Kiss and Make Up (Bachelors of Buttermilk #3) by Robyn Neeley Page B

spell, Caitlin was single and he needed to see her to find out if she really felt the same way he did, or if Adam had given him a line of bull.
    He buzzed up Beverly, asking her to come back down to the lab, and within minutes, she’d returned. “Everything okay in Mayberry—I mean Buttermilk Falls?” she asked, with more humor in her voice than concern.
    “Bev, I need your help boxing up some of this equipment, including all the beakers and testers.” He looked around. “I’ll take two boxes of pipette droppers and will need all the essential oils that I recently ordered packed up.”
    “Sure, boss. Care to tell me what you’re doing?”
    He grew more and more excited as his heart raced at a speed that could probably get him to his final destination quick than any 737 would at the rate it was going.
    “I’m going to move my lab work to its original source.”
----
    C aitlin opened the glass door to the Elks Lodge and held it for Bridget. After a trip to Bridget and Tom’s home so her cousin could change and a stop at Caitlin’s to check on Penny and the triplets, they’d made their way to the theater for the sketches. From there, it was a short walk to the Elks Lodge.
    “Hi, ladies,” Zach O’Brien, the owner of Champagne Hill winery greeted them with a wide grin. He’d been in Bridget’s class growing up and had taken over the winery two years ago when his father retired.
    “Hi, Zach. It’s good to see you.” Caitlin extended her hand. Zach was handsome with his blond hair and blue eyes, rocking business casual khakis and a light blue buttoned-down shirt.
    “You two must be here for the local business meeting. Go right on in.” He pointed to the main room. “We’re going to get started in a couple of minutes.”
    Bridget nudged Caitlin. “See what you’re missing?”
    “What?”
    “Zach. He’s single and super hot—plus, you would have all that delicious wine and champagne at your fingertips. Just come clean that you’re not dating Adam and guys like Zach will line up outside your cottage, vying for a date with you.”
    “Do you think one man would fly in from New York City and cut in the front of that line?” Caitlin asked, and Bridget gave her a sympathetic smile that read “probably not.”
    They entered the main hall, a familiar place as it was the venue for both the Summer Fling auction and Sugar & Spice Night, both events designed to bring Buttermilk Falls singles together. It was last summer’s auction where Caitlin tried to give Emma a run for her money, bidding on Jason for no other reason than she wanted to push Emma’s buttons. Lucky for both of them, Emma had outbid her. Jason hadn’t complained either.
    Glancing around the room, Caitlin recognized everyone from jovial Ralph Marino, who owned the local pizza place, to Zoe Matthews, a new resident who’d recently opened a frozen yogurt shop near the Sugar Spoon bakery.
    As they maneuvered through the crowd, she grew more and more excited to be here. She was really doing this. Opening a theater and contributing to the livelihood of the community she’d grown up in and called home. Maybe dreams do come true.
    Bridget tapped her on the shoulder. “Let’s sit over there.” She pointed to empty seats toward the far left. “Away from the florist.”
    Caitlin glanced over to see Rachel chatting it up with Marilyn, looking pretty in an aqua dress with a yellow belt. “Good thinking. I hear she’s still miffed about the batter incident.”
    “Do you blame her?” Bridget asked, giving her a sideways glance.
    They took their seats, and a few minutes later Marilyn headed up to the front of the room to begin the meeting.
    “Thank you all for coming today,” Marilyn began. “Before we start, please join me in welcoming new business owner, Caitlin Reynolds. As many of you know, Caitlin recently purchased the Majestic Theater from Josephine and Henry Williams.”
    Polite applause filled the room, and Caitlin couldn’t help but