Return to Gray Harbor (9 page)

“So, what can I get you two?” said the bartender from behind the bar.

“Hey, Michael, right?”

“Yeah! Bob? From McAllister's?”

“The one and only! And who is the gorgeous young lady with you, you cradle robber?” Bob smiled at Annie.

“Bob, this is my sister Annie.”

“Oh, of course I know Annie! My sister Beth just loves you, talks about you all the time. So, what can I get you?”

Annie smiled and looked at the chalkboard and said, “I’ll have the Pinot Noir.”

“Make that two,” Michael added with a smile.

“Coming right up!”

“Wow,” said Annie. “I haven’t seen Bob in ages. He is some looker, look at all those muscles.”

Michael looked over at Bob. No doubt he did have a lot of muscles under that tight black Armani t-shirt and dark, slim-fit jeans. He was sporting a very different look than he had at McAllister's. Bob had style, that was for sure. And he had the same sparkle in his eyes as Beth.

“Annie, you’re a married woman,” said Michael with a humorous look on his face.

“Well, I’m not dead yet. Its good genes, you know. Don’t think I didn’t notice you drooling over his sister today.”

Before Michael could respond, Bob was back with their drinks.

“Here you go, guys! Oh, and Annie, just so you know, Beth gets off work at eleven thirty so you may catch her then, if you like. I’m sure she would love to see you again today.” With that, he winked and walked off to help the next guest.

The bar was a little more crowded this evening than last night, Michael observed. Probably because there was a game on the television, but Michael couldn’t even focus on that. What Annie had said totally threw him off.

“What do you mean, I was drooling?” asked Michael.

Annie took a sip of her wine and waved her hand, “Oh, please, neither of you were hiding it well. It’s clear you’re both attracted to each other, and all I have to say is jump on that! You couldn’t find a better person than Beth. She’s gorgeous, smart, successful, and a total sweetheart.”

And she was incredibly sexy, too, Michael thought.

“Oh, come on, I don’t need anyone now, I’m fine,” said Michael unconvincingly, as he took a sip of his wine.

“Okay, so little brother, what’s the deal? Something is up, I know it. Usually whenever I see you you’re glued to your phone. But I haven’t even seen you look at that thing once. You haven’t obsessively checked the markets on your iPad. And not once, not once, have I heard you talk about your stupid portfolio. What gives?”

Wow, so was that what he was like. She made him sound like a money-obsessed workaholic. The more he pondered it, it did seem that way. But the money didn’t matter so much; he liked being right about the numbers and the “more right” he was, the bigger payoff. She was right, he hadn’t checked the markets or seriously tried to reach the office.

Before he had time to think about it, the words came out of his mouth. “I want to quit my job, Annie. I want to quit my job and come back here. Maybe I’ll help at the market, maybe I’ll open up a small shop of my own. I’m just not happy in New York anymore.”

Wow, he had said it. He really said it, and he had meant it.

Annie almost dropped her glass of wine. “Wait, wait. You want to quit your job and come back here? Here to the place you ran away from?” She was now smirking sarcastically.

Michael sighed. ”Point taken.”

Annie suddenly got serious, “I would love that, Michael. I think we all would.” She put her hand over his. “Even Dad.”

Michael didn’t know about that; he didn’t even know why he had said what he did.

“So, have you quit yet? Is that why you could be here for so long?”

Michael took another sip of his wine, actually a gulp, and then began his story. He had not talked to anyone about this and it felt good. He explained what was going on with the partners of the fund and that they were trying to push him out by pinning some bad trades on him. He had made enough money to get out, he just didn’t know if he should quit with his pride intact, or wait for the huge payoff.

Annie finished off the last of her wine and said, “Okay, the next drink is on me, Mikey, and it’s gonna be a strong one. This sounds like a terrible situation.” She flagged Bob down and asked him for a glass of water for herself and a scotch for Michael.

“If it were me, I’d go out in a blaze of glory and march my ass over there and tell them to go take their money and stuff it, you know where. I mean, it’s not exactly like you’re broke, right?”

“No, not at all. I mean, I could just sell my place in the city and easily get a little house here and start my own thing and still manage to help out the market and be all right.”

“Well, then …” She paused as Bob brought over their drinks. She handed Michael his and clinked their glasses. “Cheers to you then, little bro. Tell those jerks to go you-know-where!”

Annie looked down at her watch as Michael was downing his drink.

“Mikey, it’s already eleven thirty. Tom isn’t gonna like this, are you still on to babysit tomorrow? Could you do it till late night?”

“Yeah, of course. Speaking of late night, is there a cab I could get from here?”

Annie suddenly had a devilish look in her eye. “Sure, I’ll make sure you have a ride. I’ll be right back.” And with that, Annie had walked away.

Michael turned to see where she was going and then he saw that she had walked right up to Beth and pointed in his direction. Michael tried to make out what they were saying but his lip-reading skills were seriously lacking. He looked at Beth; she looked amazing. She had changed her clothes since earlier that day and was now wearing skinny jeans, strappy sandals, and a light blue fitted oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Her hair was down and if he wasn’t mistaken, her eyes sparkled with some mischievousness, as she looked his way. He smiled and nodded in her direction.

Annie led Beth over to where Michael was standing.

“Hey, Mikey, good news. I asked Beth about getting you a cab and she offered to make sure you got home all right.”

Beth smiled at him.

“I’ll get the check, Michael,” Annie said, and she leaned over and whispered, “Just tell me where to pick you up in the morning.” She winked at him and waved Bob over.

