“You don’t stop talking and I’m gonna make you close the boat by yourself. Let’s just do this and get out of here, okay?”Preferably before the gorgeous woman on the patio gets up to leave.
Lifting his hands, Josh cuts his eyes. “Whatever, man.”
I sneak a glance at the two women in the rocking Adirondack chairs on the patio. They laugh, and the sound flutters through the air like a butterfly. There’s nothing wrong with getting to know her. I just need to… keep a safe distance.
Eight
WE ARE NOT EMBARRASSED, REMEMBER?
Liv
“How cute was that little old couple?” Viv gushes as we make our way to the white rocking chairs at the edge of the patio. Beautiful blue and pink hydrangea bushes peek over the edge. “I hope when I’m super old like them, I still want to vacation with my honey,” she says wistfully.
“Gotta find yourself a honey first, Viv.”
“Details, details.”
Pouring two very generous glasses, we toast to our vacation and settle in.
“So, how's it going at the office?” she asks.
“How should I know?”
“We both know you called. Spill it.”
“Fine. Everything today went great, and I’m pretty sure Cori wants to kill me for asking, and now I officially feel like a micromanager. I refuse to lead her to believe I don’t trust her judgment. So, consider the lesson learned. I won’t check in with her again until like Tuesday.” I throw my hands up in surrender.
Viv tips her head toward me, knowing the “I told you so” would be unnecessary salt in the wound, and brings her wine toher mouth. “Hottie alert, one o’clock,” she says around the rim of her glass.
I look out toward the dock to see two men pulling the canvas top over the sides of the boat, fastening it to the rails.
I watch as their lean, muscular bodies move effortlessly. Then their faces come into view. However, I can’t possibly be seeing correctly, despite having my contacts in. That’s the only explanation. I blink a few times, just to be sure, then lean forward as if that’ll help. This can’t be right.
“Goodness gracious, whoever created those men should win an award.” Viv is fanning herself. “Things are looking up in the getting laid department, am I right?” Viv moves her eyebrows suggestively, but I’m not laughing.
“What? What’s going on?” she asks.
“I can’t be seeing what I think I’m seeing. But if I am, then… that’s Coffee Shop Hottie.” My eyes are glued to the sinfully good-looking man, who is now walking up the dock headed our way.
“No way! Are you sure it’s him?” She swings her gaze back to the men approaching faster than I’m prepared for.
“Viv, it’s him.” My heart is thundering, skin prickling with awareness. “What is he doing here? Is it weird if we get up and run?”
“Why the hell would we do that?” She looks genuinely shocked.
“I’m sorry, have we forgotten my exceptionally embarrassing encounter?!” I whisper hysterically.
“Okay, okay, breathe. We’re going to play it cool and pretend you didn’t bust your ass, grab his muscular thigh, face-plant into what I assume was an incredible crotch, and sprint out of the coffee shop like some terrified kitten instead of the confident woman you are.”
Viv holds up a finger, halting any comment I may have. I don’t have one. I’m speechless.
“You are not embarrassed. You are Liv Weston, owner of your own company, boss bitch, and a total catch. So, no. We will not get up and leave. We will sit here like the queens we are, completely unbothered. Let’s just see how it plays out.”
“Your pep talk started a little rocky, but you pulled it together in the end.” I let out a shaky breath, nodding.
“Damn right I did.” Viv gently guides the bottom of my glass up toward my face so I can take another sip. “Drink up.”
The butterflies flapping away in my stomach are making me nauseous. Coffee Shop Hottie and the guy he’s with are now on the wide stone steps that lead to the patio, and I can’t keep my eyes away. Trust me, I tried.
