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His low chuckle sent a wash of heat through me and a shiver over my skin. “It's popular now. Not only for locals but also tourists.”
Ian climbed out of the SUV and rounded to the passenger side in a flash, opening the door before I had even unbuckled my seat belt. “Did you run around the front of your SUV?” I teased.
His half-grin sent my belly into somersaults. A moment later, our footsteps crunched on the gravel parking lot. He held the door for me at the entrance. With his hand resting on my lower back as he coaxed me through, I could feel the heat of his palm sifting through the fabric of my clothing. I shouldn't like that touch so much, but I savored it. He was a gentleman, always polite, always gracious. I was a little startled to discover that just about everything he did spun into the heat sliding through me.
The moment we walked in, I began to doubt my plan. As soon as we entered the reception area, a woman I recognized, Shelly Chambers, stood from a bench, where she was sitting with a man I didn't recognize. “Oh, my gosh! Ian Tate!” she exclaimed.
Shelly was one of those very cheerleaders who I was pretty sure Ian had dated. He didn't seem as excited to see her and dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “Well, hey there, Shelly. How are you?”
“I'm great.” She looked at me, and I knew she recognized me. I absolutelyknewit, but she cocked her head to the side, casting a quizzical look in my direction. “And you are?”
Ian interjected, “Jane Matthews. You remember her, right?”
He slid his arm around my waist, his hand curling just above my hip bone. I could feel the heat of his touch again, almost possessive. I had no idea what to think of how he was handling this.
I watched as Shelly’s eyes dipped down. I could feel her trying to calculate and assess who we were to each other. I smiled tightly. “We were in high school together. I think I tutored you in math.”
Okay, maybe that was a shitty thing to say. Shelly wasn't stupid. She just didn't try in school because she'd had other matters on her mind. She gave me a bright smile. Everything about her felt as plastic now as it did then, and I hated how insecure I felt. She was still beautiful. She had cornflower blond hair pulled up in a lovely twist. She turned, gesturing toward the man sitting on the bench. “This is my husband, Todd.”
The man smiled at us politely but said nothing. “Well, it's good to see you,” Ian said when the receptionist looked up. He kept his arm around my waist and led me toward the desk.
“Jane Matthews!” Sherry Levesque said as she rounded the desk, her face breaking into a wide smile.
“Hi, Sherry. It's good to see you.”
She pulled me into a warm hug, stepping back and glancing at Ian. “You didn't tell me this is who you were bringing to dinner with you.” Her lips pressed in a line as she cast him a teasing but disapproving look.
“I didn't even talk to you when I called to make the reservation, Sherry,” Ian protested.
Sherry grinned warmly at him. “But I know everything.”
“That's right. I should’ve known someone would tell you I made a reservation.”
Sherry turned her attention back to me. “How long are you here?”
“A month,” I offered. “I'm getting my parents’ house ready to sell.”
“Your parents’ house doesn't even have power. Please tell me you're not trying to stay there,” Sherry said with a tsk.
Before I could respond, she glanced at the receptionist, who nodded and called over that our table was ready.
“I'll walk you over.”
Sherry picked up menus as Ian replied before I could, “Of course, Jane’s not staying there. She's staying at our house.”
“Oh, so you're both there. Well, isn't that nice? Now, are your brothers and Thea joining you soon?” Sherry asked while she led us across the restaurant.
“I'm not sure. We might be doing Christmas in Boston,” Ian responded.
“Well, don't you dare leave Jane alone. Your parents are going to Paris, aren't they?”
Of course, Sherry would know that. “How do you still know everything?” I asked as she stopped at a table by the windows and pulled out a chair for me.
Her eyes twinkled with her sly grin. “I just do. Actually, your mother does call a few times a year to check in. She let me know you'd be up here. Please give her a hug for me the next time you see her. I understand why they're selling, but I'll miss seeing them.”
“I'm sure you will,” I offered.
“If I ever retire, I’ll visit all my old friends,” she commented.
