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“Absolutely. I’ll get the burgers and shakes. You’re on fry duty. I wanted the loaded fries with the works.”
He gave her his order and they split up. Seven minutes later, they regrouped at a table for two. They ate in silence, enjoying every bite.
“Zander Bellamie, as I live and breathe,” a voice carried across the food court. A rotund gray-haired woman hurried toward him.
“Brace yourself,” he whispered. Louder he said, “Mrs.Jepson, so nice to see you.”
Mrs.J dropped into a seat at the adjacent table. “How are you, son?”
“I’m great. Busy, but that’s the status quo. How are you?”
She fluttered her hand. “Wonderful. My daughter is moving back to town. I can’t wait to have you both over for dinner. You are still single?”
He choked on his drink. “Um. Yes. But I’m much too busy to date.”
Mrs.J totally ignored Heather and patted his hand. “Well, since you’re single, I look forward to seeing you at dinner. You’ll adore my daughter. Tell your mother I said hello.” She leaped up and power walked away.
“Wow.” Heather laughed. “She’s something.”
“She’s Mom’s neighbor. I do not want to date her daughter, or anyone at this point. How do I get out of this?” He paused. His earlier idea returned full force. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to pretend we were dating. Would you?”
Her laughter shocked him. It rang out, ringing off the high ceiling and echoing around the large open space. People turned to stare, and smile.
“What’s so funny? I’m serious.” He’d thrown the idea out for consideration, but her amusement hurt. He massaged the ache in his forehead caused by her mirth.
“After you told your entire family about my fear of cats, you want to date?” She made air quotes around date and started laughing again. Finally, after an embarrassingly long time, she calmed. “You’re hilarious, Zander. Danged funny.”
“Are you saying no?” He tried not to frown.
“I’m saying I’ll think about it. Although frankly, I don’t see what’s in it for me.” She chuckled again. “Not that you aren’t good company. But I recall something about your brother and castration.”
“Well, it didn’t hurt to ask.” They’d talked a few times at the inn, and he enjoyed her company. They were more than acquaintances, but not quite friends. Why couldn’t getting to know each other be part of dating? More importantly, why did it seem so imperative that she agree?
Chapter 8
Heather was up with the birds, despite it being her day off. Accustomed to being up early to start breakfast every morning, the habit was too ingrained to break. She didn’t even need an alarm clock.
Last night she’d spent two hours listening to Quinn arguing with her boyfriend in the middle of the night. It didn’t matter, her internal clock said it was time to get up. She slipped into some hot pink yoga pants and a T-shirt, grabbed her debit card, and snuck out the door. The morning was bright, but chilly.
The perfect day for a jog. She certainly wasn’t a fitness freak. Her relationship with fitness was on-again, off-again. She worked out because she had to, not because she liked it. In the far distance, a lawn mower droned. Fluffy white clouds skittered across the sky on a wind that didn’t reach the ground. It was a beautiful day. The clear sky promised heat and sunshine. A perfect day.
After stretching she ambled down the street and after a few blocks broke into a light jog. Nothing serious, just enough to get her heartrate up. She worked out twice a week on her days off. Always Mondays, and another day she scheduled at random, depending on who else was working in her kitchen. Okay, the inn’s kitchen.
It wasn’t the kitchen she’d envisioned owning when she dumped her money into her thieving ex’s plan to open the next great thing in fusion cuisine, but it was well stocked and had top quality appliances. She controlled it, within set guidelines, so it felt like hers. It wasn’t as good as owning her own place, but it was satisfying.
She smiled as she jogged along the beach. The salty tang of sea water hung in the air. It was such a change from city smog that she stopped to enjoy it and watch the waves roll in.
The phone in her pocket rang and she pulled it out. Marv! What could he want? She didn’t care. Nothing he could say to her mattered. They were over. She hit decline and pocketed the phone. Her smile threatened to slip. She increased her pace and ran through the playpark. She wasn’t going to let him ruin her day.
She had intended to take a short jog and head to the Tide’s In Café for a latte but with her dark thoughts she reconsidered. She pushed on, leaving the beach. She jogged faster and faster until there was nothing left but the sound of her feet on the pavement and the thrumming of her blood in her ears. Her entire being was focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Running helped purge the demons chasing her.
She pushed harder. Faster. Longer strides. Marv’s gloating face kept popping back into her mind. There was no escaping him. She gave one more push, giving her legs everything she had left.
Willing Marv’s face to disappear but still running, she closed her eyes for a fraction of a second as she rounded the last corner onto Ocean Drive, the center of Half Moon Bay’s retail sector and home to the café.
“Whoa!”
She heard the familiar voice and crashed into something solid. She teetered backward and rocked on her heels. Her eyes flew open as strong hands grabbed her arms and held her upright. She let out a yelp. She wasn’t expecting anyone to be out this early.
