CHAPTER SEVEN
The next morning, Lindy couldn’t stop thinking about her romantic dinner with Billy. The staff referred to him as Will, but he would always be Billy to her. The evening had been lovely. She enjoyed their conversation and was impressed that he seemed genuinely interested in her and her work at Media Blast. Unlike other men she’d dated—not that they were dating or anything—who had almost always talked about themselves, looking to impress her, she supposed.
It surprised her how much Billy remembered about her and her family. He grinned when he said, “I’m not likely to forget the talking-to our school principal gave me.”
“Ah yes, if I remember, that must have been the Billy-the-bully talk,” she said, recounting her indignation when he wouldn’t let a day pass without pulling her hair.
Like her, Billy had never been married, and while he didn’t mention other relationships, she strongly suspected there had been more than one through the years. It made sense, seeing how attractive and eligible he was.
—
Coming into the kitchen, Lindy found her mother sitting at the table with the local newspaper and a cup of coffee.
“Sorry about dinner last night,” Lindy said, after explaining she’d dined with Billy. Her mother had kept a plate warmed, waiting for her return. By the time she arrived home, the meal had completely dried out. While cleaning up the kitchen, she’d danced around the room, feeling free and a little silly. It’d been a long time since she’d experienced this unfettered happiness. And to think it was all because of Billy Kincade. Covering her mouth, she laughed. Never in a thousand years would she think he’d be the one to make her heart sing.
“No problem, sweetie,” her mother assured her. “Were you able to help Billy with his website?”
Lindy nodded as she poured herself a cup of coffee. Her head spun with ideas on how she intended to add the finishing details. “I hope you don’t mind if I work on it again this morning,” she said. She took the chance that her mother hadn’t made plans for them. It was the holiday season, after all, and they had talked endlessly about shopping and baking together.
“I haven’t got a thing scheduled,” her mother said, convincingly enough for Lindy to believe her.
“I mean if you’d rather—”
“This is your vacation. It’s time off you’ve worked all year to enjoy. You should spend it the way you want. Go help Billy. I’m sure he appreciates what you’re doing.”
“But Christmas is our time and—”
“Stop,” her mother said, smiling at Lindy. “After the year you’ve had, all I want is for you to enjoy yourself, and if that means working on a website for Billy, then have at it, as long as it makes you happy.”
Now was probably the best time to mention his invite. “Tomorrow is his day off and Billy suggested we spend the afternoon in Leavenworth. I hope you don’t mind if I go.” It would be another day that her mother might have made plans that she didn’t know about.
“Lindy, please, go and have fun. Rest assured you’re not letting me down.”
“You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Lindy, when have I ever not spoken my mind?”
She grinned. Her mother had never been one to hold back her opinion.
“I’m happy you’ve reconnected with Peggy and Billy, too. Now, don’t you worry about a thing here. All I ask is that you do what your heart wants.”
When she’d left Seattle, Lindy had been in low spirits. What she hadn’t expected was to reconnect with Peggy and run into Billy Kincade. From the moment she’d arrived in Wenatchee and read those old letters to Santa, it felt as if the gray world had suddenly turned bright red and green—the colors of Christmas.
“Thanks, Mom.”
Her mother glanced up from the newspaper. “You’re welcome, sweetie.”
When she arrived at the Wine Press, the same young hostess who had greeted her the day before unlocked the restaurant door, as it had yet to open. A flurry of activity was going on inside as the servers set the tables. The kitchen, or what she could see of it, was bustling as well. The aromas drifting toward her convinced her that the latte she’d picked up on her way in wasn’t going to satisfy her for long.
“You’re back,” the hostess said. “Will wasn’t sure exactly when you’d arrive. He’s with…someone currently. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you went straight to his office.”
He’s with…someone? Lindy frowned at the way the young woman hesitated, as if she wasn’t sure she should mention whoever it was who currently occupied her employer’s time. That was interesting.
As Lindy wove around the tables, making her way toward his office, she caught sight of Billy leaning against the bar. He was in what looked like a deep conversation with a woman who looked vaguely familiar. A beautiful woman.
Not her business, Lindy decided, and with a determined effort looked away.
Once inside Billy’s office, she sat down at his computer and logged on with the information he’d given her. She’d just started working when her phone buzzed.
Even after only a few calls, Lindy recognized the number. Peggy.
“Hey,” Peggy said, when Lindy answered. “Do you have plans tonight?”
“What’s up?”
“A group of us are going on a food scavenger hunt. Want to join us?”
“A what?” Lindy had never heard of such a thing.
“I’ll explain it later. Meet me at my apartment at six.”
“Do I need to bring anything?”
