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Obviously, it had been a mistake. A moment of madness. A source of regret.
Except. . . .
With a frustrated grunt, I flung the pillow aside and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. Whether I regretted the kiss or not, it was better for everyone if it never happened again. The reasons were countless. We were neighbors. He was a decade my senior. And now, there was a new complication—I'd enjoyed that kiss so much that if it happened again, I might derail all my carefully laid plans just to chase that high. I couldn't let that happen. I had a mission, and I was going to complete it, then get the fuck out of Dodge.
"Like a Navy SEAL," I muttered to myself as I pulled on my jeans. I resolved to avoid Cole today. I was in a lusty funk after last night, and I needed to keep my distance, especially with this whole "zero free will" thing I seemed to have going on.
Yikes. I'd kissed a Navy SEAL. That was something to tell the grandkids, at least.
I threw on a simple white blouse and ran a comb through my hair, deciding that venturing into town was probably safer than staying here. My stomach growled. I'd been eating nothing but baked goods for the last couple of days, and I craved a hearty breakfast. Grabbing my phone, I fired off a quick text to Lily.
Hey girl, how about breakfast and gossip at the diner? Got news you definitely want to hear ;)
Her response was immediate:
Yum Yum Yum! Feed me precious gossip! I wants it! I needs it! Be there in 20, precious.
Smiling to myself, I fed Anthony and got him leashed up. I promise I definitely didn't stare at Cole's house like a lovesick teen as I walked past.
Okay, fine. Maybe I did. A little.
His curtains were drawn. I wondered what he was doing. Had the kiss been as good for him as it had been for me? Unlikely. He'd probably shared a billion kisses with a million gorgeous women in his time. Weirdly, the thought didn't put me off. I kind of found it strangely exciting. That the man who got to kiss anyone he liked kissed me yesterday.
Another perfect day greeted me—sun, blue skies, the cry of gulls overhead. Bluehaven hadn't been like this when I was a kid. Back then, it was all squalls and gloom, rain and wind, dodging ocean spray to avoid getting drenched.
Not today. Today, the town looked charming. The stores boasted wood facades painted in soothing pastels—peach, mint, duck-egg blue. Parallel to the beach, the oceanside cafes and stores enjoyed dreamy views of the waves. The Lighthouse Diner was among them.
As I pushed open the door, a cheerful bell announced my arrival, and the comforting aroma of rich coffee and sizzling bacon enveloped me. My stomach rumbled, and I patted it reassuringly.
The diner's interior was a delightful fusion of kitschy fifties style and coastal Maine charm. Checkerboard tiles covered the floor, bright red booths lined the walls, and a chrome-trimmed counter dominated the center. Above it, a sign proudly stated, "Welcome to the soul of Bluehaven Beach." Vintage posters and signs plastered the walls, some touting decades-past surf competitions, others showcasing classic movie stars in beachy films. White curtains framed the windows, fluttering in the sea breeze and allowing sunny beams to dance across the tables.
I scanned the room for Lily but she wasn’t here yet. Since I had Anthony in tow, we headed out back to the shaded patio area, claiming a table with an unobstructed ocean view. There was a water bowl for Ant, and a server swiftly brought me coffee. Damn, it was good not having to deal with New York queues. She headed off, leaving me with a couple of menus.
"Elara! It's so good to see you!" I looked over to see Ida McCoy.
Cole's sister.
She approached from inside the diner. As the owner-manager, it was no surprise she was here, but I hadn’t really considered I might see Cole’s sister this morning. It was okay. I could play it cool. It wasn't like I had committed a crime by kissing her brother yesterday, was it?
"Ida, hi!" I stood to hug her, freaking out that somehow she could smell Cole on me.
"Look at you, all grown up." Ida had Patrick's eyes, but an even more twinkly smile. Her chestnut hair was tucked under a hairnet and a smattering of freckles dusted her nose. Though she had to be pushing forty, her youthful energy was infectious. She might have resembled her brother, but their temperaments couldn't have been more different.
"I'm getting old," I said, grinning.
"Hush, you're practically a baby. When I look at myself in the mirror these days I don't recognize the old hag looking back!" Ida laughed then looked down at Anthony. "And who's this handsome boy?"
"Anthony Pawdain."
"Oh my god, I'm going to dognap him!" She offered her hand for a sniff, and Anthony gave an experimental lick.
"Sorry, can't let you steal Anthony. He's my food taster."
"Dad told me you're applying to a fancy pastry school in New York. How exciting!"
"Fingers crossed they let me in."
"Although I'll never understand why someone would ever want to give up the hustle and bustle of Bluehaven Beach for a quiet life in New York." Ida nudged me playfully, nodding toward a pair of dozing seniors basking in the sun.
