Page 10 of So Right
Did she just agree to go on a vacation with him? Or was she only referring to taking time off? Did he really want to take her on a vacation? That seemed, uh, to be rushing things just a bit. “You have two jobs, and you make it work.”
She smiled. “True.” She asked him about Costa Rica as they finished eating, and by the time his burger was gone, the conversation had turned to hiking in general.
“Sounds like you spend a great deal of time outdoors,” she said.
He nodded as he pushed his plate to the side. “As much as I can. It’s one of the reasons I love my job so much. If I couldn’t do this, I’d be a park ranger, probably.”
“You must love living here—in the Pacific Northwest.”
“I do. I went to school in northern California and worked there for several years. I admit I’m glad to be home.”
“Sadly, I have to get back to work,” she said. “Before I go, I wanted to let you know that we’re going to the county historical society on Friday to look at maps of the vineyard. Before it was a vineyard.”
He polished off his beer. “Oh?”
“Yes, we hope the map will show us where the Bird’s Nest Ranch house was located.”
She looked so eager. He tamped down his uncertainty. “Hopefully not in my vineyard.”
“Agreed.” She cast him an apprehensive glance. “We plan to consult with an archaeologist after we determine the location. Of course we’ll include you.”
“Thanks. Just let me know what you need, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.”
“I really appreciate that. And I promise we won’t disrupt your vines. I get it.” She gave him a warm smile, and he knew she did, in fact, get it. She sucked down the rest of her Diet Coke and started to rise. “Time to get back to work.”
Disappointment swirled in his gut. There was more he wanted to talk about with her. More he wanted to know about her. He stood and joined her next to the booth. Since taking a vacation together had come up—even if it was a joke—he thought they should maybe start with something far simpler. “Hey, since you don’t work on Mondays, do you want to go hiking with me? I’ll be done with the harvest, so I’m going to take the day off. I’d planned to go up to Gales Creek.”
She hesitated, and he was sure she was going to say no. “I usually work at the library on Mondays—yes, even on my day off. And I have a lot to do for this exhibit. Thanks for the offer, though.”
No it was, then. He didn’t want to accept that answer. “Is it critical you work on Monday? I mean, ifIcan take a day off, you can too, right?”
She paused again, as if her mind was churning. He recognized that look because he was a master—come up with something quick so you could avoid whatever event was being proposed. “Look, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I’m just not interested.”
Ouch.
Kelsey watched the disappointment crest over his features and felt a pang of regret. She liked him, but she just couldn’t date anyone. Crap, she really ought to clarify that.
“Interested in dating, I mean.” She shook her head, feeling like an idiot. “You’re a great guy. Or so you seem. So people tell me. I’m just… I’m just not dating.”
His expression relaxed. “I see.”
“I really hope we can be friends.”
“Definitely.” His brow furrowed briefly before he smiled at her. “I thought we were already.”
Well, duh, of course they were. She was completely butchering this. “Right!”
“Good luck on Friday, and let us know how it goes. See you later.”
She watched him leave and noted that he’d said to let “us” know, not him. What did she expect? He’d asked her out, and she’d turned him down. He’d get over it, but that didn’t make the moment any less awkward. She hoped it was just that—a moment—and they could be friends. Continue being friends.
Ugh, she was a dork. This was what happened when you tried to reenter the social world after self-imposed isolation.
She bussed their table and immersed herself in work. The pub wasn’t very busy, but there were always projects to do, such as cleaning under tables and chairs. So disgusting, but necessary.
“Kelsey!” George’s voice interrupted her attempt to pry gum from the bottom of a booth.
She popped her head up and gasped. Standing ten feet from her was the face she loved most in the world—her Grandma Ruby.