“Other than yourself, a bottle of wine, and a white-elephant gift, not a darn thing.”
Lindy grinned. She had no idea what a food scavenger hunt was, but it sounded like fun, and she was up for that. “I’ll be there.”
“See you then.”
Lindy disconnected just as Billy entered his office. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I was talking with my sister. You remember Dede, don’t you?”
Lindy vaguely remembered her. They’d been in the same school. Dede was a couple of years older than Billy.
“She was a bit older. I remember you had sister, but I don’t think we ever spoke,” she said, smiling up at him.
“I’m grateful to my sister. I faced some challenges when I decided to open the Wine Press. I couldn’t have done it without Dede and her husband, especially after…” He let the rest drop.
Lindy was about to ask him what he meant. Before she could, Billy asked,“Were you able to clear tomorrow afternoon with your mom?” he asked.
“We’re good.”
“Great.”
That smile of his was enough to light up a million-kilowatt dam. It took an exaggerated moment before she found the wherewithal to look away. It surprised her how quickly she found him occupying her mind. She’d fallen asleep with thoughts of him, and he was the first thing she thought about when she woke, eager to spend time with him.
—
When Lindy arrived at Peggy’s, Chloe and Jayne were already there, and the party was about to begin. Peggy was the one with the idea: It seemed as if both of the other women were as much in the dark as Lindy was.
Lindy added her wrapped white elephant gift to the stack with the others and handed Peggy the bottle of white wine, one her father had recommended.
Peggy had a sly grin, and Lindy had to wonder what her clever friend was up to now. Even when they were children, Peggy was the one who’d had the wild imagination. Lindy had followed gleefully along. Her childhood had been happy, and a lot of that delight had been the times she’d spent with Peggy. This latest adventure told her Peggy hadn’t changed. She was fun, creative, and up for anything.
“Okay, is everyone ready?” Peggy asked. She rubbed her palms together, as if she could hardly wait for this fun evening she had planned.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Lindy said, sharing a look with the other two women.
Peggy passed out a folded sheet of paper to each one. “Okay, read your clue. You have thirty minutes to solve the riddle, and then find and supply the course of the meal described to you. Remember, you have only a half-hour to complete your task. The first one back gets a prize, and the last one back…well, let me put it like this: You don’t want to be last.”
Lindy waited until Peggy’s two other friends each had their sheet before she unfolded hers and read the riddle.
Roses are red. Violets are blue.
Dessert, my friend, is on you. Make it sweet and easy to eat.
Not Gouda. Not cheddar. This tastes so much better.
It’s a cake most don’t bake. Thirty minutes is all it should take.
It wasn’t hard for Lindy to figure out that Peggy was looking for her to deliver a cheesecake. She could only imagine what the others had been asked to contribute to the meal. What a fun and different idea. Leave it to Peggy.
“The main course is in the Crock-Pot, and I’ll have the wine open and the table set by the time you return. The first one back gets the honor of being the last to choose the white-elephant gift and unable to have anyone take it away.”
“And the last?” Jayne asked.
“The last gets to clean the kitchen.”
All three groaned as they surveyed the area. It seemed Peggy had deliberately used every pan in the house.
Lindy was excited for what was sure to be a fun evening.
Out the door the three of them flew.
Lindy went to her favorite bakery and found that it was far too busy. Seeing the line inside, she automatically drove past. Naturally, the bakery was her first choice. She’d consider herself lucky if they even had a cheesecake left this late in the day. Keeping a close eye on the time, she saw that she’d wasted five minutes.
Her next stop was Costco. They always had cheesecake, but the parking lot was full. Going inside would be a wasted effort and sure to eat up her time. She should have known. This was the holiday season. Shoppers took every opportunity available to stock up, and this was Christmas week.
Her next guess was the local grocery store. She parked, rushed into the bakery section, and discovered there wasn’t a cheesecake to be found.
Then she remembered the Wine Press had cheesecake on the dessert menu. As she exited the Safeway, she reached for her phone and called the restaurant. The same hostess from the morning answered.
“This is Lindy…Would it be possible to speak to Billy?” she asked, checking the time and fearing she was about to get the booby prize.
It seemed to take forever before he was on the line. “Lindy?”
“I need four slices of cheesecake. Pronto.”
His hesitation was brief. “Is there a cheesecake emergency I didn’t hear about?”
“It’s a food scavenger hunt. Peggy’s idea. If I don’t have it within the next few minutes, I could be stuck washing a sink full of dishes. Can I buy the cheesecake from you?” At this point she didn’t care what it cost. All that was important was that she return with the dessert before Jayne and Chloe.
“Of course.”
