CHAPTERTWO
“Crap!” Rhett growled. He was running late for his lunch thanks to a client who had no understanding when it came to the law of physics and construction. Rhett couldn’t install a giant soaker tub in a second-floor bathroom without first reinforcing the floor. What was so hard to understand about that, and why did the client think that arguing with him would change anything?
Now, thanks to said hardhead, Rhett had hardly any time to clean up before meeting Barbara and Tristan for lunch.
If there was one thing Rhett hated, it was being late.
The second he pulled into his driveway, he slammed his truck into park and hopped from the driver’s seat. Rushing into the house, he peeled off his clothes as he sprinted for the bathroom. Turning the water to full blast, he hopped into the shower before the water even had a chance to warm up.
“Argh!” he shouted when the frigid water pelted his back. Goosebumps broke out over his skin. Determined to make it to dinner on time, Rhett didn’t bother waiting for the water to warm up. Just as the water started to warm up, he finished with a shortened shower routine and jumped out.
Quickly toweling off, he ran a comb through his short hair and grabbed the first clean pair of jeans and t-shirt he could find. He found himself speeding out of his driveway toward the restaurant within five minutes. The directions they had given him were easy enough to follow, considering he was already familiar with the area.
Thank goodness, traffic was light, and he pulled up to the restaurant with five minutes to spare. Rhett flipped the visor down and popped open the mirror. Might as well try to tame a bit of his salt-and-pepper hair before he went in, now that he had a moment. He ran his finger through his hair, fixing a few strands that seemed to have minds of their own. Satisfied with the way he looked, he hopped from his truck.
Barbara and Tristan approached the restaurant door at the same time Rhett did. He greeted them, giving Tristan a handshake and Barbara a hug. It had been too long since he’d seen his former alpha and matriarch.
“How is life treating you out here?” Tristan asked once they were seated.
“Works good,” Rhett replied. “But it’s not till I see some old friendly faces that I realize how much I miss pack life.”
“Watch who you’re calling old,” Barbara admonished with a playful smile. “But you know you’d be welcome back any time you wanted to return.”
Rhett shrugged. He’d been considering it far more than he was willing to admit. He’d focused so much of his young life on building his company that he never thought he’d be willing to just walk away from it someday.
“If you were thinking about semi-retirement, I know you’d be able to find some jobs to keep you busy if you brought your company to Blue Creek,” Tristan said, almost reading his mind. “We have lots of people moving in all the time, and new builds are definitely in demand.”
Rhett smiled, shaking his head. The Wolfes weren’t subtle. It was clear they wanted him to move home. Was this why they invited him to lunch? To try to convince him to move home? “When you invited me to lunch, you didn’t say why you were in town.”
“We’re just doing some tourism,” Tristan said. At the same time, his wife said, “We’re antiquing.”
Right.
The waitress came by to take their orders. She was a pretty blond thing with a bouncy ponytail and soft makeup who started shamelessly flirting with Rhett, even giggling as she patted his arm before she took his menu from him.
As she walked away, Rhett shook his head, sighing regretfully. “They just keep getting younger and younger.”
“Why, Rhett, you make it sound like you’re finally sick of the bachelor's life,” Barbara commented.
He shrugged. What was the use in denying it? “The pool of women in my age range is getting shallow. Especially considering that this city isn’t that big. And before you say it, Blue Creek is even smaller, so I’m sure I wouldn’t find anyone there, either.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” Barbara said. “Remember, Tristan just said that new people are moving to Blue Creek all the time.”
They got to chatting about lighter topics. He loved hearing about how the Wolfe children … and grandchildren! … were doing and loved, even more, to see how happy Barbara and Tristan were. They’d settled into later life so nicely.
It made him suddenly regret his choice to remain single for so long.
When the check came, he insisted on paying.
They walked out together, and he started to say goodbye when Tristan cleared his throat and looked at Barbara. “It’s now or never.”
“What?” Rhett asked, suddenly feeling suspicious again.
Barbara pulled her phone out, thumbed over the screen, and then turned it toward him.
“Her name is Sara,” Barbara said as Rhett gazed at a photo of the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She had a lovely smile, twinkling eyes, and dark curly hair that gave her a playful air.
He couldn’t help himself. He took the phone from Barbara so he could look closer at this woman.