Page 87 of Better Luck Next Time

He paused, tapping the side of his phone with his thumb, then added,Well, if you’re doing karaoke like you did with your brother and sister, maybe don’t announce that you’re single.

Adalia had told him about that, but he would have known even if she hadn’t. It had ended up in one of the local blogs the next morning.

He was about to stow the phone away when her response came:Oh yeah? Does that mean I shouldn’t let the strapping man across the bar buy me a drink?

He thought for a moment, then responded:Only if you can guarantee you’ll throw it in his face. Are you still thinking of coming over later?

This time the three dots appeared and lingered for a while before she answered.

Not sure,she finally said.This might turn out to be a late night. You know, late for a Tuesday, and I want to be 100% for our mystery date. Where should I meet you in the morning if tonight doesn’t work out?

He couldn’t help but wonder if the Alan situation had something to do with her reticence. But he just said:Text me later if you want to come over. If not, meet me at my house at 10. Dress like a tourist.

If she came at ten, he’d have plenty of time to talk to Gretchen.

Her reply made him groan.We’re already doing role-playing? ;) Count me in.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Adalia put her phone down, only to catch Maisie grinning at her. “I’d ask who you’re texting, but it’s obvious from the look on your face.”

“It isn’t so obvious to me,” Blue said, giving a playful smile. “Unless it’s Finn Hamilton. I noticed the way he was looking at you when you came by my studio last week.”

Adalia took a sip of her lemon drop martini, lifting her eyebrows.

“You should have seen them at the shelter on Sunday,” Maisie said. “I’m thinking of renaming the kennel Lover’s Lane.” She waggled her eyebrows, making them all laugh.

“I like him,” Blue said. “He doesn’t know much about textile art, yet he didn’t try to pretend otherwise. You wouldn’t believe how many people do. He let you take the lead.”

Adalia felt her cheeks flush. “I like him too.”

And she did. A lot. But this Alan thing had her on edge and questioning everything.

“Why does his name sound so familiar?” Blue asked. “It’s been bothering me since I first got his message about the show.”

“You probably heard about him from the sale of Big Catch Brewing,” Maisie said, sipping a margarita. “He became public enemy number one in Asheville after that.”

“Because he bought it or sold it?”

Maisie laughed. “I guess you don’t pay much attention to the brewery scene.”

Blue’s mouth twisted to the side. “Not really.”

Resting her elbows on the table, Maisie leaned closer. “Finn started Big Catch with my friend River. They met at a beer festival five years ago and became instant friends. River and I have been close since we were teenagers, but it was the first time I’d ever seen him click with anyone else like that.” She glanced down and started playing with the straw in her drink. “Until he met Georgie, anyway.”

“My sister,” Adalia inserted. “She and River live together now. That’s how I met Finn.”

Blue nodded. “So what happened next?”

Maisie was still staring down at her drink, stirring it a tad aggressively, but she looked up at that. “Finn had the money. River had the talent. They started with nothing and created this amazing brewery. I just so happened to have a front-row seat since I was part of the Bro Club.”

“Bro Club?” Blue asked, her eyes twinkling.

“I came up with the name,” Maisie said, her lips tipping up just a little bit. “They hated it at first, but then they got used to it. I tend to have that effect on people.”

Adalia tried not to look too eager for information, but she was desperate to hear an outside opinion of Finn. Georgie obviously didn’t care for him, but Adalia didn’t think she really knew him. Her dislike was born from what she perceived as his betrayal of her boyfriend.

“Finn really screwed up with the whole Big Catch sale,” Maisie said, “but honestly, I’m surprised River didn’t see it coming. It was obvious Finn’s heart wasn’t in it anymore. But then, River has blinders on sometimes.” She looked like she wanted to say more, but instead she took another sip of her drink.

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