Page 62 of Holiday Hook Up

Adam chuckled. “Well, you know, Buttermilk Falls could use a fusion steakhouse or whatever the hell you specialize in.” He wasn’t quite sure what his specialization was, but he knew Donovan’s five-star restaurant didn’t serve burgers like the ones at Mel’s Diner or anything that Adam’s working class taste buds were accustomed to.

“It’s sophisticated comfort food, and I think this town would dig it.”

Adam sat down on the white sofa and straightened an imaginary bow tie. “We can be fancy here in Buttermilk Falls. Just make sure pizza and beer are both on the menu.”

“You got it, man. And my famous macaroni cheese pie, too. That will definitely be on the menu if I move home and open up a pub.”

“Who’s hungry?” Rachel interrupted, walking in with a big red bowl full of tortilla chips and another smaller one with guacamole, joining the conversation. “I’ve been telling him for years that he should come back.” She set the bowls down on her coffee table and took a seat next to Adam. “But if you do, Donovan, you’re not living here.”

“Oh, c’mon. Imagine all the parties we’d have. You’d finally have friends,” Donovan teased Rachel.

“Um . . .” She looked up, pretending to think. “Nope. Not worth it.”

“Your kitchen’s too small anyway.” He reached for his phone that was now buzzing. “It’s my restaurant manager. Duty calls. Can I get you a beer, buddy?”

“Sure. Thanks, man.”

“What about that margarita you promised me?” Rachel asked, bringing her legs up to the sofa and crossing them.

“You know how to use your blender.”

Rachel rolled her eyes and turned to Adam. “He’s kidding. He’ll make me one and probably anything else I want after the stunt he pulled.”

Adam tapped her knee. “Might be time get that new stove.”

“Probably.” She laughed. “Thanks for coming by tonight.”

“I kind of had to, I’m on duty.” He grabbed a chip, taking a bite.

“Right. I know. I still appreciate you sitting with me outside and making sure I was okay.”

He smiled at her genuine sincerity. It’s been a while since either one of them had thought of the other before themselves. “I’m glad you’re fine.” He nodded to the kitchen. “And I would have killed your twin brother if anything had happened to you.”

“Me, too. Even from beyond if I had to.”

He grabbed another chip and swirled it around the chunky guac. He didn’t doubt that for a second. Rachel and Mary would have a lot of fun. Not that he wanted them to meet on the other side anytime soon. “No one was going to let anything happen to you. Did you see how many firemen showed up?”

“Yeah, my lawn was pretty full.”

“Hey, was Will here earlier?” He meant to ask the other volunteer fighters if they’d seen him.

“No!” She sat up, eyes wide. “Um . . . I mean, of course not. Why would you think he would be here?”

Adam eyed his ex. That was quite an elaborate no for such a simple question. “Our volunteer schedules are the same. He should have been here tonight.” He paused, adding, “Maybe he had a hot date with Zoe.”

“Maybe. He definitely wasn’t here.” She glanced outside her living room window without offering another word on that subject.

A minute later, Donovan joined them again, this time with a beer for Adam and a frosty margarita for Rachel. Adam had only meant to pop in for a few minutes, but he and Rachel spent the next couple of hours talking and laughing while trying to convince Donovan that he needed to move back and open up a Tex-Mex restaurant that had a mariachi band.

After a while, Donovan went to bed, leaving Adam alone with Rachel. “I should probably get going.” He stood and grabbed the chip bowl to help her clean up.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” she said from the sofa. “I’ll take care of it. Hey, I was wondering . . . I know our Holiday Hook Up fizzled.” She paused for a few seconds. “Would you like to go to the First Kiss Ball with me?”

He hadn’t expected that question. “Um . . .” he stammered. “I actually . . . It’s just . . .”

She stood, straightening her sweatshirt. “Don’t answer that. It was stupid. Never mind.”

“No. It’s just I already asked Bethany.” He paused, adding, “As friends.” Though he hoped they’d be taking whatever it was between them to the next level, he didn’t want to hurt Rachel’s feelings. If things worked out with Bethany, eventually Rachel would find out, but that time wasn’t now.

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