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Their fake dating had gone so well he was hooked on her. He wanted to be with her twenty-fourseven. It wasn’t what he had planned. She was taking up too much of his time. He’d even skipped a family dinner to be with her. He knew that if he called, they’d go out, and he was barely able to resist. Twice, he found himself in his truck on the way to the inn, to visit her. Both times, he’d gotten out and stayed home.
Somehow, along the way, he’d forgotten she was Derrick’s employee and that what they shared wasn’t real. Fake dating, not actual dating, he reminded himself. They were just friends. She was long-term material, not the stuff of flings which meant, no matter which way he sliced it, she was not for him.
His heart shriveled a little.
He worked with his office door almost closed to reduce the noise drifting in from the front desk. Jenny loved to sing along with the radio, though her voice wouldn’t win any awards. She wasn’t terrible, but she never hit the high notes, despite trying way too hard and way too loudly. Today was twice as bad because his assistant joined in the off-key rendition of Corb Lund’sTruck Got Stuck.
The music shut off abruptly. In an unnaturally loud voice Jenny called, “Mrs. Bellamie. So good to see you.” The raised voice was her way of announcing unexpected or potentially unwanted visitors.
Zander typed the last few words in his report and hit save just as his mother strolled into his office without knocking. Her gray hair was mussed, but she was glowing.
“Oh, so you aren’t dead,” she greeted him and smiled. She rounded his desk and hugged him before taking the seat across from him. She leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “I called you three days ago, you never answered.”
“Mom. Hi. I’ve been busy. How are you doing? You look great.” She was fast losing her winter pallor. She’d traded her jeans for walking shorts and a sleeveless blouse. She’d started walking after his father died. It was her way of coping with the loss. Now, she walked every day without fail. He wished he had her dedication. “Did you walk out here?”
“No. Don’t be silly. It’s miles. I rode my bicycle.”
“You have a bike? When did you get that?” Wearing a helmet would explain her mussed up hair.
“On the weekend. You’d know that if you called.”
Direct hit to his guilt gene.
“Why haven’t you called?”
He suddenly felt like he was in a battle, and she’d just fired a warning shot across his bow. He quirked one eyebrow. “Busy? Besides, you don’t need me pestering you every day. Do you?” Jenny came in carrying two mugs of coffee. “Thanks, Jenny.” She nodded and left, pulling the door closed behind.
“Alexander Gage Bellamie, I do notneedyou to check in on me, but Iwantyou to. It’s reassuring to know my children are well. You are well, aren’t you? None of your brothers have heard from you either. Only Ella has.”
“You’re checking up on me?” This was a twist.
“Tyson called. He’s concerned.”
Zander resisted the urge to roll his eyes. In a matter of days, he’d gone from being barked at for keeping tabs on everyone to being chided for not checking on them. His family was nuts. “Mom. I’m fine. I’m busy. I do have a job.”
“That’s never stopped you before. What changed?” She gave him a look that said she knew he was keeping secrets.
“Absolutely nothing. Mom, I’m busy. I need to hire another vet, and probably another tech and more front staff. Half Moon Bay is growing, and tourist season has started. There’s too much work for one man to handle.”
“Indeed. And yet, I’ve heard, more than once, that you’ve been seen around town with a woman. How does that fit into your busy schedule? Or is that why you’re busy?” She leaned forward in interest. “Tell me about her. Are you dating? Is it serious? Do I know her, or is she a tourist?” She threw the questions out like a boxer throwing punches.
It was barely tourist season, though they’d be flocking to town in droves by July long weekend. “Mom!” His voice rose in exasperation, and he had to take a breath to relax. “I bumped into a woman I know when I was out for a walk. We walked together and talked.”
“Oh, Heather. I heard you’d been in the café together and then were seen walking on the bluffs.” She pinned him with her best’fess up stare. “I heard you told Alma Stagling that you were dating. Of course, you never mentioned it to any of your family.”
“Okay, Heather and I are dating.” He fumbled for a way to make it sound legit. “I didn’t tell you because it’s new. We aren’t serious. Yet. I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”Or his.
“Wonderful! Heather is a lovely girl. She’d make a nice wife for you.”
“Heather would make a nice wife for anyone, but I am definitely not looking for a wife. Tyson needs a wife, why don’t you find him a date?”
A picture of Tyson and Heather locked in an embrace flashed into his mind. It hit like a foot to the nuts. The idea of Heather with anyone but him made his hackles rise and his stomach clench. Tyson was not the right man for Heather.
“I have been trying to set him up, believe me.” She gave him a sly smile. “You and Heather make a great couple and your babies will be adorable.” She sipped her coffee with an air of satisfaction like she’d just arranged world peace. She made no bones about wanting more grandchildren, but this was ridiculous.
“Mom. Don’t even start. We’re barely dating. Hardly more than friends. We don’t know where it’s going. So, we’re keeping it quiet. I’m pretty sure Derrick doesn’t want me near her. Can we just keep this between us for now?”
“Fine.” A mother’sfinewas worse than a girlfriend’sfine. Her acquiescence wouldn’t last long. Her frown was both admonishing and understanding.
