Page 71 of Wine & Dine

He looked so broken standing in the diner.

But I’m broken as well by his withholding the truth and Denton’s lies.

Are you here for the contracts? I need more answers.

“There isn’t much to tell,” I lie to myself. “I can’t think of California right now. I need to think about my diner.”

“I want to know more about the hunky man at my hotel,” Cora teases, wiggling her brows as she tries a second attempt to draw me away from the issues at hand. “He’s a dream on two legs. Denton’s friend, correct? Where do I find more friends like him?” Cora eyes Mati, and Mati weakly smiles. Cora is another woman over forty in Blue Ridge, and the pickings for available men are slim. We saw a few of Denton’s old band members this October, but they are all married. Of course, there are all the Harrington brothers, but I don’t think those boys want a thing to do with Corabelle Conrad.

“I don’t know that I’d trust Denton’s judgment,” I snark, ignoring Cora’s description of Garrett, willing myself not to think of the too-attractive man and what he might be doing checking into her lodge. Why is he here? “His name is Garrett Fox.”

“And what’s he doing in Georgia?” Cora begs.

“He’s here on business.” The words spilled from my lips, tasting bitter on my tongue.

“He’s here for Dolores,” a male voice states, and we all turn to see my brother standing in the doorway between the breakfast room and the dining room.

“He is not,” I snark before noting a tap, tap, tap on the brown paper in the hallway like nails drumming on a desk.

“No man travels from Los Angeles to Blue Ridge, Georgia, unless it’s about a woman.” Denton’s expression softens, and he gazes down at Mati who blushes. My stomach feels sick as I witness their love.

“He’s here for business,” I throw out at my brother, reminding him of what I just learned.

Denton shakes his head. “Speaking of being here, can you tell me why you didn’t call to mention you were coming home?”

“Surprise,” I jest without humor, mockingly waving jazz hands at him. Only, I’m the one surprised by everything. The tap, tap, tap grows louder with a gentle thump, thump intermixing. The sound becomes clear as a chocolate lab rushes into the breakfast nook.

“Wally?” I choke as the dog trots. His tail wags weakly as he saunters to me with his eyes lowered and his ears back. I practically fall from the chair, folding to my knees to draw him into me. He allows me to curl around him, and I nuzzle my face into his neck. For the first time in my life, I take comfort from an animal.

“How did you get here?” I ask him as if the dog can answer for himself.

“I take it you recognize this pup?” Magnolia teases.

“He belongs to…” How do I describe my relationship with the owner? We don’t seem to have one. “Denton’s neighbor from California.”

“The one who crossed a country to see you,” Denton adds.

“I like your new hair,” Cora interjects, feeling the rising family tension in the room and attempting to deflect it again. “Very chic. You look amazing.” Cora’s undergone a change herself since her divorce. She’s the first person to act like my transformation isn’t peculiar. Once again, I have Garrett to credit for the change in me. My ribs hurt, and suddenly, I feel short of breath as I recall the salon and shopping. “Thank you. I have some new clothes, too, but I left them all in California.”

“Actually, they’re out in my truck,” Denton interjects.

“What?”

“Garrett packed you a suitcase and brought it with him. He called me to meet him at the lodge. It’s how I have Wally. He thought the dog would bring you comfort.”

I huff.

I hate dogs.

But as my hands scratch behind Wally’s ears, and he looks up at me with his strange blue eyes, tears blur my vision again. I don’t hate Wally. I hate Garrett. He thinks of everything. And I really, really hate him.

Don’t lie to yourself, Dolores, my heart says.

I want to ask why Garrett didn’t bring Wally here himself, but then again, he parted from the diner with the final word.

In my head, I see Garrett’s stricken face as we stare at one another.

Eyes that typically search for the other’s soul can’t handle the intensity of Garrett’s glare. I’m the first to pull away. When I do, I hear Garrett’s resolve in an exasperated sigh. He reaches for my cheek, and I don’t flinch away. My eyes close when he leans in for a kiss at the corner of my mouth.