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“That’s Muriel.” Freddie chimed in and everyone at the table murmured in agreement.
Henri took the seat across from me and as she sat her eyes met mine. My heartbeat pounded in my eardrums and I think I stopped breathing for a second. Had she gotten more beautiful? Or, had I forgotten that she was the most stunning woman I’d ever seen. Hell, I was sitting at a table of gorgeous women, but there was something different about her. I couldn’t figure out what it was, but as soon as she was near me, it felt like my body temperature went up a half a degree and my skin became more sensitive. When she looked at me, I could FEEL it all over my body.
What was wrong with me?
Freddie poured me a glass of beer and Charlotte ordered small plates of appetizers for the table. “How does it feel to be back in town?” Freddie asked.
“Great. I mean, a lot has changed and nothing has changed.” I laughed. “And, I’ve been meaning to talk to you. Charlotte told me that you were THE guy to talk to about electrical work. I don’t want to ruin your night talking about business, though.”
Freddie had a goofy grin. “Are you kidding? I love talking about work.”
“Really?” I was surprised.
“Hell no.” Freddie laughed and handed me a business card. “I’m pretty booked, but I’ve heard about your project and I’d love to help you out.”
“How have you heard about the lodge?” I glanced to Charlotte, who was deep in conversation with Henri.
“Not from Charlotte, don’t worry, that woman is all business. Come on man, it’s a small town. You didn’t think that you were going to be able to come in and buy the Snow Ghost Lodge without any of us knowing about it?”
I’d forgotten what it felt like to be the subject of small-town gossip. “Let me guess, the helicopter pilot?” I had flown in a few times to check out the property.
“I’ll never reveal my source.” Freddie grinned. “But yeah, it was Corey.” Freddie’s eyes glinted. He clearly played the role of the town jester, or he’d had one too many IPA’s.
“Loose lips sink ships.” I gave him an exaggerated eye roll, but followed it up with a smile so he knew that I was joking. We’d only just met, but I could already tell he was the kind of guy I’d want as a friend.
“Or crash choppers.” Freddie added.
Freddie asked me some questions about the lodge and by the end of the conversation he’d convinced me to join the volunteer fire department. Search and Rescue was going to be too much of a time commitment, but the schedule for the fire department would work for me.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Freddie eyed Charlotte and Henri. Henri had taken out a little voice recorder and set it on the table between them.
I realized that I still didn’t know any details about Henri’s work – or what she was planning to write about. “Who knows? I think that she’s writing a story on the town or the movie, or something.” I tried to make it sound like I didn’t really know, or care.
Freddie inhaled sharply. “Ooh, Charlotte might not be the best person to interview. She had a tough time with this town.”
Charlotte and Henri were laughing and Charlotte was gesturing wildly. “It doesn’t look too bad.” I brushed off Freddie’s comment.
“Dude. They were so cruel to her she changed her name.”
I knew that she’d changed her name, but I didn’t know why.
Charlie arrived at the table with another server, their arms laden with plates of calamari, canapes, oysters, and cheese sticks. “Those are mine.” Freddie raised his hand like a kindergartener when Charlie went to set down the cheese sticks.
Serena shook her head. “Freddie could live on cheese sticks and beaver tails.”
Freddie’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, we’ll have to stop by the G-spot on the way home and get one of those too.”
I almost choked on my beer. “I forgot about that nickname.”
“What nickname?” Henri and Charlotte had emerged from their one on one and joined in the group conversation.
Serena answered. “The Diner’s nickname.”
“Ah,” Charlotte laughed. “The G-Spot.”
Henri looked at me and then at Charlotte with a quizzical look on her face. I sighed loudly and explained. “Way back in the day, when the diner was part of the general store, someone shortened the general store to the G-store. Which then, probably due to some immature high school kids…” I raised my eyebrows and jerked my chin towards Freddie, “it morphed into the G-Spot. And, it looks like the nickname has stood the test of time.”
“Does your mom know?” Henri gasped.
