Page 12 of Just for Tonight

That should be good news, but I’m feeling too prickly to celebrate. I give him my number and he saves it on his phone. He asks Sylvia to tell Mike that he’ll meet him at the Cavendish greenhouses in the morning, then pushes a hand through his hair. He appears to be exhausted but I refuse to feel sorry for him.

Let Cameron console him.

Merrie is standing at the door waiting to usher him out and lock up.

“Looks like I’m last,” he says to her with a smile. “And holding up your plan for the evening, too. Thanks for a great meal. Best I’ve had in a long time. Good night, ladies.” He strolls to the door, makes Merrie laugh with a quiet comment and then he’s gone.

A car engine roars a moment later and the silence that follows is deafening.

Gone.

Probably for good.

I take a big gulp of wine and Daphne gives me an assessing glance.

“Such annoying people,” I say under my breath.

“But it would be good if you got that parcel of land,” Willow says. “Didn’t you want to plant vines for ice wine?”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I reply and they all nod understanding.

Sylvia is opening a bottle of red wine from my vineyard. She offers me the cork, which is a thing of beauty and a wonder to behold. It couldn’t be more perfect. She pours a bit into a glass and offers it to me. I swirl, taste, and ultimately nod approval. It’s three years old and is aging beautifully.

Then she pours for herself and for Merrie and sits down at the same time as Merrie casts her smock across the back of a chair and drops into the seat. Her new minion, Colin, closes the dishwasher with a bang and turns it on, bowing slightly to Merrie before he vanishes into the back where he has a room.

I clear my palate with a plain cracker before sipping my white wine again. Cameron is asking Daphne and Willow for more details about Jake, Merrie and Sylvia are reviewing the evening’s ups and downs, and my phone rings.

Unknown caller.

I debate a moment, then answer. Two different buyers were supposed to get back to me today and neither did, at least not so far.

“Mackenzie Rhodes,” I say, light, bright and businesslike.

“And here you are, Isobelle,” Jake Cavendish murmurs softly, making my heart jump. “They always say that lost treasures are found in the most unlikely of places.”

I nearly drop the phone.

Lost treasures.

Not only did he recognize me, but I couldn’t even tell.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you were in town, Mr. Wickham,” I say in my best business voice.

“Mr. Wickham,” he echoes and chuckles. “Please tell me that’s not a Pride & Prejudice reference.”

I’m surprised he caught it, but then Abbie is his sister. “Is there a reason it shouldn’t be?”

“Am I that bad?”

“I’ll take the Fifth on that.” We don’t have a fifth amendment in Canada, but we all watch enough American television to get that reference.

Jake laughs, a low sound that makes me hum in all the right places. “I need to ask your advice, Isobelle.”

“Do you?”

“Would you know of a good place to stay in town? The Maple Leaf Motel isn’t my style and I’ll never willingly sleep under my stepmother’s roof.”

“Why not?”