Page 7 of French Martini

“Yep.”

“That’s a good sign, right?”

“Maybe. He’s a hard one to read.”

“What’s his last name?”

“Ainsley.”

Kres crinkles his brow. “Lowen Ainsley? Like The House of Durand and Ainsley?”

“You know about that?”

“Hell yeah. My sister is obsessed. She’s been collecting every magazine and design book they appeared in for years. I spent a hundred and fifty bucks on some fancy book she wanted for her birthday a few years ago.”

“Huh. I heard he was pretty famous in France.”

“Not just France. All of Europe and rich people in the states. He’s a big deal. He lives in Willow Bay?”

Snickering, I nod in thanks as the server refills my mug. “Long story, but yeah. He and his friends bought an old dive bar and renovated it.”

“Huh. Bette will lose her shit if she finds out.”

“I don’t think it’s a secret, but he doesn’t strike me as the type to enjoy a lot of fanfare.”

“If I get a book can you get it signed for her?”

“Probably.”

“Sweet.” He scrunches his nose. “Sorry. Back to you. What are you gonna do now?”

“Nothing. Wait and see what he does, I guess.”

“I’m gonna say it because no one else will. If he doesn’t see what a catch you are then he’s not worth it. You deserve someone amazing,” Kres says seriously.

“I know. Thanks. It’s not like I’m waiting around for him. I’m still living my life.”

“Yeah? Then when’s the last date you went on?”

I direct my gaze to my coffee cup, really wishing those pancakes would show up right about now.

“As I thought.”

“It’s pretty slim pickings out there. I’m forty-two years old, divorced, and addicted to my job. I’m not exactly a hot commodity on the apps for anything other than a hookup.”

“I suppose if you’d rather wait around for Lowen to throw you a bone I can’t do anything about that.”

“It’s not just him. I’m good right now. I went hard after the divorce and now I think I need to figure things out. If and when Lowen is ready for more, maybe I will be too.”

Kres nods, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. He’s been my friend for nearly a decade, since he joined a crew I was on and decided within a month that physical labor wasn’t for him, but we bonded. He’s still in the honeymoon phase of his latest relationship, and I’m happy for him, but it has put some distance between us.

I look up with relief when the server appears with a tray. My stomach was about to eat itself.

“Keep me posted, huh?” Kres says.

“Of course. Now tell me again about this cousin.”

THREE

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