Page 24 of Burning for Alexander
“Itisfun,” I argued.
“What about dating?” Hazel asked.
I groaned. “Don’t start. You sound like my father.”
“Uncle Blue takes after Aunt Tilly,” Hazel said with a grin.
Ella nodded. “Truer words.”
Hazel met my eyes. “Your dad’s not wrong, though. He, of all people, understands the difference having someone in your corner makes.”
“I have plenty of people in my corner,” I said, gesturing at the two of them.
“There’s a cute guy at SERA named Monroe.” Ella bounced her eyebrows. “He’s a rescue pilot, and Tommy said he thought the guy was checking out your ass the night they all came to Timber.”
My face heated unexpectedly. “Which one was Monroe? What does he look like?”
“Tall, wavy brown hair pulled back in a short ponytail, kind of like Uncle Jude.”
Hazel crinkled her forehead. “Wait, I know him. Yeah. Super sweet guy. He bought one of Avery’s paintings last year. He’s been with Trace and SERA for a while. I’m surprised you haven’t met him before.”
Ella pinned me with a knowing look. “The Grape’s been working so hard, he hasn’t allowed himself to see anyone that way. I say that ends now. It’s time you went on a date. Started meeting guys and having a life outside of work.”
“I meet guys,” I said, ignoring her use of my childhood nickname. “I meet plenty of guys.”
Ella bit back a smile and nodded, pretending to be serious. “Right. What was the last guy’s name?”
“J… John.” I forced myself not to wince. “John… Jones…ie.” I’d added on the last bit when I’d realized how generic-sounding my made-up name was.
Hazel’s eyebrows shot up, and she huffed out a laugh. “Is that right? John Jonesie.”
I nodded, committing to the bit. “That’s right. He’s in… sales.”
Hazel sat forward and leaned her chin on her fist. “And where does John Jonesie live?”
“In, um… Montana.”
Ella tilted her head. “Convenient. Since you also live in… Montana. What does he sell, exactly?”
I glanced around the restaurant, catching sight of the new napkin caddy and remembering Kincaid’s comments about the fire. “Insurance.”
Hazel picked up her phone and texted someone. I assumed she was texting her wife until she glanced up at me. “Don’t worry, I asked Tilly for help setting you up. You know… in case things go pear-shaped with good ole John Jonesie.”
A hush came over the table as her horrible, ugly betrayal settled between us. “You’d better be bluffing,” I growled, imagining the shitstorm that would come from having our belligerent, nosy great-great-aunt foisted upon me and my nonexistent love life.
Hazel was the oldest of all of us grandkids, so she was pretty much the boss of everyone. Getting openly annoyed with her was walking a razor edge I’d never skated close to before.
“I’ll make you a deal, Alex,” she said, taking a final sip of her wine and standing up. “You let me set you up with Monroe, and I’ll tell Tilly to stand down.”
“Fine,” I said, remembering the only two men I had any interest in were completely unavailable to me. And I definitely wanted to get touched by another man in this century. “I’ll go on the date.”
Both women beamed at me.
And then turned and high-fived each other.
Unfortunately, late the next afternoon, before Hazel had a chance to set me up, she and Avery were in a horrible car accident during a sudden thunderstorm. I was in the middle of reviewing payroll when I got a call from Ella.
“Hazel and Avery’s vehicle flipped over,” she wailed. “Avery’s okay, but they can’t get Hazel out.”
