Bree’s forehead creased. She didn’t even know the man perpendicular to her. “No.”
“The woman with the toddler?”
Bree shook her head. Picked up her roll. Started shredding a piece here, there.
“Is this the elderly neighbor I met the other day who lives across from you? The one you have game night with?”
“Mrs. Lewis?” Bree furrowed her brow. “No. She’s a saint.”
“Pity.”
There was silence for a moment while Theo sat back in serious contemplation. She continued to shred her roll until it was a pile of tiny bits on her napkin.
Theo leaned forward, his voice tentative. “Is it the new man we met on the Creeper Trail the other evening?”
Bree felt her chest pinch. Nodded.
“The tall one?”
“He’s got a few inches on me.”
“Athletic?”
“He’s not allergic to working out.”
“With the casual-Californian air, who is taking phone calls with your parents to provide complimentary dog-trick training?”
“That’s the one. Wait. How did you—?”
“You’ve been talking about your neighbor quite a bit. Sometimes directly. Sometimes under your breath.” Theo shrugged. “I listen.”
Bree felt her neck flush. She pushed away the bread pile at her fingertips. “Sorry, if you could just see what all has happened the past few weeks . . . It’s been so chaotic . . .”
He smiled, but his smile seemed to be soft, vulnerable. “Well, I must say, I do wish it was the elderly woman.”
Bree laughed. “Oh sure. Because you would prefer to hear your date’s in a ruthless war with misfit senior citizens?”
“No, I just prefer not to hear that my date’s consumed by her handsome neighbor.”
Bree’s smile fell.
They were quiet for several moments as the waiter discreetly served their dinner plates.
Theo reached for his fork. “Have you ever heard of Allmont Industries?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“The owner was a client of mine five years ago. They supplied nearly every gas station on the West Coast with snack products. That is, every gas station but BP, which used Hathaway. The two companies hated each other. Bickered at every chance meeting, were an absolute disgrace at every public event. I could hardly keep them apart.”
He paused to reach for his wineglass.
“What happened?”
“The thing that always happens. They got married.” Theo shrugged. “In my experience, both personally and professionally, it’s the thorn in our side that gets the most attention. Not”—he smiled softly, a bit sad—“the average man taking you out to dinner.”
“What?” At last, Bree found her voice. “No. No. Let me be clear. I in no way think you are an average man, Theo. You are absolutely not average.”
“Then tell me, Bree, when you call that friend of yours back home, who is it you talk about? Me? Or him?”
Her silence was his answer.
They finished the rest of their meal, a touch speedier than normal but overall a nice pace. She made a point to ask about his newest ventures and listen to his answers, and he in turn made friendly inquiries about her upcoming audition. They both politely declined dessert. Then they said their good-byes at her doorstep in a way that meant, I’ll be looking forward to meeting again. As friends.
Before he stepped away, she found herself reaching in for one last hug. “I’m so sorry, Theo. You deserve someone much better than me.”
“Nonsense.” He released her from the hug and gave her hand a light squeeze. “I’ll settle for someone half as wonderful as you. You just point me in the right direction.”
She waited and watched as his Tesla pulled out of the driveway. As the car drifted from sight, she turned back toward the door. Put her hand on the knob.
And, perhaps out of habit, turned her head toward Chip’s house.
Her gaze landed on Chip, also at his door, keys in hand, casting his eyes downward and doing his best to avoid hers.
Chapter 20
Chip
He had forgiven her.
Their prank war had gotten out of hand, and she’d almost ruined his chances with the only bank in town willing to hear him out. But since the busy banker had grudgingly rescheduled only because he knew Chip’s father—and didn’t like him—Chip wasn’t going to let her ruin them for good. Not with forty-eight hours to go before the bid.
This was game time.
Focus time.
And nothing would make him miss this meeting.
He was giving her everything she had asked for all along.
Polite distance.
For the past week Russell stayed inside mostly, and when he went outdoors Chip supervised.
He finally got around to putting up new curtains.
Chip gave a polite nod and greeting when they ran into each other