Page 94 of Smuggler's Cove

“I think it was the funny glasses.”

“That had to be a great icebreaker.”

“It was. I thought he was going to drive off the road.” Madison chuckled.

“So? What’s next?”

“I suggested coming here for dinner.”

“Oh, goody. When?” Olivia was thrilled with the prospect of Madison having a companion.

Madison shrugged. “Eh, you know my slogan.”

“Oh, baloney.”

“I think I am going to ask my brother for advice.”

“Seriously? You are going to ask Lincoln? That ought to throw him.”

“Throw who?” Lincoln’s voice came up from behind.

“You, dear brother.”

“What do you have up your fashionable sleeve now?”

“I need some advice.”

“Wait. Hold on. You are asking me for advice? This must be serious.”

“It is. I am getting too old to keep making man-mistakes. Here’s the situation. Viggo and I had a wonderful time last night. I think I speak for both of us. I suggested I would cook dinner for him.”

“Now that’s a laugh. You don’t know how to cook!” Lincoln cackled.

“Aside from the obvious, how long should I wait to invite him?”

“Wait a week, and then invite him for the following week.”

“Should I text him a thank-you?”

“Of course, but an invitation doesn’t have to be included. Give it a little space. Keep some of the mystery.”

Olivia nodded in agreement.

Lincoln added, “Another idea is to have a small dinner party and invite him. We can include Irene, her husband, Hannah, Charlie, Crusty, Detective Burton and his wife Nancy, and the mayor and her wife.”

“Done!” Madison sat up. “See, I knew you were good for something.” She grinned.

“Glad to be of service.” Lincoln sat in one of the lounge chairs and looked out at the view. “I could get used to this.”

“I just said the same thing a few minutes ago.” Madison’s thoughts were clicking. If this summer went well, maybe she would approach the owners to buy it.Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

They spent the next hour discussing the calendar of events. A ribbon-cutting ceremony in the morning would kick off the festival. Two days of seafood, music, crafts, and then the award ceremony. Madison and Lincoln would say a few words and accept the plaque, which would eventually hang in the community center.

Madison sent off a quick thank-you text to Viggo and mentioned a dinner party. “Details to come.”

He responded with, “My pleasure. Affirmative.”

Now she had to round up the rest of the invitees and find a caterer. She didn’t want to saddle Olivia with cooking, and Lincoln would be tired from working all day. She phoned Irene, who was thrilled to be of service again and gave Madison information about Dearborn Farms and Market. She made an appointment with the catering department for later that morning. The next thing on the agenda was to find a date on the calendar. Time was passing quickly. Olivia suggested the weekend after Mother’s Day. That would give them four weeks to plan, and it wouldn’t interfere with a holiday and the festival.