Chapter Five
It had been days since the meeting. The meeting ? No, it had been days since he’d gotten to kiss Devlin again. Gabe was at Finnegan’s, and he wasn’t paying attention to the conversation around him. Greyson, Sebastian and Chuck were at a table with him, but he was thinking only of Devlin. The roughness of the brick wall in contrast to the softness of her body. The way her hair had slid through his fingers, the short length making him come back to run them through that silk again. Devlin wrapping her legs around him and cradling his erection as he pushed her against the wall—
“I hope you concentrate on your game as much as you’re concentrating on whatever’s going through your head right now, since we’re partners this week.” Sebastian clinked his glass against Gabe’s to get his attention.
They were gathered for their Thursday night Finnegan’s Gentleman’s Ye Olde Dart League, named late one night after quite a few drinks. They didn’t meet every Thursday, but rather when their schedules allowed. Gabe took a sip of his whiskey and composed his thoughts. As if that afternoon hadn’t been in the front of his mind all week. “I’ve got the proposal on my mind,” Gabe lied.
“Proposal?” Chuck leaned in conspiratorially. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”
“No, I’m talking about a proposal for the town council.” Gabe rolled his eyes. “The owner of Books and Beans and I both want to buy the old Silver Creek Art Gallery building to expand into. We had the meeting on Monday”—he swallowed, the feeling of Devlin’s hands on his ass still imprinted in his mind—“and they want both of us to put together a written proposal before they decide.”
“The town council getting involved in sales is ridiculous. One thing happened a hundred years ago, and they just can’t forget it,” Greyson complained.
“Oh, now I’m interested,” Sebastian broke in. “What happened?”
The three locals looked at each other before Chuck explained, “Just under one hundred years ago, right in the middle of Prohibition, when Howard Crenshaw—”
“A relative of the current Mrs. Crenshaw?” Sebastian groaned. “I hate myself for knowing enough about this town that I’d ask that.”
Chuck nodded. “One and the same. Well, old Mr. Crenshaw purchased the exact property in question today under the guise of it being a haberdashery, when in fact he turned it into a speakeasy. The mayor was beside himself when the place was raided and introduced a bylaw that the town council would need to approve any downtown business sales.”
Sebastian looked confused. “But it wouldn’t matter what or who they approved, the person who buys it will do whatever they want anyway, right?”
Greyson laughed. “Don’t bring your big city logic into this. It is what it is, and the business owners just live with it.”
“We live with it,” Gabe took over, “but I guess it’s only an issue if two people want the same space. The council said they hadn’t seen this before, so they told us we both needed to submit written proposals. When I got this place, they gave me verbal approval at the meeting before the paperwork was signed, but I wasn’t competing with anyone. I gave my best pitch for expanding at the meeting, and I don’t know what more they want.” He looked at Greyson. “You knew Devlin was going to offer for the place the whole time, didn’t you, Grey?”
“Nope, not going to let you bait me, little brother. She’s one of Prudence’s best friends and I won’t get in between you on this. You and Devlin can work this out but leave me out of it.”
Gabe turned to Sebastian. “Did you know anything about this?”
Sebastian shook his head. “I’m not dating, nor have I ever slept with, any of the women in our friend group. I have no reason to know anything that goes on, and I’m more than happy to keep it that way.”
“Well, AB and Pru will be rooting for Devlin, I know that much. Can you at least help me with the proposal?” Gabe asked Greyson, verging on begging.
“I’m just an actor, I wouldn’t know where to begin writing any kind of proposal. Unless it’s for the female audience.” Greyson winked at no one. “In fact, my marriage proposal in—”
Gabe groaned over Greyson’s words then turned to Sebastian and Chuck with a hopeful expression.
“Sorry, buddy,” Chuck said. “I was no good at the business end of business.”
“I’ll help,” Sebastian offered. “I’ve got plenty of experience writing proposals. Plus, if I can piss Winters off in the process, I’d consider that a win-win.”
Greyson had been silent for a moment, then added, “I did play a real estate developer as one of Ben Stone’s aliases. I might be able to remember some lines.” Now everyone groaned. “What? I did a good job with that one.”
After a moment, Gabe exclaimed, “Hey, I have an idea!”
“Why do those words scare me?” Greyson narrowed his eyes.
“Why don’t we go to Mom and Dad’s cabin? I’m ready for a break and you can get away from the renovations, and Pru said she’s had her normal slow start to the year. The timing is perfect. I can buckle down and work on the proposal uninterrupted.”
“That might be the best idea you’ve had in a long time.” Greyson looked at Sebastian and Chuck. “You guys in? The cabin has plenty of room.”
Chuck shook his head. “That sounds like fun, but I don’t have the time for a vacation right now.”
“C’mon, Sebastian,” Greyson goaded, turning his attention to Sebastian. “You can perfect your mountain man persona.”
“I can swing a mean ax, but I’m no mountain man. Besides, I’m with Chuck, I don’t have time for a vacation. I’ve got too much to do at the newspaper. This Winter Wonderland crap is worse than the Fall Festival. At least with the Fall Festival it wasn’t an ungodly shade of cold out.”
“You own the newspaper,” Gabe said, “so I relate as a fellow business owner, but can’t you just delegate for a weekend?”
“The newspaper business doesn’t work that way. Plus, if I took time off, I’d never hear the end of it from Winters, and it’s a good day when she doesn’t have something to yell at me about.”
