eat? But, totally
not a big deal if you can’t, because you’re probably tired and you need to change
and then you have to be here so early and—”
“Sure.”
Haven’s pulse whirled, making her feel slightly off balance.
“Oh, really? Cool.” She hadn’t thought past the invitation.
“I have an idea. Why don’t you come to my place? I have a feeling it’s part of the
island you might not know so well. Maybe it will be something different.”
“Like have dinner at your place?” Now her stomach was doing flips. This was starting
to feel like a date. When he started walking away, a part of her wanted him to stay
a little longer, but a date, that was something else. Although, she questioned why
she would be resistant to him. He was cute and sexy. All day, he had made her laugh
and he had this crazy calming effect on her that was hard to ignore.
“I can’t guarantee it will be the best meal, but yeah, let’s try it. Consider it my
thank you for the job.”
Haven didn’t know how to react. She already knew that this dinner was crossing the
line, but it was hard to explain how something about Jay put her at ease, no matter
how many times she caught him checking her out today.
“Yeah, we can talk about writing.” She had tried all day to bring it up, but he kept
asking work-related questions. Maybe over dinner, she would get to ask him if words
hit him like they did her. If he woke up in the middle of night with a life or death
mission to get the words out. Yes, there were things she definitely wanted to ask
him. “But since you dunked me in the creek, I need to change. Give me the address
and I’ll meet you in an hour.”
He smiled. “Ok. I’m at the Perry Campground, last trailer on the right. You’ll see
the name, Silver Belle.”
“I don’t know what to make fun of first: the campground or the name.” She giggled
and pulled her bike from the rack.
“It’s high living for me.” He retrieved a pair of keys from his soggy shorts. “See
you in an hour.”
“Bye.” She grasped the handlebars and pushed down on the pedals—half-watching Jay,
and half-watching the road in front of her.
In an hour’s time, she would be having dinner with a handsome writer. Haven didn’t
think she could have written a better ending to her day if she had tried.
E VAN SPUN into his usual parking space near Silver Belle, and raced into the camper. It looked
like a tornado had blasted through the place. What was he thinking asking a girl over?
Two weeks of solitude were starting to take their toll on his judgment. He shook his
head and started hiding all signs of his bachelor lifestyle.
He pulled the trash from the bin and tied the sack. As soon as he exited the camper,
Charlotte stopped him. This was her usual time to hit the sand for beachcombing.
“Hey, stranger. Haven’t seen you all day,” she purred.
“Hey, Charlotte.” He didn’t have time for this. “I’m kind of in a hurry.”
“Oh shoot. I was going to ask if you wanted to come over for a beer after my walk.
I have your favorite. You drink that Texas stuff, right?”
“That’s real nice of you, but actually, I have a friend coming over tonight.” Maybe
this was the deterrent the woman needed. If she saw him with another girl, she might
take the hint.
“Oh, that’s too bad. But, baby, don’t worry. That beer won’t go bad. We’ll just do
it another time.” She patted him on the shoulder as she headed down to the beach.
Evan was convinced nothing would dissuade Charlotte. He clutched the trash bag in
his hand, and jogged to the dumpster near the office. He still had a few minutes to
jump in the shower before Haven arrived.
E VAN LOOKED in the mirror one more time and rubbed his palm against the smoothness of his jaw.
He looked more like himself than he had in weeks. He liked the beard, but it wasn’t
really him. It was a part of letting everything go in his
not a big deal if you can’t, because you’re probably tired and you need to change
and then you have to be here so early and—”
“Sure.”
Haven’s pulse whirled, making her feel slightly off balance.
“Oh, really? Cool.” She hadn’t thought past the invitation.
“I have an idea. Why don’t you come to my place? I have a feeling it’s part of the
island you might not know so well. Maybe it will be something different.”
“Like have dinner at your place?” Now her stomach was doing flips. This was starting
to feel like a date. When he started walking away, a part of her wanted him to stay
a little longer, but a date, that was something else. Although, she questioned why
she would be resistant to him. He was cute and sexy. All day, he had made her laugh
and he had this crazy calming effect on her that was hard to ignore.
“I can’t guarantee it will be the best meal, but yeah, let’s try it. Consider it my
thank you for the job.”
Haven didn’t know how to react. She already knew that this dinner was crossing the
line, but it was hard to explain how something about Jay put her at ease, no matter
how many times she caught him checking her out today.
“Yeah, we can talk about writing.” She had tried all day to bring it up, but he kept
asking work-related questions. Maybe over dinner, she would get to ask him if words
hit him like they did her. If he woke up in the middle of night with a life or death
mission to get the words out. Yes, there were things she definitely wanted to ask
him. “But since you dunked me in the creek, I need to change. Give me the address
and I’ll meet you in an hour.”
He smiled. “Ok. I’m at the Perry Campground, last trailer on the right. You’ll see
the name, Silver Belle.”
“I don’t know what to make fun of first: the campground or the name.” She giggled
and pulled her bike from the rack.
“It’s high living for me.” He retrieved a pair of keys from his soggy shorts. “See
you in an hour.”
“Bye.” She grasped the handlebars and pushed down on the pedals—half-watching Jay,
and half-watching the road in front of her.
In an hour’s time, she would be having dinner with a handsome writer. Haven didn’t
think she could have written a better ending to her day if she had tried.
E VAN SPUN into his usual parking space near Silver Belle, and raced into the camper. It looked
like a tornado had blasted through the place. What was he thinking asking a girl over?
Two weeks of solitude were starting to take their toll on his judgment. He shook his
head and started hiding all signs of his bachelor lifestyle.
He pulled the trash from the bin and tied the sack. As soon as he exited the camper,
Charlotte stopped him. This was her usual time to hit the sand for beachcombing.
“Hey, stranger. Haven’t seen you all day,” she purred.
“Hey, Charlotte.” He didn’t have time for this. “I’m kind of in a hurry.”
“Oh shoot. I was going to ask if you wanted to come over for a beer after my walk.
I have your favorite. You drink that Texas stuff, right?”
“That’s real nice of you, but actually, I have a friend coming over tonight.” Maybe
this was the deterrent the woman needed. If she saw him with another girl, she might
take the hint.
“Oh, that’s too bad. But, baby, don’t worry. That beer won’t go bad. We’ll just do
it another time.” She patted him on the shoulder as she headed down to the beach.
Evan was convinced nothing would dissuade Charlotte. He clutched the trash bag in
his hand, and jogged to the dumpster near the office. He still had a few minutes to
jump in the shower before Haven arrived.
E VAN LOOKED in the mirror one more time and rubbed his palm against the smoothness of his jaw.
He looked more like himself than he had in weeks. He liked the beard, but it wasn’t
really him. It was a part of letting everything go in his
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