Eva had found a kindred spirit in Beth Owens, who owned Racy Lace, a lingerie shop on the square. They’d begun meeting for dinner once a week at either Eva’s apartment over Tres Beau or Beth’s, also located above her shop.
Several months ago, they’d included Fiona Hildebrand, who’d opened a stationery store two doors down from Racy Lace and lived as they did, in rooms over her place of business. The three of them had rotated hosting and tonight was Eva’s turn to cook.
She couldn’t wait to show them the progress she’d made since they’d first seen the house three weeks ago. That night she’d ordered pizza and served it in the kitchen, the only area besides her bedroom that she’d scrubbed clean.
The house was in decent repair but far from airtight. Dust and cobwebs had collected for more than a year while the Apple Grove Bank had worked through the complexities of an owner who’d died with no will and no heirs. Eva had kept track of the process through a friend at the bank and had been first in line to buy the Victorian.
After a home inspection confirmed the house was structurally sound, Eva had negotiated a lower down payment by agreeing to tackle the cleaning herself. After three weeks of intense labor, the living and dining room were spotless and ready for company.
While the walls, ceilings and furniture had required plenty of vacuuming, everything tucked away in cupboards and drawers had been carefully stored and remained pristine. Winifred Barton had been an excellent housekeeper who’d clearly used and cherished her belongings.
In the living room, two Tiffany-style floor lamps cast jeweled light over worn but elegant furniture from a bygone era. Maybe they were genuine Tiffany and maybe not. Eva didn’t much care. They were beautiful.
A lace tablecloth covered the antique dining table and candles flickered in gleaming brass candlesticks. Vintage wine glasses sat at each place, along with silverware that had been stored in a protective chest and had only needed a little polishing to shine like new.
The rumble of a truck sent her to the front window. Instead of walking the four blocks from the square like last time, Beth and Fiona had arrived in Beth’s sleek black truck with the Racy Lace logo on the doors.
Eva hurried to the porch as they climbed down, chattering about something she couldn’t make out. This week she’d given Beth’s brown hair a shorter, sassier cut and it looked darned good, if she did say so. Fiona’s ash-blond, shoulder-length style was due for a cut, but she hadn’t found the time to come into the salon. Probably explained the ponytail.
Fiona clutched a bottle of white wine. “This is back in stock.” She came up the steps and held it out. “I remember we really liked it and then it disappeared.”
“It’ll go great with dinner.” Eva took the chilled bottle. “Is that why you drove instead of walking? You didn’t want the wine to get warm?”
“Or us,” Beth said. “Last time it felt almost like fall and the walk was nice. This week, not so much.”
“Four blocks isn’t popping-over distance like when I lived on the square. That’s the only downside.”
“It’s okay,” Beth said. “This house was calling your name.”
“It sure was.” Fiona laughed. “Even I heard it. Eeee-vaaa. Forget the moneeee. You neeed meee.”
Eva snorted. “Yep, I’m mortgaged up to my eyebrows, but I don’t care. The house is awesome. We’re eating in style in the dining room tonight, so be impressed. Be very impressed.”
“And I smell your famous spaghetti sauce.” Fiona started for the door. “Let’s open the wine before the chill wears off.”
“I’ll handle that,” Eva said. “You two go admire all the work I’ve done.” She followed them into the house and ducked into the kitchen while they continued into the living room and the adjacent dining room.
Their loud chorus of oooo and aaahhhh made her giggle. “Okay, that’s enough.” She pulled a platter of antipasto out of the fridge and carried it and the open wine bottle into the dining room. “Don’t overdo it.” She set down the platter and poured the wine.
“I didn’t have to fake it.” Beth turned to survey the living room. “Both rooms look gorgeous. Better than I expected after seeing it three weeks ago. I notice you found a spot for the painting.”
“Doesn’t it look great there?” The painting had been her Aunt Sally’s favorite, a laughing woman in a summer dress running through a field of wildflowers. She’d hung it over the antique loveseat.
“Perfect.” Fiona nodded enthusiastically, making her ponytail swing. “And by the way, are the wine glasses on the dining table valuable antiques? I’m asking for a friend.” She grinned at Beth.
“That was a one-time situation. I was upset and got careless with my wine glass.” Beth glanced at Eva. “But just so I know, are those priceless?” She pointed to the mismatched wineglasses on the table. “Like, is there a one-of-a-kind Baccarat in the mix?”
“No. I’ve found a few things in the china cabinet that might qualify as priceless, but the glasses aren’t.”
“Sell the priceless stuff online,” Fiona said. “With the right ad copy, you might get—”
“Ack, blasphemy!” Eva waved her hands in the air. “I didn’t buy this place to bleed off its assets. Unless I positively hate something, it stays. I don’t care what it’s worth.”
Fiona’s eyes rounded. “How can you not care? You’re more cash-strapped than we are now that you’ve bought—”
“My old house back.” She glanced from Beth to Fiona. “I’ve never said that out loud. Does it sound crazy?”
Beth shook her head. “Not to me. Judging from the pictures you showed us, this house looks a lot like the one you grew up in.”
“Forget what I said.” Fiona came over and gave her a hug. “I was hung up on being practical.”
“Which this house isn’t.” Eva cast a loving gaze over the two rooms she’d finished. “I don’t care. It feels like home already.” She gestured to the table. “Let’s sit.”
“You should take the head of this grand old table.” Beth moved around to pull out the chair on her left. “Wow, the upholstery on the seat is in great shape. Comfy, too.”
