spot, Emma eyed him. Jason Levine: An incredibly attractive man who just proved he could engage in pleasant conversation. Wow. If he wasn’t trying to ruin her reputation, she might consider this to be a nice start to their date. More than nice, if she was completely honest.
Once parked, Emma opened her door and stretched her legs. Jason headed to the back and popped the trunk, pulling out a large wicker picnic basket. Blue and white gingham material peeked out from inside.
“What do we have here?” Emma raised an eyebrow. “Why, Mr. South Beach, I wouldn’t think of you as a small-town picnic basket kind of guy.”
“No? I know a thing or two about picnics.” He laughed and conceded. “Okay, you got me. It was in the kitchen pantry. The wine and plastic cups are inside. I didn’t think Caitlin’s parents would mind my borrowing the basket.”
“Probably not.” She crossed her arms and looked around. She’d forgotten all about her high school nemesis. Where was she tonight, and did she know that her new boy-toy was spending the evening with Emma?
One way to find out. “Where’s Caitlin?” she asked, trying her best to sound indifferent.
Jason pulled the trunk down. “Don’t know. Haven’t seen her in a couple of days.”
“Really? But aren’t you two?” She wiggled her nose. “Never mind.” She really didn’t want to hear the sordid details.
“Aren’t we what?” His phone in his hand rang. “Hold that thought. Hello?”
Emma turned her back to him. The parking lot was nearly full and soon the lawn would be packed. The town would be abuzz recounting Emma’s night out with her high-priced summer fling.
Jason tapped her on the shoulder. “It’s my buddy, Brandon. I have to take this. Why don’t you find us a spot? I’ll only be a minute.”
“Already done.” She pointed to the park’s entrance. “See that big oak tree?”
He nodded.
“Abby’s under there. It’s our usual meeting place.” She took the picnic basket from him.
“Got it. I’ll be right behind you.” He flashed her a smile and turned to take the call.
She headed for the park’s entrance. It was probably better that Jason and she didn’t show up together. Located in the center of town, the area was a popular gathering place in the summer. Movie night always drew a big crowd. If Jason appeared after she sat down and got situated, perhaps it would minimize the gossip.
“About time,” Abby called. She sat on her knees on a deep blue blanket that covered the entire area under the oak tree. It would be plenty of room for all of them. Abby had organized the snacks she had brought in colorful trays and small bowls. Always the party planner, leave it to her cousin to have a decadent spread of cheese and fruit for the wine.
“The movie hasn’t even started.” Emma squatted down next to her cousin, getting a whiff of Abby’s strong floral perfume. “Someone’s gone all out for her fling.”
“Um . . . Speak for yourself. Those perfectly coifed loose curls didn’t get on your pretty little head without some effort.”
Emma laughed and pulled her hair to one side. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“So, where’s Jason?” Abby raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you two got into another fight? He’s coming, isn’t he?”
“Relax.” Emma opened the picnic basket because this conversation called for some wine. “He’ll be here in a minute. He brought us refreshments.” She pulled out a bottle and showed it off to her cousin then looked back inside. Impressive. Jason had even remembered to put it in a wine cooler bag to keep it chilled. Michael would have never thought to do that.
“Yes! I love that man. Let’s open it now. I’m thirsty.”
“Hold on a second.” Emma pulled out two plastic cups and searched for the wine opener.
“Here, try this.” Abby shoved a bowl of celery with orange dip wedged in its middle in front of Emma.
Emma grabbed a piece of celery, swirling
Once parked, Emma opened her door and stretched her legs. Jason headed to the back and popped the trunk, pulling out a large wicker picnic basket. Blue and white gingham material peeked out from inside.
“What do we have here?” Emma raised an eyebrow. “Why, Mr. South Beach, I wouldn’t think of you as a small-town picnic basket kind of guy.”
“No? I know a thing or two about picnics.” He laughed and conceded. “Okay, you got me. It was in the kitchen pantry. The wine and plastic cups are inside. I didn’t think Caitlin’s parents would mind my borrowing the basket.”
“Probably not.” She crossed her arms and looked around. She’d forgotten all about her high school nemesis. Where was she tonight, and did she know that her new boy-toy was spending the evening with Emma?
One way to find out. “Where’s Caitlin?” she asked, trying her best to sound indifferent.
Jason pulled the trunk down. “Don’t know. Haven’t seen her in a couple of days.”
“Really? But aren’t you two?” She wiggled her nose. “Never mind.” She really didn’t want to hear the sordid details.
“Aren’t we what?” His phone in his hand rang. “Hold that thought. Hello?”
Emma turned her back to him. The parking lot was nearly full and soon the lawn would be packed. The town would be abuzz recounting Emma’s night out with her high-priced summer fling.
Jason tapped her on the shoulder. “It’s my buddy, Brandon. I have to take this. Why don’t you find us a spot? I’ll only be a minute.”
“Already done.” She pointed to the park’s entrance. “See that big oak tree?”
He nodded.
“Abby’s under there. It’s our usual meeting place.” She took the picnic basket from him.
“Got it. I’ll be right behind you.” He flashed her a smile and turned to take the call.
She headed for the park’s entrance. It was probably better that Jason and she didn’t show up together. Located in the center of town, the area was a popular gathering place in the summer. Movie night always drew a big crowd. If Jason appeared after she sat down and got situated, perhaps it would minimize the gossip.
“About time,” Abby called. She sat on her knees on a deep blue blanket that covered the entire area under the oak tree. It would be plenty of room for all of them. Abby had organized the snacks she had brought in colorful trays and small bowls. Always the party planner, leave it to her cousin to have a decadent spread of cheese and fruit for the wine.
“The movie hasn’t even started.” Emma squatted down next to her cousin, getting a whiff of Abby’s strong floral perfume. “Someone’s gone all out for her fling.”
“Um . . . Speak for yourself. Those perfectly coifed loose curls didn’t get on your pretty little head without some effort.”
Emma laughed and pulled her hair to one side. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“So, where’s Jason?” Abby raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you two got into another fight? He’s coming, isn’t he?”
“Relax.” Emma opened the picnic basket because this conversation called for some wine. “He’ll be here in a minute. He brought us refreshments.” She pulled out a bottle and showed it off to her cousin then looked back inside. Impressive. Jason had even remembered to put it in a wine cooler bag to keep it chilled. Michael would have never thought to do that.
“Yes! I love that man. Let’s open it now. I’m thirsty.”
“Hold on a second.” Emma pulled out two plastic cups and searched for the wine opener.
“Here, try this.” Abby shoved a bowl of celery with orange dip wedged in its middle in front of Emma.
Emma grabbed a piece of celery, swirling
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