Thursday night. And then yanked it Sunday.”
“It was an experiment.”
“Are you sure about that? You sold it in well,” she sat up tall, trying to imitate him. “‘The wild west meets the sticky-sweet south.’ There’ve been customers who’ve come back just for the tiramisu banana pudding. Three asked me for the recipe.”
“You give it to them?”
“Wasn’t mine to give.” He handed her another beer. “So, you gonna ply me with alcohol, try to make me forget about the cute blonde I saw you with in town on Monday? I even ran into her at the Dillon’s later when I got my oil changed. She’s pretty, and so damn southern. I could hardly understand her a word she said.”
“ You’re one to talk, Boston.” A Southie no less.
“So how’d the experiment go?”
He finished his beer and threw the bottle in the trashcan. “I’m definitely getting a new chef.”
Tuesday morning Nell had made it clear it was important to her that I let my parents know where I was. I didn’t call them every day like Antwan called his, but it had been a little over two weeks since I’d talked to them.
“I’m fine, Mama. Really I am.”
“Well if you’re in Montana, who’s got my grand dog?”
“Antwan’s got Buster. Says he might not give him back.”
“Rainey Brown, I’m going to tan your hide when I see you. I can’t believe you just up and took off across the country by yourself. Especially in that old car. I’m not even sure I’m going to tell your daddy.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s doing a little processing now, mostly deer. Fixed him a place in the storage building behind the store, put a cooler in. It’s real nice.”
“He’d always talked about doing something like that. That’s good.”
“I think it will be. Ray Hallman had a big weekend, killed a buck and two doe, so he’s there helping your daddy process them. Ray will give us some venison. I’ve even got some boar meat in the freezer now.” She laughed. “I was making your daddy watch one of those cooking shows on TV the other day, and lo and behold, they were smoking boar hind quarters. Said it’s real gourmet. You should have seen your daddy’s face … it was a hoot. So where exactly are you in Montana?”
“Smoked boar does sound good, Mama. You sound good.”
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m in Marietta.”
“And Adam’s in Missoula isn’t he? So, how is he? What did he have to say?”
“He’s good, but what do you mean?”
“Oh, Rainey, you’ve been waiting on that boy a long time, a lot longer than I thought you would. It’s a shame you had to drive all the way out there to get your heart broke.”
“I’m fine, Mama.” Relieved. “It’s been a good trip.” All things considered, a great one.
“So when are you heading home?”
“I don’t know. I’m working a little. Staying with a friend. Her name is Nell, you’d like her.”
“You applying for a license there?” There was a long beat. “Well, if you do, just remember where you came from. And don’t forget where you belong.”
“I won’t ever forget.” I belong to Beck.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The Graff Hotel seemed like a good place to start handing out business cards. I looked for someone at the concierge desk, but didn’t see anyone. A thirty-ish looking, pretty redhead smiled at me from the reception desk and waved me over.
“Our concierge is out sick today. Can I help you with something?” Her name tag said Andrea, from Boulder, Colorado.
“You have great hair, Andrea.” And she did. Good and thick and the color was perfect.
“Well, thank you.”
“Gorgeous color.”
“Really? I wasn’t sure. I just changed last week from brown to this.” Instinctively she ran her hand through her auburn hair. “I’ve never colored my hair before. It’s hard to get used to. So, how did you know?”
“I’m a hairstylist.” I pulled out my cards. “I’m in town, working
“It was an experiment.”
“Are you sure about that? You sold it in well,” she sat up tall, trying to imitate him. “‘The wild west meets the sticky-sweet south.’ There’ve been customers who’ve come back just for the tiramisu banana pudding. Three asked me for the recipe.”
“You give it to them?”
“Wasn’t mine to give.” He handed her another beer. “So, you gonna ply me with alcohol, try to make me forget about the cute blonde I saw you with in town on Monday? I even ran into her at the Dillon’s later when I got my oil changed. She’s pretty, and so damn southern. I could hardly understand her a word she said.”
“ You’re one to talk, Boston.” A Southie no less.
“So how’d the experiment go?”
He finished his beer and threw the bottle in the trashcan. “I’m definitely getting a new chef.”
Tuesday morning Nell had made it clear it was important to her that I let my parents know where I was. I didn’t call them every day like Antwan called his, but it had been a little over two weeks since I’d talked to them.
“I’m fine, Mama. Really I am.”
“Well if you’re in Montana, who’s got my grand dog?”
“Antwan’s got Buster. Says he might not give him back.”
“Rainey Brown, I’m going to tan your hide when I see you. I can’t believe you just up and took off across the country by yourself. Especially in that old car. I’m not even sure I’m going to tell your daddy.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s doing a little processing now, mostly deer. Fixed him a place in the storage building behind the store, put a cooler in. It’s real nice.”
“He’d always talked about doing something like that. That’s good.”
“I think it will be. Ray Hallman had a big weekend, killed a buck and two doe, so he’s there helping your daddy process them. Ray will give us some venison. I’ve even got some boar meat in the freezer now.” She laughed. “I was making your daddy watch one of those cooking shows on TV the other day, and lo and behold, they were smoking boar hind quarters. Said it’s real gourmet. You should have seen your daddy’s face … it was a hoot. So where exactly are you in Montana?”
“Smoked boar does sound good, Mama. You sound good.”
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m in Marietta.”
“And Adam’s in Missoula isn’t he? So, how is he? What did he have to say?”
“He’s good, but what do you mean?”
“Oh, Rainey, you’ve been waiting on that boy a long time, a lot longer than I thought you would. It’s a shame you had to drive all the way out there to get your heart broke.”
“I’m fine, Mama.” Relieved. “It’s been a good trip.” All things considered, a great one.
“So when are you heading home?”
“I don’t know. I’m working a little. Staying with a friend. Her name is Nell, you’d like her.”
“You applying for a license there?” There was a long beat. “Well, if you do, just remember where you came from. And don’t forget where you belong.”
“I won’t ever forget.” I belong to Beck.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The Graff Hotel seemed like a good place to start handing out business cards. I looked for someone at the concierge desk, but didn’t see anyone. A thirty-ish looking, pretty redhead smiled at me from the reception desk and waved me over.
“Our concierge is out sick today. Can I help you with something?” Her name tag said Andrea, from Boulder, Colorado.
“You have great hair, Andrea.” And she did. Good and thick and the color was perfect.
“Well, thank you.”
“Gorgeous color.”
“Really? I wasn’t sure. I just changed last week from brown to this.” Instinctively she ran her hand through her auburn hair. “I’ve never colored my hair before. It’s hard to get used to. So, how did you know?”
“I’m a hairstylist.” I pulled out my cards. “I’m in town, working
Similar Books
