After the brisk walk to Franki's Diner, I pinched my cheeks for color before entering. The aroma of chili and onions mingled with the sweet tart fragrance of Franki's freshly baked handheld cinnamon apple pies. They were a delight, and the townsfolk went crazy for them when she trotted them out, fresh and bubbly from the oven, for exactly one month a year. I would venture to say, although never out loud since Elsie might hear, that Franki's handheld cinnamon apple treasures could easily compete with Elsie's baked goods. (And that was saying a lot. Only again, just not aloud.)
Briggs was sitting at our favorite table, a quiet booth with a nice view of the marina. He had removed his coat and loosened his tie. His longish hair was slightly wind rumpled. I paused for just a second to catch my breath. The sight of him usually caused a slight dip in oxygen to my brain. It wasn't a swoon but it was pretty darn close. His bright smile, upon seeing me, nearly made it a full blown swoon. I took another steadying breath and walked toward him.
"I've already ordered. Tomato and grilled cheese, as requested." Briggs leaned back and rested his arm along the top of the vinyl seat. He was smiling at something on my face.
I immediately reached up and rubbed my chin. "Do I have soil on my face? I was potting herbs." I picked up the napkin and started wiping my skin. "Is it on my forehead?"
He shook his head and using the crook of his finger, motioned me to lean toward him over the table. I lowered the napkin and closed my eyes so he could wipe away the dirt. His warm mouth pressed against mine, then he sat back with a chuckle.
"Well, sir, you are a scoundrel. You could have just asked for a kiss. I probably would have obliged."
He laughed again. "Probably?"
"I wouldn't want to seem too eager," I said plainly as I dropped the napkin, crumpled as it was, on my lap.
"No?" he said with a low, teasing voice. His feet slid across and he sandwiched my shoe between his. "That's too bad because eager is my middle name when I see my beautiful assistant and her stunning nose sitting across from me."
I tossed a sugar packet at him. "I stand firmly behind my scoundrel comment. What has you so frolicsome today?"
He laughed again. "Frolicsome? Miss Pinkerton, I think I love you just because you use words like frolicsome. And, I'm sorry if I'm being a scoundrel." He sat back and picked up his glass of water. "It's been slow at work, so I guess I've had more time than usual to daydream about my favorite florist."
I could feel my cheeks darken with a blush, but there was no way to stop it. I sat forward with a teasing smile to match his. "First of all, no need to apologize for being a scoundrel. After all, I never said that was a bad thing, did I? And secondly, as long as I'm the aforementioned favorite florist, then daydream away. Just make sure to daydream about me with my curls somewhat tamed and a touch of mascara. I'd hate to look bad in your musings."
He reached across for my hand, which I gladly offered. His grip was always warm and strong and comforting. "You are always beautiful, whether it's in my imagination or sitting right across from me at Franki's Diner or sick on the couch with a bad cold. All right, that last flu you had did make you kind of look like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer but in an adorable, vulnerable Bambi kind of way," he added quickly before I could protest.
"Tomato soup with grilled cheese," Franki said as she set a plate and bowl in front of me. "Your burger will be right up, James."
"Franki," I said, before she could turn away. She was wearing her signature beehive, and today she had taken the time to stick in a few resin fall leaf clips to spruce it up. "Could you pull aside one of your marvelous hand pies? I've been craving one all day."
"Sure thing, Lacey." She stepped forward and leaned closer to the table for a chat. "By the way, have you seen Kate's new guy?"
"I have but only in a phone picture. Much to my surprise, she stopped in the shop this morning. Although, I guess it wasn't too big of a surprise because Dash just happened to be there." I knew that statement would catch the ears of the man across from me, but that wasn't the purpose for me stating it. "Kate wanted to let me know he might be stopping in to buy her some roses. I've yet to see him in the flesh. Have you seen him? She mentioned he was wealthy, but she didn't have many specifics on what he did for a living."
A customer at the counter was waving at Franki. She gave the man a nod. "I'll be right with you." She turned back to our table. "They came in for lunch today. He might be rich but he's not a great tipper. But then that isn't unusual. It's always the people who drive up in the luxury SUV with a car filled with kids who leave the table looking as if it's been through a hurricane who you can count on to leave two dollars on a sixty dollar bill." She paused and straightened. "Woo, guess I needed to get that one off my chest. Anyhow, he seems nice. Very distinguished looking. A bit old for Kate but you know our Kate. She seems completely smitten. I just hope it doesn't end up in another heartbreak. She does seem to get attached quickly."
"Wasn't she engaged to the pharmacist?" Briggs asked.
Franki and I both snuffled off his question. "Please, the pharmacist was two engagements ago, James," I said.
"Guess I've been out of the loop." He reached across and took one of my fries.
"Well, let's hope she can keep this one," Franki said. "Seems like he's a nice catch. Apparently, he just purchased the big Colonial mansion overlooking the bay in Chesterton."
"The Palmer house?" Briggs sat up, slightly more interested now. "That place has been in probate for years. The family lives out of state. I'm surprised to hear they finally sold it."
Franki shrugged. "I'm pretty sure that was the place he mentioned. I'll get your burger and snag one of the apple pies for you." She winked at me before leaving.
"So Kate dropped by this morning?" Briggs asked, but I knew he wasn't interested in Kate's visit.
"Yes, she did." I blinked at him over my spoonful of hot tomato soup. "Dash brought me a pumpkin coffee. Kate must have seen him, so naturally, she sashayed into the shop." I blinked at him again to let him know the conversation around this particular topic had ended.
He got the message. "Right. Well, I'm still kind of surprised to hear that this new guy of Kate's was able to buy the Palmer house. So many people have been waiting for that place to go on the market."
"Maybe Lionel has connections," I suggested after swallowing a bite of sandwich.
"Lionel?" he asked.
"That's his name."
Franki returned with the burger. "Looks good, Franki. I'm starved."
Franki slipped me a brown paper bag with a light grease stain and the undeniable aroma of apples and cinnamon. "Here you go. Enjoy."
I grinned up at her. "Thanks, Franki, I plan to."