Cece leaned in. “Reservation for Davenport?”
The hostess confirmed, then led them to a small corner table near a painting of a turquoise sailboat drifting into a tangerine horizon. Cozy, private, perfect.
Joe helped push her chair in, his hand grazing her shoulder. The tiny point of contact gave Cece a big flutter.
“This place is out of sight,” he said, taking in the artwork. “I already feel more hip and cool.”
“I don’t think you could get any hipper or any cooler.” Cece laughed as she unfolded her napkin. “Also, don’t let the ambiance intimidate you. They still serve hush puppies.”
“Then my dignity is safe,” he said, eyes crinkling in amusement.
They ordered. Pecan-crusted grouper for Cece and blackened snapper for Joe. They shared a basket of the promised hush puppies while they waited. The music drifted lazily through the air like waves on a calm tide. It was almost hypnotic.
Joe glanced around again, then leaned in a little closer. “How did you settle on this place? I couldn’t love it more.”
Cece grinned. “I reviewed it forTheBuzza while back. It’s how I got the reservation. The owner liked what I wrote and told me to call him anytime.”
“You reallyareconnected,” he said, smiling into his iced tea.
“Told ya.” She studied him in the complimentary light. He was so relaxed and comfortable with himself in a way that must have taken years. She needed to learn that, too. And yet, here he was. With her.
“I know I said thank you already, but it means a lot that you took Natalie’s case,” she said quietly, still blown away by his generosity.
His gaze softened. “I meant what I said earlier. Helping good people feels right. And you’re very good people, Cece. All the way through. I hope you know I’m considering this an investment in us.”
His words touched her with a warmth and sincerity that settled right in the center of her chest and curled up there. It was like a lighter version of snuggling with Peanut.
She reached across the table to take his hand. “I’m really glad I ran into you on the beach that night,” she said.
He smiled and turned his palm to meet hers, fingers sliding between hers in an easy, confident way. “That was the best accident I’ve ever had.”
The music shifted into a gentle love song, not too on-the-nose, but perfect all the same.
The restaurant glowed with candlelight and the feeling of two people leaning into something neither of them wanted to resist.
Cece couldn’t remember when she’d been happier.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Essie curled into the corner of the sofa, her book club novel open on the ereader in her lap. She reread the same paragraph three times and still couldn’t recall what any of the characters were doing. Her mind kept drifting to Sophie. What had happened to turn her into such an angry young woman now threatening lawsuits against them?
Was this really all Ryan’s fault? How much had Sophie’s late mother, Stacia, had to do with it?
She sighed and read the paragraph again.
From the office, Frank’s voice drifted toward her, the low, clipped tone the one he used when something serious was unraveling. Essie tried not to listen, but bits of conversation reached her anyway.
“…no basis for that.” Then, “…completely unreasonable.” Followed by, “…she can’t be serious.”
Her heart sank. This didn’t sound good.
Frank emerged from his office a moment later, shoulders tense, phone still in hand. When he saw her watching him, he forced a small smile, but it came nowhere near reaching his eyes.
“That was Bob,” he said, referring to their attorney.
Essie closed the case of her ereader. “I gathered.”
Frank sat beside her, taking her hand in both of his. He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand, a gesture that usually soothed her. It didn’t tonight.
