Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(80)

Muriel and Walt spent a whole day driving through the mountains, looking for garage sales and antique shops. He’d never in his life done anything like this. Nor had he ever cooked for a woman or helped her restore a house.

She was folding and refolding a Garberville newspaper in her hands. “Okay, there’s a barn sale up the next road about a half mile….”

“What can you possibly need from a barn sale?”

“As I’ve explained fifty times, you just never know. I once bought an incredible hundred-and-fifty-year-old pine dry sink from a barn sale.”

“Your house doesn’t seem to need more furnishings.”

“But this is what I do! Like some women drink martinis, I shop for antiques and collectibles.”

“You also drink martinis.”

She grinned at him. “I pride myself in being well rounded.”

He pulled off to the side of the road. He turned and looked at her, resting the wrist of his left arm on the steering wheel. “Muriel, have you had invitations for Thanksgiving?”

“A few,” she said.

“Are you going south for the holiday?”

“I haven’t decided,” she said. “A few friends were very thoughtful to think of me.”

“Mind if I ask? What friends?”

“No one you know, Walt.”

“Just the same…”

She took a breath. “Susan Sarandon extended an invitation to join her family. Lovely family. Love those kids. My friend George has reservations at a nice restaurant for a few friends—”

“George?”

“Not a boyfriend. Clooney, George Clooney. Very nice man. Very attached at the moment and a tad young for me. He’s dating a woman in her thirties, I could be her mother. I actually met George many years ago through his aunt Rosemary. And there was a call from an old, old friend—Ed Asner. He has a small family gathering at his house. And of course Mason would like me to join him and his fourth wife and her grown children and grandchildren.” She chuckled. “We’re so modern, aren’t we? The ex-wife is invited to dinner all the time. Of course, twenty percent of me is very appealing to her, I’m sure.” When Walt looked perplexed, she laughed. “His commission, Walt. That’s what he gets when I work.”

“Hmm. So, where are you going?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. Why?”

He was a bit uncomfortable. He looked away briefly. “We’re hosting Luke Riordan and his family. If you’d like to join us, that would be wonderful.”

“Walt?”

He turned back toward her, meeting her eyes, her smile. “What?”

“Are you hoping I’ll decline?”

“Why would you say that?”

“You wouldn’t even look me in the eye when you asked me.”

“Oh,” he said. “Sorry. It’s just that, I know you want to keep us…casual.”

“When did I say that?” she asked with a laugh.

“When you said you’d been married five times and were done with that shit. I believe that’s a direct quote.”

That amused her. She reached over and put a hand on his thigh. “Walt, it would take a lot to get me to ever consider marriage again. I’ve been through the wringer on marriages. I say ‘I do’ and there’s a cosmic explosion turning fabulous, sexy men into incorrigible animals or complete idiots. I’m cursed—I wouldn’t do that to anyone. But I’m not avoiding a good relationship. And this seems as though it’s shaping up to be a very good relationship. I’d love to join you for Thanksgiving dinner. But since we both know my limitations, I’ll be in charge of cleanup.”

His black brows lifted and he smiled. “Really?”

“Why not?”

“I’m not Susan Sarandon or George Clooney for one thing.”

“Or Ed Asner, who is very special to me. But you are Walt Booth, and you rank right up there. But be careful, Walt. People will think we’re serious.”

He grinned at her. “At the risk of scaring you to death, I’m very serious about you, Muriel. And a good relationship is exactly what I’m in the market for. That, and a decent dishwasher.”





Thirteen




When Sean and Maureen arrived late Tuesday afternoon, Luke was ready for them. The house was cleaned from top to bottom and, though there was still a lot of renovation to complete, the walls were textured and painted, the floors sanded, stained and varnished and the kitchen rebuilt. His furniture was good stuff—it made the place look better. He would put his mother in his room and his brother upstairs. Since there was no furniture in the second upstairs bedroom, he’d take the couch. He had logs in the fireplace, wine chilling in the refrigerator, steaks to put on the small grill he’d purchased…and he’d told Shelby she would meet Maureen Wednesday night because he’d want a little time to visit with his mother first. That wasn’t the reason, of course. He could have asked Shelby to come over right after she finished in town on Tuesday, but that might look eager, and Maureen didn’t need any encouragement.

Much as he resented the intrusion, he was actually thrilled to see his mom. He figured in about two days he’d be less thrilled, but when she stepped out of Sean’s SUV, he beamed. Damn, she sure didn’t look sixty-one and on both blood pressure and cholesterol medication. And you’d never take her for a woman who’d been a stay-at-home mom raising five very high-maintenance sons. She looked sophisticated even though she wore jeans, boots and a leather jacket. The thing that really melted him was his mother’s smile, her eyes. Her smile was so stunning and bright; she had large, strong, white teeth. And Luke couldn’t remember a time her green eyes hadn’t sparkled; now they crinkled just a little bit in the corners when she grinned.