Chapter 89

Stevie put on the outfit she had picked out with Jaz. She did her hair and put on some makeup. She felt good, but nervous. This date just felt different. Jaz had made a really good point. She had lost the man she loved and found happiness again. It was just a different happiness. Stevie realized that Kate and Matt also did, too, although the situations were all a little different. Stevie decided that if Jaz and Kate and Matt could do it, maybe she could too. It was a nice, optimistic feeling.

She headed over to Drovers to pick up Tess. She was happy that they had ended up having dates at the same time. It helped her nerves to know she was going there with her closest friend.

Tess came to the car wearing black skinny jeans and a purple tank top. Stevie couldn't believe it. She climbed out of the ute.

"Seriously, Tess? Same place, same time, and, now, same outfit? Are you trying to steal my life?" asked Stevie.

Tess started laughing. "I'll go change my top. It looks better on you anyway."

Tess ran back to the cottage, switched into a hot pink blouse, and ran back out. She walked like a model on the catwalk and posed in front of the ute before climbing in.

"Seriously, what is going on with us? If James and Finn look like twins, we need to run and hide." said Tess.

"Well, I've met them both. They don't look alike except to say they are both good looking men between the ages of forty and fifty. Remember, I told you, James is a ginger like me, and he had a beard when I saw him, and it looked like Finn usually shaves. They seem really different physically. Physically, Finn is actually more the type of guy I would go for but, don't worry, he's all yours. I'm excited to go out with James. Bonus for us! Both blokes have full heads of hair." Stevie gave Tess a high-five on the full heads of hair.

"Bald isn't bad. Some bald men are very sexy. Jason Statham. I wouldn't kick him out of bed.." Tess admitted.

"I agree with you on Jason Statham. Hell yeah! Very sexy. But I'm still glad James has hair," said Stevie. "I really like his red hair actually."

They laughed and hit the road.

Stevie parked the ute outside the pub.

"Okay, so we have dinner and then touch base on where we are at. If both dates are going well then maybe we stay a little longer. If one of us is not having a good date, we go, even if the other person is having a good date. Deal?' asked Stevie.

"Sounds good. I hope both of us have good dates though. Good luck with James, Stevie." She gave her a big hug and sent Stevie into the pub. She had arranged to meet Finn right outside.

"Tess, Hi. I'm glad you were able to come tonight," Finn said as he walked up to her. "Did I see Stevie with you? Is she joining us?" He handed Tess a small bouquet of wildflowers. "I only brought one bouquet."

"Hi Finn." She gave him a hug, savoring how it felt being in his arms again. "You did see Stevie but she isn't joining us. We coincidentally scheduled dates at the same place, at the same time. Once we realized it, we decided to carpool. We were even wearing the same outfit when she came to pick me up. I changed tops so we weren't twinning when we arrived," said Tess, chuckling.

"Well, I like the top you changed into. You look beautiful, Tess."

"Um, before we start our date, I wanted to give you this." Tess pulled an envelope out of her purse and handed it to Finn. "It's written notification that Drovers Run would no longer like to be considered for the Blue Apron beef and lamb contracts. It's signed by both Jodi and myself. Matt supports the decision as well. I wanted to get the business portion out of the way first so we can enjoy ourselves."

"Tess, you don't have to do this. I know it's a big contract for you."

"Yes I do, Finn. We can find other contracts. Drovers will be fine. The truth is I like you, and I'd like to continue to see what's here. I'm not comfortable having a romantic relationship with a business associate. I want to enter whatever we have going here without any outside influence. I don't want us to have any business or financial obligations to each other. I've seen relationships like that go really south, really fast and I don't want that for us," said Tess.

"Okay. I accept your letter. It actually makes me happy. You said you liked me and want to continue seeing me. I'll take that. I'll remove Drovers from the running first thing tomorrow. I understand why you need to do it."

"Thanks. Jodi sent the same letter to your email too. She wanted there to be an electronic copy, in case you need to forward it to your bosses or something, but I wanted to give it to you in person," said Tess.

"No problem. Thank you for being honest with me."

"Thank you for understanding. Now that the business talk is out of the way, let's have our date." Tess looked up at Finn and just wanted to kiss him, so she did. She meant it to be a casual kiss, but it seemed to elevate as it went on.

Finn finally pulled himself away. He wanted her, but he knew he needed to go slower than that for Tess and for himself. He didn't want anything to feel rushed.

"Okay, so, let's go eat." He was breathing heavily and his heart was pounding.

"Right. Let's go inside. Stevie's on a first date. I hope it goes well for her. She seemed a little nervous. She is dating a guy who is not her usual type. I'm glad she wanted to try something different from her usual." Tess's heart was thumping and she was worried it was going to jump out of her chest. Her head wanted her to move slowly, but the rest of her body was disagreeing and wanted to continue the kiss. Her brain kept her talking about Stevie to give her body a chance to settle down.

"I'm glad you were able to come out tonight," said Finn.

Stevie walked into the pub and saw James sitting at the bar. He looked good. He was in dress pants and a dress shirt and a jacket without a tie. He was the most dressed up person in the pub that night.

Stevie walked across the pub to where he was sitting at the bar.

"Hi James. I hope you weren't waiting too long." Stevie smiled and tried to push the nerves out of her stomach.

"Not long at all. I just ordered a drink, but I haven't even gotten it yet. Can I get you one? They said it would be a few minutes for a table."

"Sure. What are you drinking?"

"I'm having soda water with lime."

"I'll take a schooner of lager, please."

"No problem." James ordered the beer as the bartender brought James his drink.

"So, how was the drive out from Renmark?"

"It wasn't too bad. I made great time until I got behind a herd of cattle about a hundred K's out of Fisher. I was stuck behind them for over a kilometer."

"I suppose that's life in the country. I'm glad you made it through," said Stevie.

The bartender brought over her beer and James handed it over to her.

"Here you go. Cheers!" Jame clinked his glass with Stevie's and smiled. "I'm glad you agreed to come out with me. I didn't get to change after work. I have to do the suit thing for contract signings," said James.

"Shall we check on the table?" asked Stevie.

Right as Stevie and James approached the host table by the door, Tess and Finn walked in.

Stevie and James's table was ready, but they stopped to say hello to each other.

"Stevie, nice to see again," said Finn as he shook her hand.

"Finn, Tess. This is my date, James. James, this is one of my best friends in the whole world, Tess, and this is her date, Finn."

"It's very nice to meet you." James said as he shook Finn's hand. "I'm sorry. Is this a double date? I only got us a table for two."

Tess laughed. "No, you guys are on your own tonight. We just happened to coincidentally schedule dates at the same time and the same place. There aren't many choices in Gungellan. Fortunately with different men, though. Otherwise, things might have gotten really awkward. Don't worry. We're getting our own table. Enjoy your date," said Tess.

"Well, it's nice to meet you both," said James as he offered his arm to Stevie. "Shall we, Stevie?"

"Of course." Stevie and James were seated at a table not far from the bar.

"I guess it's our turn for a table," said Finn.

"If you want, I can seat you at the table next to your friends," said the host.

"I reckon we should give them some privacy. Do you have something a bit further away? They're on a first date. They don't need us looking over their shoulders," said Tess.

"Sure. No problem, I've got another one by the pool table if that works," offered the host.

"That'll be just fine. Thank you," replied Finn.