“You’ll love the cottage,” he said. “I wanted to tear it down at first, build something new, but then I walked inside and that old-cabin smell reminded me of my grandpa, of this cabin he took me to when I was a kid. It activated all my senses, and I started to cry.”

Did he just tell her he cried? Sherri had never before met a man who seemed so comfortable sharing his feelings. Mitch would never cry in front of her. “Jerry says it’s a dump.”

“Nah, it’s perfect, just neglected. It’s dark because of all the trees, but it’s the best kind of darkness, like a peaceful din.”

A peaceful din? “I could help you decorate. What about shag carpeting, the kind that’s super plush, so you have to clean it with a rake? That’s what we have in my dorm room. My roommate’s boyfriend could sell it to you. And how about one of those freestanding cone fireplaces?”

“It already has a fireplace.”

“You should make it super cozy.”

She hadn’t even noticed that they were leaning closer to each other, their heads forming the tip of a triangle. He cleared his throat. “You ever hear of a Krugerrand?”

Arthur set his utensils down and fingered a Giles matchbook, bending down every other match to make a pattern. He was the kind of person who needed to keep his hands busy at all times. She thought of the collectible matchbooks she was instructed to set on the tables when she prepared them for her guests, advertising Playboy clubs in Jamaica, Seattle, Denver, and London. They were so much more exotic than the Giles matchbooks that said HOMEMADE BREAD AND PIES. FAMOUS FOR NOTHING BUT WE’RE TRYING.

“A Krugerwhat? Is that some kind of pastry?”

“No,” Arthur said, laughing. “They’re coins. I like to buy and sell coins.”

“My dad did that, too. He had one of those big binders with thick sheets of plastic with coins he’d collected since he was a kid. I don’t know what to do with them. I never thought they were worth anything.”

“I can take a look if you want. But these coins, the kind I buy, they’re from South Africa, and they’re made of solid gold. You like gold, Sherri?”

“Sure I do.”

“So do I,” Arthur said, and she could tell from his smile that he really did. “It’s rare, like you. Brilliant, like you. Timeless. I like the weight of it. The past few years I’ve been buying as much as I can get my hands on, although I think it’s time to sell my gold and invest in stocks.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Ever heard of Digital Switch?”

“No.”

His eyes lit up. “I plan to buy some of their shares next week. I have some inside information. Want me to buy some shares for you?”