Chapter 31
Thirty-One
E than’s hands trembled as he fastened the top button on his white shirt, the fabric smooth beneath his fingertips. Then he reached for the striped tie that he bought yesterday and looped it around his neck and knotted it. A gray herringbone tweed jacket lay on the bed, and he shrugged it on.
He stepped back to look at himself in the mirror. Glancing left, then right, he decided that he looked damn good. Not too dressy but not shabby-looking either. The muted tones of the outfit complemented his rugged features.
Glancing at his watch, Ethan realized it was only 4p.m.
Damn. He still had two hours to kill before he had to pick up Jane.
Ethan sighed, removing the jacket and casually draping it over a kitchen chair. He opened the fridge and pulled out a beer. Popping the top, he took a long swig, the cold liquid easing his nerves. He walked into the living room.
Leah was curled up in the corner of the sofa, flipping through a magazine as the fading light cast long shadows across the room.
“Hey, don’t you look spiffy!” she said, glancing up at him. “Tonight’s the night, right?”
Ethan sat on a chair, leaned back, and blew out his breath. “Yeah. I’m a little early.”
“Nervous?” She chuckled.
He rolled his eyes. “I have been on dates before, you know.”
“Considering you’ve only gone out with Corrine, I would consider that one long date,” she quipped.
“Funny,” he replied. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Leah was a hoot.
“Where are you taking her?”
“I took your suggestions and made reservations at the Twisted Fork, then we’ll look at the Halloween decorations, then…” His voice trailed off.
“Then you’ll take Jane home and have your wicked way with her,” Leah filled in with a wicked grin.
Ethan almost spit out the swallow of beer he’d taken. “Jesus, Leah. Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“Who’s going to have their way with Jane?” Tanner walked in, wiping his hands on a towel, giving Leah a kiss on the head and sitting next to her.
“Our little guy’s going on his first big date,” she told him, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye.
“Be home by eleven,” Tanner teased.
“Fuck off, you two. I’m nervous enough,” Ethan muttered, giving them a side-eye.
Tanner and Leah burst out laughing.
“Seriously, bro, I hope you have a great time,” said Tanner. “It’s about time you got out and started dating and enjoying life. Jane is the perfect date for you.”
Ethan nodded and took another sip of beer. He figured he’d need more than one to calm his nerves but would refrain.
At exactly five fifty, Ethan knocked on Jane’s door. He realized he was still ten minutes early but couldn’t wait any longer.
He heard footsteps, and the door opened. Jane stood in the doorway, bathed in the soft glow spilling from the living room.
She had on a V-neck blue and pink print dress gathered around the waist that reached mid-calf with thigh-high brown leather boots.
Her eyes sparkled when she saw him.
“Wow, you look gorgeous,” he said.
“Well, you’re looking pretty spiffy yourself. I like the look,” she replied, giving him a once-over and winking.
Ethan chuckled.
“Come on in while I grab my coat.”
He entered the hallway, closed the door, and glanced around the living room.
Although he’d passed through it before, he never took the time to notice the changes she’d made. The room looked entirely different from when Mr. Jenkins owned it. For one thing, the fireplace had been rebuilt with stone. And the wooden beams on the ceiling made the room look inviting.
“I don’t remember Mr. Jenkins having beams on the ceiling. Did Clarence add them?” he asked.
“Yes. He did a terrific job with those and also the built-in bookcases.”
“It’s a nice room. You did a wonderful job,” he said. “I guess you’re really settling in.”
Jane smiled. “I love Beaver Creek and this house, so you could say I’m settling in for good.”
That didn’t surprise Ethan. From what he saw and heard, Jane was creating a home for herself.
She held her coat in her arms.
“Let me help you with that,” he said.
He held it open for her to slip her arms in and subtly leaned in to sniff her. So many layers—woody and spicy, with hints of vanilla and cedar. “What perfume are you wearing?”
“Do you like it?”
“It’s very nice.”
“Opium by Oscar de la Renta. I fell in love with it years ago.”
“It suits you. Innocent but mysterious,” he said.