“I’m guessing Annabelle would come with, though.” Greyson fidgeted with his darts as he spoke, lining them up on the table.
“Not if I don’t give her the time off.” Sebastian smirked.
“You’ll give her the time off,” Gabe stated. “I don’t think you can deny her anything.”
Sebastian was somehow able to appear both affronted and guilty at the same time and he took a quick sip of his drink. “I can deny her whatever I want.”
“Whatever you say.” Greyson rolled his eyes. “Anyway, before we get started, I have something to ask you.”
“Now I’m the one who feels like he should be scared.”
“Pru and I are setting a date for our wedding. We’re thinking late August. Would you be a groomsman?”
A smile lit Sebastian’s face. “Of course!” He looked at Chuck and Gabe. “You guys, too?”
Gabe nodded his affirmative. “I’ll be Grey’s best man.”
Chuck, however, shook his head. “Not me. Considering Pru and I dated for a while, we decided it might be too awkward. I’ll just be attending.”
Sebastian raised a suspicious eyebrow. “I’m not paired with Winters, am I? ‘Cause if I am, I might have to re-think this.”
“Don’t worry,” Greyson said. “Pru hasn’t asked the girls yet, but Annabelle would be the maid of honor. Devlin is the other bridesmaid.”
Gabe pictured Devlin, walking down the aisle of a church, a beam of sunlight shining through a stained-glass window making her short hair look like a halo. He shook his head to get that image out of there.
Sebastian went on, clearly not noticing Gabe’s face. “Thank God. Working with her is bad enough, let alone being paired up at a wedding.”
“Well,” Greyson cautioned, “just because you’re not walking down the aisle with her doesn’t mean you won’t have other things to do together.”
“As long as the things don’t include lovey-dovey wedding stuff, then I’m in.” Sebastian clapped Greyson on the back. “Thanks for asking, man. It’ll be an honor to stand up with you on your wedding day.”
“We’re not sure of all the details yet, but I wanted to get this part all squared away.”
Sebastian nudged Gabe with his elbow. “Looks like you’re in charge of corralling Winters and I get to waltz with your girl, I think I got the better part of this bargain.”
Gabe pictured Devlin walking down the aisle again, but this time she was with Sebastian. Irritation bloomed in his chest.
Sebastian did notice Gabe’s face this time. “I’m just joking, Gabe. I have no interest in playing kissy face with any of the ladies in our group. You guys have cornered the market on that.”
Gabe forced out a laugh. “I know,” he lied. “I was just thinking about how much press this wedding is going to get. Nadia must be livid she’s not getting the payoff from this publicity.” Gabe referenced Greyson’s ex-agent, who had tried to break him and Prudence up during the Fall Festival. The story of Greyson retiring from acting right at the height of his fame to come home and win the love of his longtime friend was absolute gossip magazine fodder. Hollywood and its fans were enamored of their story.
“Oh, she is,” Greyson confirmed. “But she’s down to calling me only once a day trying to get me back as a client. Her latest pitch was to just be on retainer in case I decided I wanted some role. The Passel nomination renewed her fascination with me.” Greyson had been nominated for a Passel award, his industry’s highest accolade, and Greyson and Prudence would be leaving sometime this summer to go to L.A. for awards season.
“I can’t believe you haven’t blocked her number already,” Chuck said.
“I did at first, but she has her ways. Besides, I have more fun this way.” Greyson stood. “And speaking of fun, let’s get this dart game started, shall we, boys? I’ve got a fiancée to get home to.”
Gabe finished the rest of his whiskey then picked up the empty glasses. “I’ll grab refills first. You get started.” He walked toward the bar, past the spot where he’d first seen Devlin on New Year’s Eve and ran his fingers over where her hand had lain on the bar top, a habit he now had whenever he walked by the spot. It felt like they were being thrown together at every turn, everything in their lives intertwining. Talking to her should’ve cleared the air, but now they were competing for the shop, and they’d be in Greyson and Prudence’s wedding together this summer. He filled a pitcher of beer from the tap and poured another whiskey before walking back to the guys. He reached the table just as Chuck threw a triple twenty. “Nice, man!”
“Thanks.” Chuck flexed his hand. “It’s all in the wrist.”
Sebastian snickered. “You said it’s all in the wrist.”
“Don’t be gross, Seb,” Greyson cringed.
“I was talking about darts!” Sebastian squared up and took a shot, barely hitting a single. “Dang. Well, what are you guys doing tomorrow? You all have early mornings? Except for you, Grey. We know you don’t do anything important.”
“I keep Prudence satisfied, that’s the most important job I can have.”
“You said you wanted us not to be gross.” Chuck pointed out.
“Whatever, it keeps me happy, too.” Greyson shrugged then gestured at Gabe and Chuck. What about you two?”
“Just work,” Chuck said.
Gabe picked up the darts, ready for his turn. “I’m meeting Pru at the store to pick out furnishings for the basement.” He threw a bullseye.
“Oh yes, now that you say that she did mention something about you needing to get some finishing touches.” Greyson gave a slight cough.
Gabe turned, Greyson’s tone alerting him that something was up. “What are you not telling me, Grey?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re meeting at the store to pick out stuff for your house. That’s all I know.” The look on Greyson’s face was one of pure innocence.
Gabe eyed Greyson for a moment longer, then let it go. Greyson had no reason to lie to him about a shopping trip, right?