Chance at Love on Mystic Bay (Island County Series Book 6)

by Karice Bolton

  “You’re blushing.” Chance said, just as the server brought fried calamari and bruschetta.

  “Just remembering the last couple times I was on one.”

  “Old boyfriend? Santa mishap?”

  “Ugh. Not even.” I shivered and Chance laughed. “I don’t believe in those.”

  “Santa or boyfriends?”

  “Boyfriends. Santa I fully believe in.”

  “If you didn’t leave anyone at sea with their ankles tied to ten pounds of concrete then what would make you look so uncomfortable.”

  I laughed thinking about what kind of mind would come up with that story and scooted forward, bringing my voice to a whisper. “I get really seasick, or at least I did the last few times I went boating. Like to the point of my friends trying to turn the boat around every time.”

  “Same friends each time?”

  “No.” I furrowed my brows. “What’s really weird is I never got seasick growing up. I’d been in some rough seas.”

  He chuckled. “I think everyone says that.”

  “Seriously. It’s just something that’s happened in the last few years. The first time I thought it was because of something I’d eaten. The second time I thought it was because someone else started the process by heaving over the side of the boat.” I sighed. “And by the third time, I realized I wasn’t cut out for sea living.”

  “That is the worst.” Chance shook his head. “Once you’re out in the middle of the water, there is nothing you can do but get back to solid land. You feel trapped and. . .”

  “Tell me about it.” I piled several calamari on my plate. “So it’s happened to you?”

  “Nope.” He flashed a coy grin. “And like I’d tell you if it did. I have a rep to uphold.”

  “You do?” I teased. “What is the rep?”

  “Well, I was trying to come off as the cool, confident, somewhat cocky guy.”

  I twisted my lips into a contemplative pout. “I suppose you succeeded at that, especially once you dumped the water on my tree. That move definitely showed a man with confidence and the ability to maintain calmness under pressure.”

  “There you go. A regular everyday hero.”

  His gaze steadied on mine, and I felt a pull that skipped right over the friend zone I’d planned on putting him in. I needed to remind him and me that he wasn’t going to be here for long.

  “So I heard you’re moving to Portland?”

  His brow lifted and he took a bit of bruschetta and so did I.

  “I might be.” He took a sip of his martini. “But the plans aren’t set in stone.”

  “Oh, I thought it was a sure thing.” A bit of panic rose deep in my chest. I needed him to move out of the state when this was all over. Not that he’d even agreed to my idea yet.

  “I don’t think there is anything in life that is a sure thing. So you were asking about me?” He sounded a little too pleased.

  “No. I wasn’t asking.” I shook my head and took another bite of bruschetta. “My sister happened to mention Portland once I told her that you saved my store.”

  “I don’t know that I entirely believe that.”

  “Is that the cocky part coming out?” I teased.

  He nodded briefly before his grin widened. “Yeah. I’m not afraid to tell you that I looked you up. I was shocked to see—”

  I froze as the words settled over me. I hadn’t even looked myself up since I moved to Fireweed. The last time I Googled my name an edition of my hometown newspaper where I was on the front page had been archived and was available to view.

  “It was horrible and the article wasn’t even accurate. I was the one who got left at the altar. The article made it sound like he was the victim. It was the most bizarre time in my life. Like why not tell me, say before the wedding, you don’t plan on marrying me.” I finally took in a deep breath and saw the horror in Chance’s gaze.

  He didn’t know and I just had to open my big flapper.

  “You were engaged?” he asked softly.

  “Yup.” I suddenly felt ill.

  Why didn’t I just let him finish his sentence?

  “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe someone would do that to you or anyone, actually.” He shook his head, letting out a deep sigh.

  “That’s not even the worst of it, but we can save that for our second or third date.” I winked, attempting to keep it light and play it cool while internally combusting. “So since that wasn’t what you were going to say, I’d love to hear what you found.”

  He studied me carefully, but it wasn’t with pity. He looked genuinely curious about the circumstances that led up to the big day, before pushing his curiosity aside to respond.

  “Well, I was going to tell you that you’re a woman who does a good job of keeping a low profile.”

  “Until I open my mouth.” I laughed, and for some reason, it actually felt like the weight of the world had been lifted. “I haven’t gotten caught up in the whole social media world. I either forget my passwords and lock myself out of the account or post the wrong thing at the wrong time.”

  “There are some professional benefits to having more exposure online though. Our farm has seen an uptick in online orders from social media posts. Maybe if you posted a photo of a good-looking man sipping a cup of your tea, you might sell even more.”

  “Well, when you find a guy like that, let me know, and maybe I’ll give it a try.”

  He covered his heart, looking wounded.

  “Kidding.”

  “Are you though?” he teased.

  “Absolutely,” I assured him. “You’re kind of complicating my very well-planned world.”

  “How so?” He folded his hands on the table as the server removed our appetizer plates.

  I squirmed uncomfortably in my chair and glanced out the window, wishing the Christmas boat parade was still touring the bay.

  “I tend to keep to myself. So, to start the new year, I made a pact with myself.”

