Chapter 10
“It’s not Caleb Jackson,” Lottie said.
“It’s Robert.”
“Harlow’s ex-husband?”
David nodded. “I knew he was flying in to meet with her tomorrow. He must’ve come a day early.”
“How does…is he…” Lottie’s mind whirled. “How does he know Cheyenne?”
“My guess is he’s staying here. Maybe he met her at the lobby bar. Who knows?”
Shifting to the left, Lottie cast them a furtive glance from beneath her lowered eyelashes. Cheyenne laughed again and began twirling the ends of her hair. She leaned forward, her low-cut blouse drooping, offering Robert a generous view of her ample assets.
“What are they doing?” David asked.
“She’s showing him her goods.”
“Showing him her goods?” he echoed.
“This.” Lottie thrust her chest out and wiggled her shoulders.
“I kinda like it,” he teased.
“I…uh…you like what?”
“Your suggestive pose.”
“Stop!” She pressed her hands to her flushed cheeks. “I was talking about Cheyenne.”
“So she’s flirting with Harlow’s ex-husband.”
“He appears to be enjoying the attention.”
“He’s a man. She’s an attractive woman.”
“He’s a jerk. She’s a snob,” Lottie corrected. “It could be a match made in heaven.”
“You took the words right out of my mouth.” David caught the server’s eye and waited for her to make her way over.
“How was dinner?”
“Fabulous. I saved a few bites for my bedtime snack, so I’ll need a to-go container.”
“Same here,” Lottie said. “The portions were very generous.”
“I’ll be right back to box up your food.”
The woman left, and Lottie couldn’t resist the temptation to check on Robert and Cheyenne again.
“What are they doing now? Let me guess…she’s doing a striptease, hoping Robert will offer her an acting gig.”
“Do you think she knows who he is?” Lottie asked.
“Without a doubt. His face has been all over the local newspapers.”
“I want to snap a picture to show Harlow.” She fumbled around in her purse, grabbed her cell phone and turned it on. “Crud.”
“What?”
“The angle is off. Slide to the right. I’ll pretend I’m taking your picture.”
David slid his chair sideways. “How’s this?”
“Perfect.” Aiming the camera so she could get a shot of David along with Cheyenne and the back of Robert’s head, Lottie snapped a second photo, forwarded both copies to David and turned her phone off.
“I sent you copies in case you want to show Harlow. Maybe Cheyenne will dump Caleb and run off with Robert.”
“I’m sure stranger things have happened.”
The server returned to box up their leftovers. “Can I interest you in dessert? We have triple-layer carrot cake, apple pie à la mode and my favorite, double chocolate fudge cake.”
“As much as I’m tempted, we have some delicious homemade Christmas cookies waiting for us at home.” With a quick perusal of the bill, David handed the woman his credit card, completing the transaction with her handheld card machine.
“It was a lovely meal.” Lottie started to stand.
David hurried over and pulled out her chair. He helped her with her jacket before putting his on.
Thankfully, the exit was in the opposite direction of Cheyenne and Robert. On the way out, Lottie couldn’t resist taking a last look.
The couple were still seated at the booth, talking in low voices, their heads close together. If she hadn’t known better, she would have assumed they were a couple. “So much for Caleb,” Lottie muttered under her breath.
“What did you say?”
“Caleb may very well have dodged a nasty bullet—Cheyenne.”
“The Lord sure works in mysterious ways. I never would have envisioned her and Robert together.” David insisted on having their driver drop Lottie off first. He walked her to the door and waited while she unlocked it. “Thanks for having dinner with me.”
“Thank you for inviting me,” she primly replied. “It’s not often that a handsome gentleman treats me to a fancy meal.”
“Now, Lottie.”
She held up her hand. “It’s true.” Her expression softened. “I had a wonderful time and am glad I skipped out on the Mackies’ party, but don’t tell them.”
He made a zipping motion across his lips. “My lips are sealed. We’ll see you for the New Year’s Eve / belated Christmas party at my house?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
David started to say something and abruptly stopped.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, Lottie. Don’t ever change. You’re a gem.”
“Right back atcha.” Lottie lingered in the doorway, watching as David strolled back to the carriage, taking the empty seat next to the driver.
He must’ve felt her eyes on him because he gave her a friendly wave goodbye as the carriage rumbled off.
She stood there for a long moment after he was gone, replaying parts of their dinner conversation. Easy talk. Light conversation. Everything under the moon, from Harlow to Aunt Birdie, to spring plantings, even talk of the fire, whatever was on their minds.
“You had better watch it, David Wynn. If you’re not careful, things could get serious.” Lottie slipped inside her small cottage and closed the door behind her.