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Over breakfast, she had suggested that she sit out today’s excursion. “You and Elaine go without me. Enjoy yourselves. I’ll be perfectly happy to stay behind and lounge all day.”
“We’ve had this planned for days. Elaine will be disappointed if you don’t come. Besides, I’ve invited a fourth.”
That’s when he’d told her about the man who’d moved into the garage apartment.
“Is it even livable?” she’d asked.
“He seems to think so. But I doubt his standards are very high.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I’ll let you form your own opinion. He’s rough around the edges, but I will credit him with knowing which fork to use for each course, and the two bottles of wine he brought were passable.”
“If you weren’t that taken with him, why did you invite him to come along today?”
“Curiosity.”
Drex Easton was more refined than Jasper had led her to believe, but then Jasper did have very high standards. Gauging by Elaine’s body language, which had her leaning toward the writer across the armrest of her chair, she found him magnetic.
He seemed unfazed by her avid interest, answering her barrage of questions with humor but, Talia noticed, little elaboration. He was self-deprecating and unaffected.
But when he glanced across the table and shot her a smile, Talia wondered if perhaps he was exercising reverse psychology. Maybe his seeming disinterest in making a good first impression was a calculated attempt to make one.
Not so long ago, she would have accepted his open and friendly nature for what it was, rather than to look for duplicity. Jasper was more disinclined to take people at face value. She supposed that tendency of his was wearing off on her.
They finished the remainder of the Champagne, then Jasper pushed back his chair and stood. “Shall we get underway? Or would you rather serve lunch first, Elaine?”
“Let’s go out a way and anchor for lunch.”
Jasper saluted her. “After you, captain.” He bent down and peeped beneath the brim of Talia’s hat. “You don’t mind if I play first mate, do you?”
“I know you can’t wait to get your hands on the wheel. Go.”
He pecked her cheek with his lips. To Drex he said, “Beer and soft drinks are in the fridge in the galley. Help yourself.”
“Thanks. I’m good for now.”
Jasper followed Elaine into the wheelhouse and closed the door behind them. The absence of Elaine’s chatter was immediately noticeable. Drex was the first to remark on it. “Has Elaine ever met a stranger?”
Talia laughed. “Not since I’ve known her.”
“Which is for how long?”
“A few years.”
“How’d you come to meet?”
“She and her husband frequently cruised down here from Delaware. After he died, she decided to move here. She and I met when she joined the country club.”
He gave a look around. “I assumed the yacht belonged to you and Jasper.”
“No, it’s Elaine’s.”
“Does she pilot it herself?”
“Usually only out of the marina.”
“That takes some maneuvering skills.”