  “Okay. . .” He sounded a bit apprehensive and sucked in a deep breath. “What does that have to do with me?”

  “Well, as you can imagine, I’m a little gun-shy when it comes to the opposite sex.”

  “I can understand that.” He nodded. “That would make even the most trusting soul skeptical.”

  “I left it all behind and came out to Fireweed to start over. I don’t bring it up because I don’t want to give my ex-fiancé power, but what I’ve come to realize is that not only don’t I bring up that part of my life, I shut out anyone who happens to be in the same category as my ex.”

  “So you mean the male species.” Chance’s brow rose and I nodded.

  “That doesn’t bode well for me.” He leaned back in his chair.

  “Probably not long-term, no,” I confessed. “But I want to work on myself.”

  “Nothing wrong with that.” Amusement settled in his expression again.

  “I told myself I would befriend the next man who walked into my store.”

  “Doesn’t sound so bad.” He wiped his brow. “So do you have these conversations with yourself often?”

  “Probably a little too frequently . . .yes.” I took a sip of wine. “Which is another good reason to expand my circle.”

  He laughed.

  “I expected Dorinda to come to my store that night and actually thought the next guy would be my UPS driver, Danny.”

  “You sound disappointed.” The humor in his expression quickly faded as he watched me.

  “Not disappointed.” I shook my head. “Just confused. I hadn’t expected to be so . . .”

  Attracted.

  Turned-on.

  “Intrigued,” I finally said. “With the man who walked into the tea shop.”

  “You’re intrigued with me?” Chance asked, sounding somewhat surprised.

  “A tad.” The server brought our main dish and refilled our drinks. “And I need to do this with someone who will stay in the friend zone.”

  I cut into the steak, s
uddenly hoping to change the subject. Why did he have to be so easy to talk to? I knew my plan was a little out there, but something told me he would be game to give it a go, and now I wasn’t sure that would be in anyone’s best interest.

  “So you want to grow your inner circle?” Chance asked, his eyes lingering on mine. “That sounds like a plan I can get behind.”

  “My sister thrives on spontaneity and impulsive decisions. I used to be like that, but I learned my lesson.” I realized I’d said more than I intended and immediately went for a sip of wine. “But I’d like to dabble a little.”

  “Spontaneity has a time and a place.” He nodded. “But so does setting goals and meeting those goals.”

  “A man after my own heart.” I laughed and took a bite of the rib eye. “You weren’t kidding. This is delicious.”

  “I know my food.” He smiled, his eyes staying on mine. “You, however, I can’t read. I feel like there’s more going on than you’re letting on.”

  “I haven’t had the best luck with choosing men, so after the whole situation I’ve just sworn off the opposite sex altogether.”

  If that didn’t make him run, nothing would.

  “Dating is an art form few have learned to master,” he agreed.

  “Well, I’ve given up on it completely.” I took another bite and washed it down with the wine. “Until now.”

  “I hope I don’t disappoint you.” His teeth sank into his lower lip and I looked away. He didn’t have any idea how sexy he looked when he was contemplating life, and I certainly didn’t want to tell him.

  “I’m not ready to date exactly. In fact, I might choose to give up on the whole notion forever.” I shook my head, and my eyes stayed on Chance’s. “But I do want to get inside the head of a man.”

  “Pardon?” He wiped his mouth with the napkin.

  “I’ve got a proposition for you.”

  “What’s that?” His eyes locked on mine, and I saw fascination run through his gaze.

  “I’d like a completely platonic relationship with you. I’d like to learn what a man’s view of the world consists of. What his views on women, love, family, and friendship are. What cues could I possibly be missing?”

  “Because you think all men are only thinking one way?” he asked.

  “Not at all.” I was surprised and relieved he hadn’t run out of the restaurant screaming yet. “But I do think you might give me some really amazing insight that I could take with me into the future. Having you come into my store that night wasn’t just happenchance.” I chuckled. “No pun intended, and since it sounds like you might not be sticking around these parts long-term anyway. . .”

  “I’m the perfect victim for your experiment.” He grinned, relaxing in his chair a little more.

  “I wouldn’t say victim.” I laughed nervously. “I’d say participant.”

  “Will you tell me what else that man did to you to make you hate us all?”

  “Maybe someday, but I don’t hate men. I just don’t have any room for them in my life, in general terms.”

  “The faith you have in me.” He laughed softly. “This is definitely not what I thought tonight would be about.”

  “I’m full of surprises.”

  “I can see that.” His gaze fell to his steak. “So we get to spend time together, platonically, while you pick my brain about what guys think.”

  I nodded.

  “I’m one of a kind though, Maddie.” His expression warned. “I might not fit the mold and this experiment just might blow up on you. Then what?”

  “Then I’ll know.”

  “You’ll know what?”

  I pressed my lips together and brought in a deep breath.

  Chance let out a slow and low whistle, not pressing me for an answer. “This is a huge responsibility, but I’m up for the challenge.”

  “So no monkey business?” I asked.

  “Absolutely not. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

  “You don’t have to be on your best behavior. Just be honest with me and raw with emotion, even when something pops into your head that might sound a little over the top.”

