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He’s silent.
“I just rolled with it. Guess it’s unlucky or something.”
Ben continues talking, but I don’t hear a word after the bell above the door chimes and I lift my eyes to see Libby walking up to the counter. I’m on a beautiful island where I spent numerous summers as a kid. Last night, I had an intriguing conversation with a beautiful woman. She might be a bit nuts as well, but damn, she makes it look good. Despite that glimmer of hope I may not be fully dead inside, the prospect of fun still seems like a distant wish. I’m still in the bitter stage of recovering from a major injury that ruined my plans and stole the only career I’d ever thought about.
“Riker?” Ben says.
“Yeah. Got it. We’ll finalize everything when I get back.” I’m in the back corner so she doesn’t see me. She sweeps her loose hair to the side as she steps up to order, and her Lavender halter and jean shorts show off her smooth pale skin. She has the look of someone who spends plenty of time indoors or wearing long sleeves and slacks. Except for that tanned left hand.
“You didn’t hear a word I just said.”
“Sorry, I’m enjoying the local sights.” Like a creeper. For the second time today. I’m off to a great start.
Ben chuckles. “Why don’t you pursue that?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I’m the last thing any woman like Libby needs, but I could use some more coffee. A perfectly reasonable excuse for a conversation, if she hadn’t caught me practically gawking this morning. Just like she will again if she looks over her shoulder.
“Too much for you?” Ben asks.
“Save it,” I grumble, ending the call.
The barista hands back Libby’s card and Libby’s brows draw together as she digs through her shoulder bag, handing over another card as she’s frantically tapping at her phone.
In need of another coffee myself, I head up to the counter.
“Sorry,” the barista says. “It’s not going through.”
Guess it’s meant to be.
As Libby groans, I offer my card to the barista. “I’ll have another black coffee and whatever she ordered.”
Libby gasps and spins around. “Thanks, but—”
She goes silent when she sees me.
“Thanks is good enough.”
While the barista prepares the order, Libby stares down at her phone, tapping and huffing.
“Everything okay?”
Waving her hands and phone, she shrugs and tucks it back in her shoulder bag. “Yeah, I guess I’ll just have to call when I get back to the condo. There’s nothing I can see, so hopefully it’s a glitch.”
The barista slides our coffees and Libby’s danish across the counter. “So, you on your way out, or you want to watch me eat, too?”
Her sparkling brown eyes match the smile on her face, catching me off guard as much as her verbal jab. When I don’t respond, she nudges me in the arm with her elbow as she passes. “Pick up your jaw and join me, if you want.”
Even the barista is grinning as I grab my coffee from the counter and follow Libby to a small booth near the window. Ben was right, and once again, I hate to admit it. I’m in over my head.
Chapter Three
Libby
Before digging into my Danish, I check my bank accounts again. The balances haven’t changed and there are no notifications, so I have to assume it was some kind of glitch.
“So, uh, this morning…” Riker slides in across from me, cradling his coffee between his hands as I break off a piece of danish.
I shrug. Sure, I’d caught him in his window when I’d come back from my run and decided to make sure he knew it. But if the roles were reversed, and he were the one out for a run, let’s face it, I would have been watching. Toying with him in the process was twice the fun. “We’re on the beach, I’m not going to fault you for staring out your window. Now if I catch you lookinginmy windows, I’ll be worried.”
