“It’s not far from Sonoma.”
Wine country was on his lists of places he wanted to visit. Somehow, he just hadn’t gotten around to it yet.
“What about you?” Tory asked once again, her pen poised over her notebook.
“I lived on Sanborn Island until I was eleven. Then we moved to Windham.” Now he understood why his parents had accepted better-paying jobs and made the move, but he hadn’t at the time. He’d just known his parents were making him move away from his friends and family.
Fifteen minutes later, only the last question on the first page didn’t have an answer next to it. They would’ve covered that one and some on the second if they hadn’t gone off topic more than once.
“After this question, I’m going to head home. I still have some work to do tonight.” If he stayed here much longer, he’d end up falling asleep while sitting at his desk. It had happened before, and he didn’t want to start his day tomorrow with a sore neck.
“You won’t get an argument from me.” Tory yawned, causing Duncan to do the same.
Uncertain of his answer, Duncan read the last question first to buy himself more time. “Favorite television show?”
Tory didn’t even need time to think before answering. “I love the old black-and-white shows from the ’50s and early ’60s. The comedies and the westerns are probably my favorite, but I’ll watch any of them.”
He’d expected something more along the lines of the reality shows his sister loved to watch. He didn’t think there was an episode ofAmerica’s Got TalentorDancing With the Starsthat Harper hadn’t seen. And whatever you do, don’t ask her aboutProject Runway.
“There are a few old black-and-white shows I like, but none of them are westerns.”
He could handle an episode ofI Love Lucy,Lost In Space, or evenThe Andy GriffithShow. But thanks to his grandmother, he’d seen enough episodes ofBonanzaandGunsmoketo last him a lifetime.
“I’m not sure we can be friends if you don’t like old westerns.” The dimple in her cheek appeared again, and much like when she’d yawned, he couldn’t help but smile too. “Since old westerns are out, what is your favorite show?”
“You know, I don’t think I have one. I don’t watch a lot of TV, and when I do it’s usually a baseball game or a historical documentary.”
“History buff too?” Tory asked once again, taking them off topic.
“Guilty.”
She simultaneously yawned and closed her notebook. “In that case, I can look past your other shortcomings.”
“That’s a relief.”
SIX
“Except for whenI was at Phillips, I haven't spent much time in New Hampshire. I don't think I've ever been to this part of the state.”
Duncan slowed down as they approached the flashing yellow light. “It's the opposite for me. I spent most of my life in New Hampshire. And if the commute into Boston wasn't so horrible, I'd live here now.”
“Yeah, the commute is why I didn't look for a place outside the city. I can work from home some days, but not all the time. And I didn't want to deal with the traffic when I have to go into the office.”
Her comment reminded him of the mental note he'd made last night on his way home. “Where—”
“If—” Tory started at the same time.
“You first.” Duncan pulled over when he saw a police cruiser barreling down the road behind him with its lights flashing. No sooner did it pass him than a fire truck flew by his car.
“If getting into Boston wasn't an issue, where would you live?”
Tory's question required no thought. “My first choice would be Sanborn Island. And if I only needed to go into the office occasionally like Alec or had a transporter handy, I'd live there year-round. My second choice would be somewhere in the White Mountains area of the state. I'm not sure exactly which town. There are a lot of nice ones up there.”
“I've never been to Sanborn. And I'm not sure I've traveled to the White Mountains area. It's possible we competed against schools there when I ran track, but I don't remember.”
He wasn't in the habit of inviting women he'd just met to spend the night at his house. But, then again, he hadn't just met Tory, and this wasn't a normal situation. “You have to visit the island at least once in the off-season. I love it there anytime, but crowds make truly enjoying it difficult during the summer. If you want, we can ride the ferry over on Saturday morning. It leaves out of Portsmouth, which is roughly an hour from Boston, depending on traffic. Then we can take the last ferry back or spend the night at my house there.”
He'd purchased the home at the end of August but had spent little time there—something he hoped to do now that tourist season had ended.