  He dropped his gaze to his plate and hid a smile.

  “Whatever you say.”

  Chapter Five

  I’d gone to the shop to wait for UPS to pick up our packages before closing down early and heading over to the big event. The temperature was near freezing, but it seemed like the entire town had shown up for the Polar Bear Dip. Several food trucks circled part of the park and a large bonfire was blazing near the water. I spotted my sister and she waved me over.

  I was still keeping an eye out for Chance. After dinner last night, I knew I was in trouble. Not only was the man easy on the eyes, he had an amazing heart and could keep the conversation moving even when I stumbled over my words.

  An issue I vowed to correct today.

  I hadn’t expected him to agree to my platonic arrangement quite so easily. It didn’t hit me until I got home just how agreeable he was about the idea, which made me curious.

  I wasn’t a woman who got tongue-tied over a cute guy. But there was something different about Chance. He just made thoughts pop into my head that shouldn’t be there.

  I tugged my red wool cap over my ears and made my way over to Holly.

  “You look so cute,” she gushed, giving me a hug. “I heard you went out with Chance last night.”

  “You shouldn’t believe town gossip.” I scanned the crowd.

  “Looking for someone?”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “No. I’m going to go get a hot dog. Want one?”

  “I shouldn’t dive into the water on a full stomach.”

  “You’re really going to jump in?” I was shocked my sister was willing to subject herself to icy temps with nothing but a bonfire to warm her up. Although, it was Holly and she was pretty much impossible to predict.

  I, on the other hand, was as predictable as a Swiss watch, and I wasn’t sure that was a good thing. My personality had led to some interesting successes, all perfectly planned out, but at times, it felt as if I were missing out on life’s surprises.

  “Yup and that’s not all, but you’ll see. It’s for a good cause.” She winked, and I followed her gaze to Andrea, Nick’s prior girlfriend from hell, weaving her way through the crowd. She didn’t even live on the island.

  I’d say his ex was a stage-ten clinger at this point, but it wasn’t my business. I gave my sister a squeeze and made my way to the hot dog truck just as Jewels began wrangling in all the jumpers.

  I was bundled up in a black down jacket, wool hat, scarf, gloves, and boots, and I was still freezing. Watching the crowd begin stripping down to shorts, swimsuits and who knew what else was enough to make me want to sit in the car with the heater running.

  “Next,” a husky voice called out.

  I looked up at the guy in the hot dog truck and smiled.

  He had black hair buzzed short, with a matching beard, tattoos up both arms, and a piercing in his ear. His green eyes met mine, and his smile widened.

  “What can I get for you?”

  I scanned the menu quickly and decided on a hot dog, garnished with tater tots and cheese sauce. If that didn’t warm me up, nothing would.

  “I’d like the Tater Dog.”

  “Comin’ right up.” He left the window and started working immediately on my order. In less than a minute, he came to the window with the gourmet hot dog, sliding it to me. “Have a wonderful day.” He went to shut the window.

  “Oh, you didn’t charge me for the order. How much do I owe you?”

  “It’s on me.” He winked.

  “Really?”

  “Yup.”

  “Well, thank you.” I turned around and made my way through the shifting crowd. I glanced behind me and noticed hot dog man was still watching me, and I had to hide my smile. Was this just a good week for me?

  I took a bite of the hot dog, and the delicious combo of tater tots and cheese
sauce told me I’d made the right decision. I found a place to stand between the stage and bonfire, and I noticed my sister climbing onto the platform where Jewels was making her announcements about the donations for the library. All proceeds from today’s Polar Bear Dip were going to the library fund.

  As I took another extremely messy and scrumptious bite, my sister’s eyes fell on me, and she laughed just as Jewels made her announcement about my sister.

  Holly was being raffled off!

  She was willing to dunk herself in the chilly water with a perfect stranger holding her tight.

  I quickly finished my hot dog, feeling less than great about myself, as men in the crowd upped the bidding on my sister while I licked the last of the cheese sauce from my fingers.

  As the bidding ended and Holly was ushered off the stage, I saw Nick pull her into him and help her to the end of the dock as all the other crazy people followed behind.

  “He’s got it real bad,” Jewels said, coming up behind me. “Nick’s done for.”

  “You think?” I asked, hoping above all hope that this was Holly’s happily-ever-after.

  “Without a doubt.” She nodded just as Nick and Holly jumped into the frigid water. I swore in less than a second, they were both out of the water and Nick was taking care of her, drying her off, and getting hot cider to her.

  Joy filled me up as I saw him with my sister. I think they really had found their perfect match.

  “Hey, Maddie.” Chance’s voice echoed over the crowd of freezing people as they found their way to the bonfire.

  I turned around and spotted him making his way through a few of the jumpers as they were toweling off.

  “Hey.”

  So far so good.

  “Did you come to see your crazy brother jump into the freezing water?” Jewels asked, smiling.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it.” He grinned wider. “Anything to raise a penny for his girl’s cause.”

  “Jake has done a pretty good job of raising money. I think I might keep him.” She glanced at Chance and then at me. “So it sounds like Chance was at the right place at the right time.”