“I do have a Victorian. But it was my dad’s house, and it needs some love.” She gave him a wink. “When I eventually get to the kitchen remodel, there’s a 1951 O’Keefe & Merritt stove in my barn that I hope to have rebuilt by then.” She explained her father bought the big double oven, six-burner stove at an auction ten years ago. “Turns out it was missing a fair number of pieces, so he had to collect them over the years. I think all the parts are there now, but it needs to be assembled and painted. And it won’t even fit where my stove is, so a kitchen remodel has to happen first.”

Mason gave a low whistle. “Of course you have an O’Keefe & Merritt. That’s a pure period cooking appliance right there. I’d love to see it once you get it rebuilt.”

She arched her brow. “That’s presuming quite a lot, Mason.”

He held up his hands with a laugh. “I’m hoping we’ll be coworkers of sorts when it happens.” His smile faded a bit, but his eyes still held some laughter. “I’m getting the sense we won’t be more than that?”

Zoey hesitated. “No offense, but I doubt it. I do like you, but I’m not feeling anything more than that. And I get the feeling you aren’t, either?”

“I think I could, but....” He shrugged. “I’m getting a just friends vibe for now. Right people, wrong time?”

“Something like that. I’m not ready for anything that is serious, and I’m not interested in anything that’s not serious. Does that make sense?”

Mason chuckled. “Actually, it does. I got divorced two years ago, and I’m still not sure I’m ready to move on or whatever my friends keep telling me to do. I guess when it’s time, we’ll know it.”

She reached over to cover his hand with hers. “When it is time for you, you’re going to make some woman very happy. You’re a good guy.”

“Ditto. Except the guy part.” They laughed again, and Mason looked around. “I wonder where our after-dinner drinks went?”

They had been waiting awhile for their cognacs, now that he mentioned it. She tried to catch Mike’s eye, but he was busy. Or at least he was acting busy—when he wasn’t making drinks, he was wiping down the counter with a great deal of attention to the task. She flashed a smile at Mason.

“I can get those drinks delivered—I know a guy.” She pulled out her phone and texted Mike.

Z: Hey, parched over here!