Read Online Bluegrass Courtship by Allie Pleiter - Free Book Online Page B

status quo…”
    â€œOur preservation, ” Emily corrected.
    â€œâ€¦pretty seriously,” Janet finished.
    â€œI can see that,” Drew said. “Blue door. Very important. Duly noted. But…um…do you mind if I ask why blue?”
    Janet didn’t have an answer. Neither, evidently, did Emily, because the only answer she could supply was, “Because the church door has always been blue.”
    â€œAnd in Middleburg,” Janet explained as congenially as possible, “that’s reason enough. Drew, how about we don’ttake Howard’s word on matters of artistic license here? If it’s okay with Emily, I’ll be glad to run interference on this, looking over the plans and letting you know anything I think ought to go before any committees. I’m sure that’s what Gil meant to say to Drew.” Janet directed that last comment at Emily, who was still fuming a bit.
    After a moment, and a nudge from Janet, Emily’s stance softened.
    â€œOh, I’m sure of it.” Drew caught on. “Must’ve totally misunderstood Gil. There was lots of banging around us. He did mention he was excited to be getting married and all. Congratulations, by the way.”
    â€œThank you.” Emily softened further. “We’re very happy.”
    â€œActually, Emily, I think Gil was just looking for you when I left,” Drew said. “Something about taking you to lunch, maybe? Try that Milk and Cookies Pie Gina dreamed up over at Deacon’s. It’s out of this world.”
    â€œWell, I’ll just head back to the site, then, and see what Gil’s up to with the guys.” Emily headed back up the aisle toward the shop door. “You look over those plans, Janet, and we’ll talk later.”
    Drew and Janet watched her walk through the door and up the street. At which point they both exhaled loudly.
    â€œI actually thought Howard had a good idea. Green, ecosystems, nature, you know?”
    Janet shifted her weight. “Green, which also just happens to be Missionnovation’ s signature color, you know? ”
    Drew balked. “I wasn’t thinking of that. Really. Oh boy, I wasn’t thinking at all, was I?” He shook his head. “How’d I miss that? No wonder she looked at me so suspiciously.”
    â€œNo matter what Emily thought your motives were, she’d still have objected to anything that wasn’t blue.” Janetsighed. “You were bound to start something with her no matter what you did, near as I can tell.”
    â€œNice save—I owe you.” He whistled through his teeth. “Man, I didn’t realize I’d need a Sherpa in Kentucky.”
    â€œA what?”
    â€œA Sherpa. You know, those wise, knowledgeable guides who keep people from killing themselves as they try to climb Mount Everest?”
    â€œWell, this is Middleburg. I think even highly trained professionals couldn’t help but step on a few toes here. You’ve done pretty good so far.”
    He turned to her and smiled.
    â€œWould you really do that?” Drew asked. “Look over the plans and help me make sure Howard and Emily and anybody else doesn’t get upset? The stress level’s only going to go up around here as it is as we get closer to deadline. I’d like to avoid all the conflict I can.”
    It was a sensible request. And she was the closest thing Drew had to an impartial advisor.
    â€œI’ve got a bunch of site meetings this afternoon and an early dinner at Howard’s. Can I bring them by later, like six-thirty?”
    Janet hesitated. The store would be closed, which would mean he’d need to bring them by her house. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that. Still, she was a twenty-eight-year-old woman. It wasn’t like she needed a hall pass to have a man stop by her house for perfectly respectable reasons. She could even show him the birdhouses.
    He must have