Bash noticed he didn’t say he loved living there, though. “But you are the boss. If you had to shuffle some things around and work here for a while, you could do that, right?”

“Maybe. I’ll leave the politics and making an offer on the building to Luke and Logan. We’ll see what happens after that.” He left it there and finished his beer, then took off.

Bash cleaned up and readied the bar for opening, thinking a lot about his conversation with Reid as he did so. He wondered if Reid missed home, and if maybe the mercantile was his opportunity to spend more time in Hope—and with his family.

Bash didn’t have family anymore. His mom had died several years back, and his father—they didn’t talk anymore. His mother had been the glue holding the family together. He and his father had had a rocky relationship at best when his mom had been alive. Once she had passed, there was no reason for him and his dad to maintain contact. When his dad moved to Arizona, that had pretty much ended things between them. Bash was fine with that.

He had his friends, and they were enough family for him. He sure as hell didn’t know what he’d do without them. Some weaved in and out of his life and he didn’t see them a lot. Like Reid. But when he needed them, they were there for him.

He was a pretty lucky guy. And maybe the whole relationship-with-a-woman thing hadn’t worked out so well for him, but that was okay.

He had plenty to keep him busy.

After spending an hour doing liquor inventory, he looked down to find Lou asleep on his foot, which seemed to be her favorite nap spot. He scooped her up and cradled her against his chest. She yawned, then licked his chin.

Yeah, a guy could do worse than having great friends and a pretty loyal dog.

He picked up his phone to check the time.

“What do you think, Lou? Time for a quick walk outside so you can pee, then let the hordes in?”

She blinked and gave him a blank stare.

And even better, this female always agreed with him. “That’s what I think, too.”

He hooked Lou up on her leash and led her out the back door.

Chapter 17

After showering, doing her makeup and hair, and spending at least a half hour staring down the contents of her closet, Chelsea had chosen what she thought was the perfect outfit for her date tonight.

“What was wrong with the red dress?” Molly asked.

“Too short. I don’t want to look easy.”

“Why not?” Molly cast a grin in her direction.

“Not on the first date. Maybe the third.”

Molly laughed. “Okay, I can see your point.”

Chelsea finally settled on the black. It went right to the knee and had three-quarter-length sleeves, but with a bit of a sexy neckline. So she’d give him a taste of the goods without showcasing everything. And, of course, killer heels.

When she came out of the bedroom, Molly’s eyes widened.

“Dell is going to swallow his tongue.”

Molly had set her up on a blind date, which wasn’t ideal, but she had insisted Dell was perfect. He was a new manager at one of Carter’s shops in Tulsa, and Molly had been working with him for a while, getting him acclimated to all the business systems. Molly said he was to-die-for good-looking. And since Carter knew him pretty well and vouched for him, Chelsea agreed to the date.

“You don’t think I’m overdressed?” she asked.

Molly shook her head. “I told you, Dell’s a pretty classy guy. He might manage an auto repair shop, but trust me, he’s not a mess. And he’s totally unattached. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to him. He got out of a long-term relationship about six months ago and he hasn’t really been dating anyone. He’s thirty-two, he owns his own place in Tulsa, and he’s a hell of a nice guy, Chelsea.”

She fastened her bracelet on her arm, then looked over at Molly. “Sounds too good to be true.”

“He said the same thing when I was telling him about you.”

Chelsea smiled. “Really?”

“Yes.”

As a plus, he was driving into Hope to pick her up, which was awfully nice of him, since he lived and worked in Tulsa. Not that it was that far to drive into Hope, but still, she’d had to drive into Tulsa several times to meet dates there because the guy hadn’t wanted to make the trip to Hope.

Points for Dell already.

Molly grabbed her keys and her purse. “Okay, I’m going to get out of here before Dell shows up and thinks we were talking about him.”

“Which we were.”

“Of course. But he doesn’t have to know that.” Molly gave her a hug. “Have a great time, and please, don’t think about your list while you’re out with him?”

Chelsea frowned. “Why? Does he not meet the criteria?”

“Oh, he definitely meets the criteria. I just don’t want you making lists in your head instead of having fun with a wonderful guy.”

“You have a point. And I promise, I won’t make lists.”

“Awesome. Text me tomorrow and let me know how it went.”

“I will.”

After Molly left, Chelsea dashed into the bathroom to apply her lipstick, making a stop to check her dress in the mirror one last time. When she heard the doorbell, she hurried out to the living room, surprised that her heart was doing a double-time beat.

It was just a date, and it wasn’t like she hadn’t had more than a thousand of those before.

But she really wanted a good date. Because she hadn’t had a lot of those.