Page 12 of Knockin' Boats
She joined us on the walk toward the lake-side staff entrance. “Took some of my dad’s pottery to a spring festival over in Branson.”
“How’d it go?”
“Pretty good, actually. Sold some bigger pieces that had been sitting around the shop too long. Handed out a lot of cards. Told them about the new resort out this way too.”
We went down a short corridor, then exited into the lobby, where Skylar and Brooks were greeting guests as they came in. Cash joined us as we approached the dining room.
“This will be like old times, huh?” Fisher said with a grin. “We’re all together again.”
I glanced at the tables draped in white cloths, the crystal glasses, and fine china. “The setting has changed a bit.”
Poppy smiled. “It’s different, but good.”
Two tables had been pushed together in the center of the dining room. Grandma Kitty was given a seat at Skylar’s right, while Brooks sat at his left. Fisher’s aunt and uncle were next to her, and Cash, Poppy, and I took seats next to Brooks. Hudson and Fisher sat at the far end of the table. Leaving only one open seat directly across from me.
“I’m glad you all could make it,” Skylar said. “We’re doing a dry run for dinner service, so please be honest with how everything goes tonight.”
“This is my favorite way to be a guinea pig,” I said, eager after listening to Mom talk about so many delicious new recipes over the past few weeks. “Bring on the food.”
“Yes,” Cash agreed emphatically. “I’m starving.”
“We’re waiting on one more guest,” Skylar said.
All our eyes went to the empty seat across from me. Whowasmissing anyway?
I looked toward he doorway, and therehewas. Styled blond hair, designer jeans, a tight button-down that hugged his torso like he was dying to show off his muscle definition even while clothed.
Ashton fucking Dixon.
“What the hell ishedoing here?”
All eyes turned to him.
“Am I late?” He looked around the table, his gaze stopping on me. “Sorry. I had a last-minute charter.”
“You’re not late,” Skylar said. “We’ve only just sat down.”
Ash flashed that wide, perfect smile of his at the room. Ugh, I just wanted to smack it off his face.
He pulled out the chair across from me. “Hey, man.”
I didn’t answer. Instead, I turned a steely glare toward the asshole who was supposed to be my best friend.
Brooks cleared his throat and shifted uneasily. “Ash is going to be running a food boat for the resort.”
“He had this great business idea to serve people right on the lake,” Sky said, “and I thought, what a fun way to reach more people and get our name out there.”
“Oh.” A flicker of relief swept through me. “So he’s not working for Swallow Adventures.”
“Nope,” Ash said. “I’m an entrepreneur. If this food boat is a success, I’ll launch a whole line of them.”
I rolled my eyes. “I bet.”
Ash spoke as if launching a business, much less a whole string of them, would be easy. But then when you had Rick Dixon’s money to fall back on, it probably was.
I’d heard some talk of a new food boat. It had sounded like a cool way for the resort to reach more people. But doing itpermanently? Launching a whole chain? Ash was taking a hell of a risk.
Cassie, our server, brought out two bottles of wine and began pouring glasses. “Tonight, we have goat cheese crostini for appetizers. They’ll be out shortly.”
