Page 38 of The Charming Checklist
“Yeah, yeah.” He pulled into a spot behind Cole’s truck and opened the door for Sub, who bounded toward the front door.
So,hewas certainly excited about tonight. Max figured he should be, too. Maybe he should check his pulse. But he smelled the salty scent of the coast, heard the sound of the waves crashing, and he was clearly breathing, so he had to be alive. Cole threw open the door and Sub bounded into his arms like they’d been separated for years, not hours.
Maybe Max should get a dog.
“Hey, buddy. Who’s a good boy?” Cole rolled on the ground with Sub, letting him have his fill of licks.
“You two should get a room already.”
No sooner were the words out than Ava joined them, giving him an assessing look. “Hi, Max.”
“Hey.” He pretended his heart wasn’t halfway in the gutter and that he’d arrived with every plan to steal Debbie’s heart tonight. Or was it Dori?
“Hope this is acceptable. Sorry. No suit tonight.”
“You look fine,” she said, with a small smile.
“Yeah, leave the suit wearing to the others,” Cole said.
Cole was dressed in his ever-present board shorts and a short-sleeved button-up, completely unbuttoned. Every bit the surfer dude he’d been for much of his life.
Valerie appeared in the doorway that led outside. “Baby, I could use your help out here. Oh hi, Max.”
“Be right back,” Cole said, and off he went to follow Valerie and do her heart’s desire. Sub followed Cole, willing to do his master’s desire, whatever that might be.
Max should definitely get a dog.
“The mayor and her staff will be here shortly,” Ava said.
She’d moved into the kitchen where she was filling buckets with ice and stuffing soda and beer bottles inside of them.
“Here, let me help.”
They worked side by side in silence. He noted that he’d only seen Ava this quiet and subdued after her family dinner. At least she wore colors: a short green dress, red sandals and a matching scarf. He wanted to remind her it wasn’t Christmas yet, and two weeks ago he might have done just that.
But he hadn’t ever met anyone who could wear so many colors at once and pull it off.
It felt good to be this near her, working in close proximity. Her delicious flowery scent rose up to tease him. He knew from the night he’d kissed her that the perfume was in her hair, and he’d happily bury his nose there and die a happy man.
But first, meeting the woman of his dreams. Right.
“I think you’ll really like Darcie,” she said after several quiet minutes.
Darcie.Not Donna, or Debbie.
Remember that, brainless.“I’m sure I will.”
“She should be here soon. Any minute now.”
“Okay.”
“Yes, that’s what you keep saying.Okay.” She suddenly turned to him, green eyes flashing. “Try not to sound so darned enthusiastic!”
“I don’t know what you want from me. Should I sing? Clap my hands in joy? Do a soft-shoe? Ava, youknowme. I’m not easily excited.”
“Maybe you should try a little, for the sake of Darcie. I’ve rolled out the best woman I could find for you, and the least you could do is get a little happy about it!”
“Sure. I’m happy.”