“Hmm.” She blushed, then grabbed her purse. They walked out into a frosty night. Ethan looked up and saw a sliver of moon and twinkling stars. He inhaled the crisp air. “Nothing like a fall night.”
“I love fall, the changing leaves, the heartier food, a roaring wood fire and sipping hot chocolate in front of it,” she replied.
“I agree. There’s nothing like a fire on a cold night when the snow is falling outside. Although I’d probably go with a scotch rather than hot chocolate.”
It took around twenty minutes to reach downtown and find nearby parking at the Twisted Fork. He helped Jane out of the truck. They passed several people walking who he knew and said hi to. The bistro was lit up with twinkling white lights. He opened the door, and Emmy Walters greeted them and hugged Jane. “Welcome to our fifth annual Farm-to-Table Harvest Dinner,” she said.
Ethan helped Jane off with her coat and hung it on a hook by the front door.
He glanced around the room.
Emmy had reconfigured it so the tables were placed together, creating two long rows rather than scattered. It made for a more intimate gathering. White tablecloths covered the tables. Flickering candles and fall decorations were arranged in the middle and ran the length of the table. Quite a few people had already taken their seats.
He saw a lot of townsfolk and was surprised that so many people recognized and acknowledged Jane.
Adam and a couple of other friends were sitting near the end of one table, and Ethan guided Jane over.
After greeting everyone, he sat back in his chair and looked around. It’d been a while since he was here.
Emmy had done a fine job decorating, and he loved the paintings of Beaver Creek through the years that she had hung on the brick walls.
Decorative lights on the small trees in the corner of the room added a touch of magic.
Wonderful scents from the kitchen permeated the air, and Ethan wondered what was on the menu tonight. Finally, the servers came around to take drink orders and pass out the menu for the meal.
“Beaver Creek Brewery’s Pumpkin Ale is available tonight,” Adam said, looking up from his menu.
Ethan thought he might order that. It was only available in the fall.
“Oh, they have a Pumpkin Spice White Russian that sounds yummy,” said Jane, glancing down at the list of drinks. “Or maybe I’ll have the Spiced Cranberry Margarita—no, the Caramel Apple Martini.”
She was so cute. Who knew someone could get excited about drinks? Ethan chuckled.
“Sorry. I love cocktails,” she said. “Although I don’t have them very often, so it’s a treat.”
Ethan laughed. “Should I order you one of each?”
“Ha ha.” Jane chuckled. “Just the Caramel Apple Martini will do.”
They placed their orders, then the servers brought out different charcuterie boards and placed them in between the decorations on the table.
He’d never had a board before and was impressed with the colorful selections of local cheeses, sausages, honeycomb, different olives, crackers and bread.
“What an interesting selection for dinner,” Jane exclaimed, looking up from her menu. “Butternut squash and apple soup, yum. And the autumn harvest salad with kale, roasted beets, dried cranberries and goat cheese sounds interesting.”
Ethan looked down at the menu. There was a choice of entrees: roasted chicken, braised short ribs and a vegetarian option of stuffed acorn squash with quinoa, wild rice, dried cranberries and pecans, drizzled with a maple glaze. It was nice to have options, but he was a beef guy, and the short ribs with mashed potatoes and honey-glazed carrots were right up his alley.
“What are you having, Jane?” he asked.
“Definitely the chicken with roasted root veggies. Did you notice the free-range chicken comes from Rustic Roots?”
He nodded. Emmy was very good at sourcing local produce and meats.
As people enjoyed the food, conversations around the bistro became muted, and it didn’t take long for them to finish the drinks and charcuterie boards.
Adam leaned back and rubbed his stomach. “Those local cheeses and the salumi were delicious. I’ve never had a board before.”
“We had several different ones the last time my friends and I ate here,” said Jane. “Emmy is so creative with them.”
The dinner buzzed with conversation, and the aroma of food lingered in the air. Ethan finished his last bite of caramel apple pie, leaned back in his chair, and patted his stomach. “What a fantastic dinner,” he exclaimed.