“Don’t worry about it, I got it, Annie. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

Bob walked over as Annie was heading out. “Hey, sis! How am I doing tonight? Look at all these happy customers!”

Beth smiled at her little brother.

“Looking good, Bob. Can you get me a glass of my favorite Chardonnay?”

“You got it sis, and for you, Michael?”

“I’ll just have another of the same, thanks Bob.” Michael smiled as he raised his glass at Bob.

Beth grabbed the bar stool next to Michael and said, “Twice in one day Michael, I’m beginning to think you’re following me.” She smiled flirtatiously.

Michael smiled at her and thought, why argue with her.

“You’re right, I am following you. Glad you don’t seem to mind,” he said, as he scooted slightly closer.

Bob came by with their drinks and quickly walked away, giving his sister a knowing glance.

“So, Michael, what have you been up to since you last dropped rubber bands on our Bunsen burners in high school?”

Michael laughed out loud. He had forgotten all about that.

While working in the lab one day, Michael accidentally dropped a rubber band on one of the burners and it had smelled absolutely awful. Michael wasn’t the best of lab partners. He was a little uncoordinated but Beth always took it in stride.

“I don’t know why you didn’t just ask for a new partner, I was the absolute worst in chemistry.”

Hmm, chemistry, she thought as she sipped her chardonnay.

“But forget about me, I haven’t done anything too exciting. I’d love to hear all about you and what you’ve been up to since I saw you last?”

“Well, I’ve been cooking since this afternoon, but aside from that, not much,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Oh, so I see, that’s how it’s going to be. I, unlike you, am willing to share,” he said jokingly.

He told her about moving to New York for his undergrad. How he worked as a commodities trader for a few years, got his MBA, and now managed a hedge fund.

“I knew it,” she said. “I had you pegged as a finance guy at first glance but then, and don’t take offense to this, but after talking to you I didn’t think you seemed to be a big enough jerk to do that for a living. I always thought you’d become a writer or something.”

For the second time tonight, he couldn’t believe he was saying this. “I’m actually thinking of leaving my job and moving a little closer to home. I don’t have all the details worked out, but I want to be around for my family more than I have been.”

She looked a little surprised.

He added, “And well ... I wasn’t a big enough jerk to be able to do finance forever. So it’s time to move on.”

Beth was completely shocked. In high school, all Michael had wanted was to get out of Maine as quickly as possible — and now he wanted to come back?

“Well Michael, I think you’ll find Maine has lots to offer, that maybe you didn’t notice before,” Beth’s cheeks quickly colored.

Michael had finished up his drink and before he could even think to ask for another, Beth flagged her brother down and he was back with fresh drinks and water before Michael could think of what to say next.

“Thank you, Bob.” He nodded to Bob and clinked glasses with Beth. With the combination of the wine and the scotches he had been drinking he was starting to feel quite tipsy.

“So, Beth, what about you? I heard you had a scholarship playing basketball after high school?”

Beth told him all about how cooking was her first love when she was a child. She told about her experiences studying culinary arts, about cooking in Boston. She also told him how she got tired of the big city rat race and that she could relate to him in that way.

He nodded enthusiastically as she continued to tell him about how she came to own the Warren Inn and how it had become a real family business. Bob had done the decorating, Lisa worked in the kitchen, and even her grandmother pitched in at the reception desk from time to time. She felt like she had been rambling, but Michael was listening intently and actually looked interested in what she was saying. They talked some more about what each of them had been up to and about how much Gray Harbor had changed since they were kids.

She looked at Michael now. He was smiling and his knees were touching hers. She smiled back at him and looked down at her hands and then looked around the room for the first time in two hours. Again, they were the last ones there except for her brother. Michael noticed her looking around the bar and then took a look himself.

“Wow, looks like we closed this place down,” Michael said, as he grabbed both her hands with his.

“I’m really glad we had a chance to talk tonight. I haven’t had such a good time with someone in a very long time,” said Michael, still looking at her intently.

Her skin tingled and she had this overwhelming urge to lean over and kiss him but she didn’t want to risk breaking contact.

Bob walked over at that moment and said, “Hey, Beth and Michael. I need close up here. Michael, can I get you your check?”

Beth was about to object but then Michael caught her eye.

“I’d like to get Beth’s drinks as well, if that’s ok,” Michael reached into his wallet and pulled out his credit card and handed it to Bob. “I mean, if you don’t mind, Beth.”

How could she mind, she thought. It felt like a date and it was strange. Usually, when men met her here, they never asked for the check or thought to make the gesture since she was the owner. Michael didn’t have to, either, but she didn’t want to argue with him over this. Sometimes it was nice to just have someone want to. It was getting late but she was having such a good time she really didn’t want the night to end.

They settled the check and Michael tried to feel out the situation. Should he walk her home? Where was home? Should he call it a night and ask her to dinner?

“So, I know it’s late, but I really am not quite ready for the night to end,” he said.

Beth looked at him and reached behind the bar and grabbed the opened bottle of wine and two wine glasses.

Michael raised an eyebrow.

Beth had a slightly devilish grin on her lips. “Follow me,” she said. Wow, she thought to herself as Michael followed her out the back door of the Tavern. She had some serious liquid confidence tonight. The summer air was still warm and felt nice on her skin, but she was comfortable in her oxford shirt and jeans. They walked through the plush grass to a private corner of the Inn’s yard. There were two Adirondack chairs there. Perfect for stargazing, and other activities best left to the moonlight, thought Beth.

They had walked in silence, and in silence Beth gestured for Michael to sit. She poured them each a glass of wine and then settled into her chair. Michael sipped his glass of wine and stared at her intently.