She looked at the time again. “I have less than twelve minutes to get it back to Peggy’s.”
“Where are you now?” he asked.
She gave him her location.
“I’ll meet you halfway.” He gave her the name of the school, the very one they had attended as children. “I’ll meet you in the parking lot by the baseball field.”
“You mean it’s still there?”
“As far as I know. Seems to me I drove past it recently.”
“You’d leave the restaurant and rush me the cheesecake?” She was giddy, knowing this was the only way she’d make it back to Peggy’s within the allotted thirty minutes.
“On it. I’ll be there as soon as I can manage…”
Lindy drove to Mission View Elementary, pulled over, and parked. Sure enough, Billy didn’t keep her waiting long. He pulled up alongside her car. Billy climbed out of his vehicle, and without realizing how close he was, Lindy opened her car door and slammed it into Billy, hitting him in the stomach.
Billy gasped and bent over.
“Oh no. Billy, I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?” She felt dreadful. Her hands flew to her mouth as she waited for him to straighten.
He took in a shallow breath. “I’m okay,” he said, between gritted teeth.
“You’re not,” she countered, fearing she’d unmanned him.
He waved away her concern before he handed her the box with the cheesecake. “How much do I owe you?”
“It’s on the house.”
“But…”
“You did me a favor and I’m returning one.” He still didn’t sound like himself.
“You’re hurt,” she insisted. “What can I do to help?”
“Lindy, I’m fine. You caught me by surprise is all.”
“You’re hurt.”
“I am not hurt. You better get going or you’ll be washing dishes.”
“Right. You’re sure you’re not in pain?”
He arched his brows, which she supposed was answer enough.
“Now go.”
“Right.” Still, she hesitated, fearing he was just telling her he was unhurt when he really was in pain. She waited until he was in his car before she left.
—
Lindy arrived back at Peggy’s apartment, with three minutes to spare. It was funny because Jayne arrived almost the same time but was a few steps ahead of her. She discovered Jayne was responsible for the appetizer: Chinese eggrolls. Chloe came within a minute or two of Lindy. Chloe had been given the riddle for the salad: Waldorf, which made sense, since it included apples, the primary crop of Chelan County. How the two had managed it within the limited amount of time was beyond Lindy, knowing her own difficulty in getting the cheesecake.
Peggy greeted them in the kitchen. The table was set with Santa plates and napkins. With the food on the table, the fun began as they relayed their adventures over crisp white wine and laughter. Peggy’s own contribution to the meal was taco soup, so it was truly an international meal.
“Waldorf salad?” Chloe complained. “Really, Peggy? Couldn’t you have gone for one a bit less specific?”
“Where in the name of heaven did you find that?” Lindy asked.
Peggy laughed. “Her mother is famous for the salad. I figured, it being this close to Christmas, she would have made it for the family.”
“Yes, and I stole it, which means I might well be disowned. If I lose out on my inheritance because of you, Peggy, I’ll never forgive you.”
Lindy told of her own madcap time to find the dessert. She described how Billy had helped and how she had shoved the car door into his midsection. “I’m afraid I might really have hurt him. Being a guy, he would never admit it, though.”
“We should check on him later,” Peggy suggested.
Lindy agreed.
Dinner was fun. They sat around Peggy’s table and talked and laughed for hours. Lindy felt as if she’d known Peggy’s two friends forever. They made her part of their fun group, willingly including her as a friend.
Chloe had to get home to her husband and children, and Jayne had to work early in the morning. Lindy was the last to get ready to leave.
“You still want to check up on Billy to see if he’s okay?” Peggy asked.
“I think I should.”
“I’ll go with you.”
They drove in separate cars. The parking lot wasn’t nearly as full at the Wine Press, now that it was long past the dinner hour, although the lounge seemed to be doing a healthy business.
Billy was behind the bar, talking up the wine with an engrossed audience. When he saw Lindy and Peggy, his face broke into an automatic grin. He motioned for them to join him at the bar.
They were fortunate enough to find two empty stools next to each other and claimed them. Breaking away from the small group he’d been chatting with, Billy approached Peggy and Lindy. He automatically placed napkins on the bar in front of them. “What can I get you ladies?”
“I came to see if you were injured,” Lindy said. She’d worried about him all night.
“I’m fine,” he said, garnering the attention of those sitting at the bar.
“You had a car door slammed into you.”
“I’m fine,” he said again.
Lindy remained unconvinced. “Are you positive?”
Shaking his head, Billy sighed loudly to the couples on either side of Peggy and Lindy. “All together now,” he said, raising his land like a maestro with a baton ready to lead an orchestra.
In unison, those at the bar said in one voice:
“He’s fine!”