Jane was still working on her pumpkin spice crème br?lée. She dipped her spoon in the custard and offered him a bite. He looked at the spoon of delicate orange custard and at Jane, whose eyes sparkled with mischief. “Taste?” she asked.
Ethan was no slouch when it came to overt facial clues. Damn, the woman was flirting with him. Okay, he could play that game. He leaned in closer, held her hand, and gently guided the spoon to his lips. He savored the custard, then licked his lips lazily. Her breath caught. Her eyes darkened. He smirked. Gotcha!
The blush crept down her neck, and she let out a nervous chuckle as she finished eating her dessert. Ethan had forgotten how much fun playful teasing could be.
The server returned asking if they wanted coffee, which they did, and filled their cups. The rich, aromatic brew scented the air. The bistro was gradually emptying, and the clatter of dishes being whisked away mingled with muted conversations.
They finished their coffee, and since Ethan had paid in advance, there was no waiting for a check.
Saying goodbye to Adam and the few people left, he helped Jane with her coat.
They walked out to a noticeably colder night than when they had entered. The crisp air bit at their cheeks. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of cedar from a wood fire.
“Brisk out here,” he said, his breath visible in the air. “Want to continue walking on Main Street to see the decorations or return to your house?”
“I’d love to walk for a little while,” she said, pulling her coat a little tighter. “That meal was delicious, and I’m stuffed.”
“Sounds good.”
They passed Crumb & Co. on their right.
Vanessa had adorned her door with a giant wreath of autumn leaves and berries and placed gauzy fabric in the window and decorated it with skeletons.
The interview he had with Vanessa Crumb streaked through his mind. “Have you talked to Vanessa since your visit?”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t see her much.”
Ethan made a mental note to revisit everyone he’d interviewed, just in case something popped up in their memories.
Cornstalks tied to the lampposts swayed in the breeze, and several storefronts had giant spiderwebs in the windows. Jane shuddered. “I hate spiders.”
“If I see a giant one chasing you, I’ll shoot it,” Ethan teased.
Jane laughed. “Or I could,” she joked.
Ethan glanced down at her. “You’re not packing, are you?”
Jane rolled her eyes. “Really?”
Ethan winked at her. Although he only knew Jane a short time, she was full of surprises, so it wouldn’t be out of the question.
“Do you even know how to shoot a gun?” he asked.
“No.” She sighed. “I always carried pepper spray with me in Boston just because. But Mike and I felt we didn’t want the responsibility of a gun and all that it entails.”
“I can understand that.”
“Have you ever shot someone?” she asked softly.
“When I was in the service but not since becoming sheriff. I prefer to defuse situations.”
“Would you if you had to?”
“Yes.” No question in his mind. But it wouldn’t be something he’d take lightly.
She nodded thoughtfully and reached for his hand. Ethan hesitated, and she pulled her hand back.
Why the hell did he do that?
He reached over and took her hand in his. She hadn’t worn gloves, and her hand was cool to the touch.
It was still early in the evening, so quite a few people were enjoying the scenery or heading toward one of the eateries or bars.
Some storefronts had pumpkin displays on stacked hay bales. Others had pots of mums in shades of deep red and yellow.
Timeless Treasures had a miniature graveyard in the window, and the One Stop General Store had black gauze in the window with floating glowing eyes that seemed to follow them.
“Wow, the town really goes all out,” Jane commented. “I love it.”
“Wait until you see the parade,” Ethan said with a smile. “All the kids march in costumes.”
She looked up at him. “Did you when you were a kid?”
“Yup, me and my brothers did every year.”
“Sounds like fun,” she replied.
Ethan couldn’t help noticing she was shivering. “Come on, let’s get you home so you can get warm.”
“This has been fun, but dang, it’s chilly tonight,” Jane said. They walked back to Ethan’s truck, and he drove her home. Pulling into her driveway, he turned off the truck.
Ethan didn’t want the evening to end. He hadn’t had this much fun in a long time, but if Jane were tired, he’d walk her to the door and leave.
“Are you coming in?” she asked, a glint of hope in her eyes. “We can make a fire and talk.” She bit her lip.
The invitation was clear.