding time to hang out or interests that we could both have didn’t always work out.

And Keely was new in town, meaning she wouldn’t have all of the cute yet annoying and invasive stories from my youth because I was the oops baby, the youngest, and had always traveled behind my brothers, wanting to be part of the group.

So, this was just for me.

I practically skipped into Summit Grill, belatedly realizing that if I wanted to have something just for me, maybe I shouldn’t have lunch at my brother’s place of business, but thankfully he wasn’t behind the bar.

I spotted Keely already at a table, and I moved towards her with a bright smile on my face.

“Hi! I’m sorry I’m late.”

Keely looked up, a wide grin on her face. “Oh no, I’m early. You’re right on time.” She stood up and hugged me, and I quickly hugged her back, immediately feeling at ease.

“I just got us waters. I wasn’t sure what to get. Your brother is in the back, and he glared at me for a minute. So I assume that means he’s in a good mood.”

I rolled my eyes. “Who knows with that man. He’s always grouchy. Atlas is the one that isn’t quite as grouchy. But that’s not saying much.”

“Atlas is the goalie in the NHL, right?” she asked, and I tensed.

“Yes. He plays for the Portland Gliders.”

Keely smiled, pushing her hair back from her face. “He’s amazing. I’m a hockey fan. I can’t help it. But don’t worry, I am not usually a hockey player fan, if that makes sense.”

“I have no idea what that means,” I said with a laugh.

“Meaning, he does great at his job, but I’m not going to fan girl. Nor will I ask you for details about your brother. Because that just seems weird. And now I’ve made things awkward.”