Home to Whiskey Creek (Whiskey Creek #4)(55)
Author: Brenda Novak

Because it was a school night, there weren’t many patrons inside. The hostess, Tilly Bowman, led him toward a booth on the far side of the restaurant, but he didn’t see Addy. He supposed she was in the back.

Carl Inera sat in the corner with several guys Noah had never seen before. He got the impression they were transacting a business deal, but given Carl’s reputation for selling drugs, Noah didn’t want to know any more.

Gail’s brother, Joe, sat at a different table with his two daughters. Other than that, the restaurant was empty.

“Hey, what’s up?” Joe said when Noah stopped to say hello.

“Not a lot. What’s up with you?”

He motioned to his kids. “They don’t have school tomorrow so they’re spending Halloween out here with me.”

Noah eyed their ice cream sundaes. “Looks like they’re getting an early start.”

“They have to come here every visit.”

“We love it!” Josephine, the youngest at eight or nine, grinned up at him. She was cute because she had a lot of personality, but she wasn’t as pretty as her older sister, who was the spitting image of her father.

“I heard from Gail this week,” Noah said.

“So did I,” Joe responded. “I guess everyone’s pretty worked up about Baxter moving, huh? What’s going on with that?”

Ah, shit. Here, too? “Wish I knew,” Noah said. “He won’t tell me—other than to say it’s time for a change. My guess? He’s tired of the long commute.”

“I can understand that. But I’m sorry to see him go. I’m sure you will be, too.”

“We’ll remain friends, no matter where he lives.” At least, Noah hoped that was the case. If he gave Baxter a chance to sort out who he was and what he wanted, would they someday be able to redefine their relationship? He’d always assumed he’d be godfather to Baxter’s children and Baxter would be godfather to his. Now he wasn’t sure if Baxter’s plans even included children. Maybe talk of that had simply been part of the facade.

“Gail moved away.” Noah flashed him a smile. “But we’ve managed to forgive her.”

“Maybe you have,” Joe teased.

“Do you know Uncle Simon?” Josephine had chocolate around her mouth, but she had a bow in her hair and was sitting in a very mature fashion with one leg crossed over the other.

“You mean the big movie star?”

When she blushed, as if she was as much in love with Simon as the rest of the female population, Noah chuckled. “Rich and famous. That’s a tough combination to resist, isn’t it?”

“I just think he’s cute,” she mumbled.

Joe laughed and changed the subject. “How’s Cheyenne?”

“She’s good.”

“She’s happy? I mean…with Dylan?”

The gravity behind this question took Noah by surprise. Joe could have asked Gail about Cheyenne. Or maybe not. His sister didn’t live here anymore and had gotten so busy she didn’t socialize with Cheyenne quite as often as Noah did. “I think so, yeah.”

He nodded. “Glad to hear it.”

Was he really? Or was there more to that query than Joe wanted him to believe. “You and Cheyenne never…”

“No.” He shrugged. “Dylan got there before I could, but I can’t help feeling I shouldn’t have let her get away.”

Joe had once been interested? That came as news to Noah.

“You seeing anyone?” Joe asked.

Noah refused to glance over his shoulder in search of Addy, but that was where his mind went. “No.”

“Dad needs a wife,” Summer announced in a loud and dramatic whisper.

Joe rocked back. “I do?”

“What does it take to find one?” Noah asked, playing along.

Summer couldn’t tell him, but Josephine seemed perfectly serious when she piped up with the answer. “You have to fall in love with someone and prove you won’t ever stop loving them.”

Noah suddenly felt a bit awkward. It sounded as though Summer blamed her father for breaking up their family. The way Noah had heard the story, Suzie had been cheating on Joe, but the girls probably didn’t know that. Gail had once said that Joe didn’t want anyone to know because he didn’t want his children to feel as betrayed as he did.

“That’s how you get to happily ever after,” she stated in no uncertain terms.

“I need a wife, too, so I’ll keep that in mind,” Noah said. “Enjoy the rest of your ice cream.” Seeing that Luanne was coming over to take his order, he gave Joe a sympathetic smile and moved to his own table.

“Hey, good-lookin’.” Somewhere in her late forties, Luanne had been working at Just Like Mom’s forever. Noah liked her. With dark hair and eyes, and a ready smile, she was attractive—and her personality made her even more so. “You all alone tonight, honey?” she asked.

“Are you making me an offer?” he teased.

She grinned as she shook her head. “If only I were twenty years younger. You wouldn’t be able to keep up with me.” She raised a finger. “But I’d be careful to guard my heart. That’s for sure.”

Noah couldn’t help bristling. He wasn’t as much of a womanizer as everyone said he was. For one thing, he’d never led anyone on, never given anyone false hope. He’d always been careful. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She didn’t soften at his wounded expression. “I’d know not to expect a commitment.”

“Because…”

“Because you can’t make one!” she said with a cackle.

“That’s not true!”

She smiled as if she didn’t believe him, and that irritated him even more. “What can I get for you?” she asked.

“A better reputation, apparently.”

Sobering, she gave him a searching look. “You’re sensitive tonight.”

“Tired of being characterized as a heartbreaker, that’s all.”

“Honey, you can’t help it. You break hearts just walking by in those jeans.”

This comment made him feel a bit better. “You want a big tip.” He winked at her. “I’ll have the salmon and rice.”

“I’m not sure if we have any more salmon.”

“Fine.” He handed her the menu the hostess had left on the table, even though he’d never opened it. “Then bring me the meat loaf and mashed potatoes.”