Just One Kiss by Carla Cassidy Page B

particularly cater to tourists, she’d seen several shops that had looked interesting and demanded further exploration.
    Jack.
    His image filled her head and a tiny surge of regret swept through her as she thought of the way they had parted. He’d been angry and she’d been offended, and she wished they had parted on more amicable terms.
    She frowned, steadfastly attempting to shove thoughts of him away. There was nothing to gain by entertaining thoughts of him.
    She would finish her vacation, then go home and get back to her life. Jack had been an interesting diversion, but nothing more. He had been her very own ship passing in the night.
    She managed to avoid thinking about Jack all day, as she and Nathaniel drove around the small town. It was just after two when they returned to their motel room. Almost immediately Nathaniel went down for a nap and Marissa unloaded the bags of items she had purchased.
    She’d found a beautifully decorated trinket box for her grandmother, who collected them. She’d bought herself an oversize nightshirt that read Mason Bridge Beach. She only hoped sleeping in the shirt wouldn’t evoke dreams of a certain dark-haired, blue-eyed grouch.
    After tucking the trinket box into a padded compartment of her suitcase, she decided to give her grandmother a quick call and tell her again how grateful she was for the gift of the vacation.
    As she sat on the edge of the bed and reached for the phone, she saw the message light blinking. She pressed the buttons to retrieve the message and was surprised to hear Jack’s voice.
    â€œMarissa…it’s me. Jack…Jack Coffey. Uh…could you give me a call?” The message ended with him reciting his phone number.
    Marissa committed the number to memory, but hesitated before dialing it. Why had he called? Was it possible she’d left something at his place? She ran through a quick mental checklist, but couldn’t think of what she might possibly have left behind.
    So why had he called? He’d sounded ill at ease, hesitant, so unlike himself.
    â€œThere’s only one way to find out what he wants,” she said aloud, and quickly punched in his number. “Jack,” she said when he answered. “It’s me.”
    â€œHi, Marissa.”
    She tried to ignore the slight flutter of her heart at the sound of his deep voice. Heartburn, she told herself, probably from the burritos at lunch. “I got your message. What’s up?”
    â€œI’ve got something for you and I was wondering if you could come by and get it.”
    â€œSomething for me?” She frowned, wondering what it could be.
    â€œIt’s not a big deal,” he added hurriedly. “Just a little something I thought you might be able to use. So, can you come and get it?”
    â€œYou mean right now?” She looked at the sleeping Nathaniel. “Nathaniel is taking a nap right now, so it will have to be some time later this afternoon.”
    There was a long pause. “Why don’t you come for supper? I think I’ve got a couple of steaks in the freezer and can manage cooking them up…unless you have other plans.”
    â€œNo, no other plans,” she said quickly. She was confused. Day before yesterday, he’d all but thrown her out of his place. Now suddenly he wanted to cook her a steak dinner?
    â€œWhy don’t you and junior come by about six? I’ll grill a hot dog for him.”
    â€œOkay, then, I’ll see you at six.”
    Marissa hung up, as confused as ever. She almost felt as if Jack had asked her for a date. But that was ridiculous.
    Still, that evening as she got ready to go to Jack’s, she felt as if she were dressing for a date. She put on and took off half a dozen outfits before finally settling on a light pink sundress that was casual, yet more dressy than shorts.
    A touch of mascara, a dab of lipstick and a spritz of perfume later, she proclaimed herself ready