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He’d been struck with an intense urge to press his lips against her neck, tangle his fingers into the straps of her tank and ease them down over her breasts. She’d be soft all over, and based on her responsiveness to their kisses, she’d react like a firecracker to his touch. He could practically see her writhing underneath him.
Turning the shower water to cold, he stuck his head under the freezing spray and told himself to get a grip. Even though they’d been blindsided by his parents’ visit, Rory was being so damned good about it all that he felt even worse for his lustful thoughts.
Not that it had been easy to stay away from her over the past two years. He’d always been conscious of not dating women in Bliss Cove, especially the ones who frequented the Mousehole. It avoided complications if things went wrong, and even if they didn’t, he had no desire to become the target of local gossip.
The boundaries hadn’t prevented him from finding female company—he’d had his fair share of relationships, albeit short-term, and no-strings-attached affairs with women in neighboring towns or up in Santa Cruz.
God knew he’d enjoyed himself, and he’d liked the women a lot, but he’d never felt…thistoward them. He’d never wondered what might have happened if they’d stayed together. He’d never wondered if he should rethink his “no commitment” stance.
If any woman could make him wonder that now, it was Rory. Which was so completely stupid because she was leaving Bliss Cove soon, and she wasn’t a woman he’d ever consider for a short-term relationship or a no-strings affair.
The realization felt like the earthquake tremor was pushing toward the fault line.
He got out of the shower and grabbed a towel. Better shove all those thoughts down deep and focus on getting through the next week. Ignoring the fact that it was increasingly easy to “pretend” like Rory was his girlfriend. His live-in lover.
A knock came at the bathroom door. “Your mom just texted that she and your father will be ready for breakfast at eight. She wants to go to the market later so she can get some food for your kitchen. She’s not very impressed with the stock in your fridge.”
“Are you still wondering why I don’t want a cell phone?” Grant hitched on his jeans and pulled a T-shirt over his head before opening the door. “Now that she has your number, there’s no escaping Joanna Taylor.”
“I actually find her impressive in a sort of Machiavellian way.” Rory shoved her phone into her back pocket. She slipped her gaze over him in that way she’d been doing since the first time they’d kissed. She hadn’t looked at him that way before then—at least, not that he’d noticed.
“I’m going to swing by Sugar Joy to make sure Linda’s doing okay on her first full week.” She started toward the door, her ponytail swinging. “I’ll meet you over at Ruby’s Kitchen at around eight-fifteen. Do you want me to call ahead and ask Ruby to save us that nice booth by the corner window?”
“That would be great, thanks. I’m going to get a few things done at the tavern, then we’ll head over.”
He went into the tavern kitchen to make sure everything was ready for the morning prep. The Mousehole opened at eleven, and he double-checked the schedule, completed some paperwork and orders, and did a quick inventory before going to get his parents.
“Good morning!” His mother answered the door, looking like a classic movie star in a Chanel suit and scarf. She reached out for a hug. “We slept marvelously. Must be the sea air. Edward, Grant is here! You’d better not be on your phone.”
“Morning.” Edward Taylor strode toward the foyer, straightening the cuffs of his shirt. “So begins the first day of our second honeymoon, eh? Is there a golf course nearby?”
“There’s mini-golf near the boardwalk,” Grant offered. “Hit the ball into the shark’s mouth on the last hole and win a fifty-percent discount on ride tickets.”
“That sounds like fun.” Joanna picked up a Prada bag and hooked it over her arm. “Where’s Rory?”
“She’s meeting us at the diner.”
“Lovely. I can’t remember the last time I ate at a diner. Can you, Edward?”
“The Sunny Side Up on Shattuck Avenue.” He slid his phone into the pocket of his suit jacket. “Maybe it wasn’t the last time, but I remember it.”
“Oh my goodness.” Joanna laughed and set her sunglasses on top of her head. “That was our favorite place to eat when we were in college, Grant. The Cal Berkeley students used to go there all the time because their pancakes were so cheap. And huge. They almost filled the entire plate, and they’d give you three of them.”
“And they had unlimited coffee refills,” Edward added. “It was an undergrad’s dream.”
“We should visit Skyline College while we’re here.” Joanna preceded Grant out the door to the car. “I haven’t been on a college campus in years.”
“Skyline has tours, so it can be arranged,” Grant said. “Rory’s sister is a professor in the Classics department.”
He winced when the statement came out. All he needed was to drag Rory’s family into this farce.
“I’d love to meet her.” Joanna paused while Edward opened the passenger side door of their car for her. “We’ll follow you to the diner, Grant. Your father and I will want the car if we decide to come back.”
Grateful for a short reprieve, Grant got into his truck and led the way to Ruby’s Kitchen. Rory was already there, having commandeered the booth by the corner window. The instant they sat down, one of the servers swooped in with fresh coffee.
“This is Bliss Cove’s most popular breakfast place,” Rory informed his parents. “The eggs Benedict are the specialty, but the Belgian waffles are my personal favorite.”
“I usually have a soft-boiled egg and grapefruit for breakfast, but the waffle does sound delicious.” Joanna studied the menu. “Edward, remember the ER doctor told you to watch your cholesterol.”