“Which means it’s been reupholstered.” Eva claimed the spot Beth had assigned her.
“I love a dining chair with arms.” Fiona settled into the one on Eva’s right. “You can relax into it.”
“I guess that’s true. I was so busy cleaning I didn’t take the time to try out the chairs. They’re cushy.”
Beth glanced at her. “Is this the first meal you’ve eaten in here?”
“As a matter of fact. Eating alone at a table for eight feels weird. I’ve been using the one in the kitchen.”
“I’m honored we’re the first guests to enjoy this great setting.” Fiona picked up her wine glass. “To many more dinners in this lovely room.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Beth clinked glasses with Eva and Fiona before taking her first sip. “And I can’t wait to dive into this antipasto platter.” She set down her glass and helped herself to some provolone, olives and artichoke hearts. “Are you two still up for the Raptors Rise benefit on Saturday?”
“I am.” Fiona served herself. “I’ll close the shop at noon.” She glanced at Eva. “How about you?”
“We’re also closing at noon. I’ll need a few minutes to get ready, but I can meet you guys about twelve-thirty.”
“I was hoping you both were still going,” Beth said. “I can use the moral support.”
Eva had a bite halfway to her mouth and put it down again. “You’ve decided to bid on Jared?”
“Yep.” Beth took a hefty swallow of wine. “Might as well find out if he’s into me at all.”
Eva gazed at her friend. “Whenever I see you two together, he acts like he is.”
“Then why hasn’t he suggested going for a drink at the Moose after work? He almost always closes Logan’s Leather the same time as I lock up Racy Lace.”
“Hm.” Fiona gazed at her. “Why haven’t you asked him to go for drinks?”
She sighed. “I’m too chicken. If he said no, I’d still have to see him all the time. That would be awkward.”
Fiona took another helping of the antipasto. “But you’re not too chicken to bid on him at the auction?”
“That’s different. I’m helping him raise money for Raptors Rise. We’re doing our civic duty.”
Eva smiled. “So selfless. Where would he take you if you win?”
“To the re-opened drive-in movie theater.”
“Nice.”
“I like the idea. It’s retro. Casual yet cozy. We’re not staring at each other over a table and wondering what to say. Even if he doesn’t ask me out after that, it won’t be so pointed. I just need to win the bid.”
“Don’t worry,” Fiona said. “We’ll cheer you on as you blithely empty your checking account.” She looked over at Eva. “Am I right?”
“Absolutely. I, on the other hand, don’t want to get carried away when I bid on Nick Le Grande.”
Beth’s eyebrows lifted. “Nick? Do you like him? I don’t remember you ever saying—”
“Of course I like him, but I don’t like him. I just want what he’s offering—twelve hours of manual labor. I don’t want to exceed my budget, though, so if I get bidding fever, hold me back.”
“Aha!” Fiona looked up at the ceiling. “This is all about that interesting stuff in the attic.”
“Bingo. And when he’s brought everything downstairs, I’ll send him out to the backyard to dig up rocks. When I mentioned that, he suggested using the rocks for a waterfall. I think he’s interested in helping me build it.”
Beth’s gaze grew speculative. “Considering the forecast for Saturday and your lack of A/C, he’ll probably have his shirt off by the time he’s digging up rocks and building a waterfall.”
“So what?”
“So what? Hey, you may not like him.” She made air quotes. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t take him a refreshing beverage if he’s working shirtless in your backyard.”
“I probably will, now that you mention it. But I’d do it to keep him hydrated, not so I can admire his muscles.”
Fiona reached over and patted her arm. “You’re missing the point. Nick has a nice body and likely worked hard to make it that way.”
“That may be true, but—”
“Trust me, he won’t be offended if you give him an admiring glance or two. He might be disappointed if you don’t.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. He won’t be disappointed because we don’t have that kind of relationship. We’re just friends.”
“Is that how he’ll see it if you bid on him? A bachelor auction has a sexy vibe.”
“Maybe for Beth and Jared, but not for me and Nick. He knows exactly why I’m doing it. We talked about it when he came in for a haircut today.”
“Okay, then.” Fiona shrugged. “Maybe the two of you will spend a sweaty day together and still be just good buddies at the end of it.” She glanced at Beth. “What do you think?”
Beth smiled at Eva. “I think I want a play-by-play on Monday morning. You’ve got your dream house. Now you need to find your dream man.”
“Nah, I don’t believe in that stuff.”
“What stuff?”
“You know.” Eva waved a hand in the air. “Someday my prince will show up, sweep me off my feet and we’ll live happily ever after.”
“I’m confused,” Beth said. “Weren’t you lusting after CJ a couple of months ago?”
“I was, but now that I see how happy he is with a fiancée and a baby on the way, I realize he would have been the exact wrong guy for me. I don’t want to get tied down.”
“Why not?”
“Didn’t we talk about this one time?”
Beth shook her head. “Not that I remember. Fi, does this sound familiar?”
“Sort of. I remember something about not getting married, but I didn’t think that meant never.”
Eva shrugged. “I just don’t see myself making that commitment. Aunt Sally was happy being single. She had boyfriends but didn’t live with or marry any of them. Josette seems perfectly fine on her own. Ed does, too. I think it’s the way to go.”
“I’ll be darned.” Beth gazed at her. “I thought for sure buying this place was a first step to finding Mister Right and filling the house with kids.”
“Nope. Aunt Sally didn’t feel that need. Miss Barton didn’t, either. And neither do I.”