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She giggles, then places a hand over her mouth. “Why am I giggling? I don’t do that.”
“Are you laughing because I said something funny or true?”
“Why are you up so early?” She evades my question.
“I couldn’t sleep. It was this or head to Aunt Mima’s for coffee,” I state.
“Where?”
“The coffee place,” I repeat.
“Oh, that closed a few years back. I only know about it because the sign is still up. It was weird to be outside the business waiting for it to open… guess what? It never did.”
“So, what do people do for coffee around here?”
“The bakery has an espresso machine, but it always seems to be broken. That’s about the time the tourists swear it’s the end of the world.” She grins. “So, I take it you’ve been here before?”
“Yeah, a couple of times,” I lie. “I’m guessing you’re new in town?”
“From the post Aunt Mima’s shop era. I’ve been here for almost two years,” she explains. “Where are you visiting us from?”
“Seattle,” I answer.
It’s not a lie. I was born here, raised in Seattle, and live in New York. She doesn’t need to know all that. I’m guessing herLuna Harbor visa—as natives of the island call it—is about to expire. People who aren’t born here don’t stay for long. Ask my mother. She left after my youngest brother was born. This town was too dull, and we were a handful.
“Why are you out and about so early?” I repeat my question.
“It’s the best way to de-stress,” she explains. “I had a hard time falling asleep.”
I smirk. “Really? What a coincidence, me too. I could think of a few ways to… release some of that tension.”
“Listen, you’re a good looking guy—and you seem to have a good sense of humor…” she says without inhibitions. “And I’m sure you have moves that will leave me just absolutely breathless…” she feigns with sarcasm, “but—”
“There’s nobut,” I interrupt her. “You seem like a practical woman, and I’m not sure about you, but it’s been a long time since I’ve felt attracted to someone the way I am to you. Listen, I’m not offering a marriage proposal. But I think we could have a good time together—and it’s been a very long time since I’ve spent time with a woman. This could be fun—unless you’re afraid you’ll fall in love with me.”
She stops and laughs. It’s a full-blown belly laugh.
“Am I entertaining you?”
“You think I’m afraid of falling in love with you,” she states.
“There’s no other reason to say no to me, is there?” I cross my arms, giving her a challenging look. “We’re two consenting adults who find each other attractive. I’m not asking you to marry me. You’re not expecting me to stalk you again because I need more.”
Her eyes light up with a new life. “Are you staying at the inn?”
“Yes.”
“Okay,” she says.
“Now?”
She checks her watch. “I have to be home in an hour to get ready for work. This is a one-time thing, right? No strings attached?”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “Unless you want more.”
She fakes yawning. “You’re smooth, but a little rusty.”
“I’ll show you there’s no rust under the hood, gorgeous,” I joke. “Race you to it.”
