The employee typed the name into her tablet and then handed him a pager. “You're welcome to wait in here or outside. I'll page you when your table is ready.”
“Do you want to wait in here or outside?” Duncan asked, moving away so the group behind them could check in.
“It's too nice to wait inside.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
The grounds at the winery always tastefully reflected the season. Today, colorful mums, pumpkins, and bales of hay decorated the area. Several couples were taking advantage of the picturesque fall backdrop and were taking photos.
“Fall might be my favorite season,” Duncan said, stopping far enough away from the cornstalks so that he didn't end up in anyone's picture. “What about you? What's your favorite?”
“I'm not sure I have one. But there's something I like about all of them.”
“Not me. There's nothing I like about the spring. I always think winter is over, and soon we're going to have some warmer days. Instead, it always ends up being cold and rainy. Even in May, we sometimes get freezing rainstorms.” Duncan noticed his former classmate and neighbor walking toward them even before Lou called out.
“Hey, Duncan. I thought that was you over here. It's been a while. How have you been?” Lou Barton asked as he and a woman Duncan didn't know stopped near them.
Lou had lived two houses down from him growing up, and they'd gone to school together until Duncan left for high school. About a year ago, Duncan bumped into Lou while visiting his parents. At the time, Lou had recently moved back to New Hampshire and accepted a position in Concord. And until the contractor finished renovating the house he'd purchased, Lou was living with his parents.
“I’ve been busy but otherwise okay. What about you?”
Well, if he had to run into someone he knew here, Duncan would rather it be Lou Barton than his parents or, worse, his sister. Mom wouldn't do it with Tory standing there, but later she'd call, subtly inquiring about their relationship. His sister would do the same—only she wouldn't be subtle. The word subtle wasn't in Harper's vocabulary. He couldn't tell Mom or Harper the truth, and he certainly didn't want to lie to them.
“Couldn't be better,” Lou said before introducing them to his fiancée, Noelle.
“It's great to meet you.” He needed to play his role at some point, and now seemed as good a time as any to try it. “This is my girlfriend, Tory,” he said, resting an arm across her shoulders. “Lou and I used to be neighbors. His parents live in the gray house with the black shutters.” Lou and his fiancée didn't know Tory had never visited Mom and Dad.
Without missing a beat, Tory leaned into him, and her arm snaked around his waist. The feel of her body against his had him instantly questioning his decision to touch her. Every nerve ending in his body switched off, except for those in contact with Tory. Those all fired at once, and he almost expected to see fire leaping from his clothes.
“You look so familiar. But I don't know from where,” Noelle said.
If their proximity affected Tory the way it did him, she gave no indication. “I only moved to the East Coast recently.”
“What do you say we ask to be seated together? Then we can catch up,” Lou said.
Damn it. He hated when people put him on the spot like that.
Before he could answer, Tory squeezed his side. “We'd love to join you.”
The hostess had no problem accommodating their request, and a few minutes later, she led them to a table.
“Practice makes perfect,” Tory whispered in his ear as they followed Lou and Noelle.
The rational portionof Tory's brain recognized the purpose of their outing today was to fulfill the terms of the auction and to further their acquaintance so they could pull off their charade. But, unfortunately, that part hadn't stopped her emotional half from looking forward to seeing Duncan for the past two days. She'd even considered calling him last night and asking him if he wanted to come over. Twice she'd pulled up his number on her phone. Both times, though, she'd reminded herself he'd agreed to play a role, not become her best friend and dinner companion. He might renege on their agreement if she demanded too much of his time, leaving her to face Grant alone. Under no circumstance did she want to find herself in that situation.
Picking up her menu, Tory scanned the various wines listed. “Does anyone have any recommendations?” Even if she ruled out the traditional varieties of wine, it left her with a lot of options. She'd prefer to avoid ordering something that wasn't good.
“I tried the Blueberry Merlot the last time I was here. It was delicious. My mom likes the Primrose Blush,” Duncan replied. “She always buys a few bottles for the house when she comes.”
“You definitely want to try the Primrose Blush,” Noelle added. “It's my favorite. They make it from apples, pears, and elderberries. It's like no other wine I've ever had.”
Each flight consisted of four two-ounce samples. Unfortunately, there were more than four on the menu Tory wanted to try, and she might never return here again. “If we each pick out different ones and share, we'll be able to try more, Duncan.”
“That's what Lou and I are doing,” Noelle answered before Duncan could agree or disagree. “We did the same thing the last time we came too.”
“Sure, I'm fine with that. Why don't you pick the ones you want first, and then I'll choose?”
In the end, Tory opted for four wines not made from grapes, including the Primrose Blush, while Duncan's flight consisted of four traditional styles.