He fished his wallet out of his back pocket. “Never had huckleberries. Sounds good.”
She rang him up, pleased no one was behind him. It meant she could pump him for information. “So what brings you to town?”
“I’m teaching in the journalism department at Emmits Merriam.”
It clicked. “Oh, you’re Tanner McBride, the international correspondent I’ve been hearing about.”
He cocked his head, his gaze direct. “Are you a journalism student or something?”
She laughed, twirling the tip jar with her hand. “Oh that’s funny, but you shouldn’t say that too loud. People will get ideas.” She held up her wrists. “No black ink in these veins. Much to my family’s disappointment. So, Tanner, do you want to come over to my family’s house for dinner on Friday night?” she asked, deciding they’d use her parent’s house since her mom had a bigger and better stocked kitchen than hers or her grandpa’s.
He dipped his head, covering his expression. “I appreciate the invitation, Jill,” he said softly, “and forgive me for being direct, but do you always ask new customers over for dinner?”
Her hand cupped her mouth in an effort to repress her laughter. “Heavens no. And don’t worry, I’m not coming onto you either.” She pointed to herself and sputtered. “You’re way too old for me. No offense.”
Jemma barked out a laugh from behind her.
Jill nabbed a jelly donut with the tongs and slid it into a paper bag. “I asked because I thought you’d be interested in meeting my family, being a journalist and all.” A little prevarication wasn’t a bad thing since she was helping her sister. “Have you ever heard of The Western Independent? Would you like to meet my grandpa, Arthur Hale?”
He blinked a few times before a grin broke out across his nicely chiseled face. “He’s a legend. I’d love to meet him, Jill.”
“Great.” She wanted to twirl around like a top. “My sister, Meredith, just got back in town. She’s a journalist too.”
He tugged on the cuffs of his blue dress shirt. “I’ve heard of her. She worked for The Standard and The Daily Herald, right?”
“Yes, she did. How did you know?”
“She’s a Columbia grad like me. I’m sure I read it in the alumni news.”
“You went to Columbia too?” Oh this was too good. Mere was going to be over the moon.
“I sure did.” He walked over to pick up his to-go coffee from Jemma, who still had a big smirk on her face. “I’d love to meet everyone. I’ve admired your grandfather for years. What he’s done out here with The Western Independent is remarkable. I used to read it online overseas, especially at election time.”
“Oh, Grandpa will just love that. Dad had to do some major convincing to put it online. Gramps isn’t much on technology.”
“What can I bring?”
“Just yourself. How about seven o’clock on Friday?”
“Perfect, and I’ll bring a bottle of something. White or red?”
She wanted to float. “Red.” She pulled out her lucky Flying Purple People Eater pen and wrote their address on a napkin, along with her cell phone number. “Here. It’ll be fun.”
Another customer sauntered forward, and Tanner moved aside. “See you then. Thanks for the invite.”
When he walked out, she executed a ballerina leap across the length of the pastry case.
“Good work!” Jemma cried.
Jill took her hands and swung them around. “Mere’s going to love me.”
Could she keep the secret from Meredith for three full days? Sure, she could.
She did the cha, cha, cha, imagining Meredith’s happiness.
Chapter 12
Meredith choked on her red wine when she caught a glimpse of Tanner sitting next to her grandfather in the family room, looking smoking hot in tan slacks and a gray dress shirt.
Jill elbowed her. “Why do you keep doing that? Maybe you should see Dr. Kelly…professionally.”
She turned her back on Tanner, fussing with her green low-back top and black pants. “This is our mystery dinner guest?” she hissed.
Like Helen of Troy, her sister’s beautiful smile could have launched a thousand ships. “Yes, isn’t it great? He walked right into the coffee shop. I invited him to dinner straight away. I owed you after making us flee Hairy’s because of all the Brian drama the other night.”
“Are you two done conferring like defense lawyers?” Grandpa Hale inquired, tapping his cane on the hardwood floor.
When Meredith turned around, her eyes instantly met Tanner’s wide chocolate brown ones.