My cheeks flushed for absolutely no reason. “Yeah. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know what would have happened to my little store.”
“There is something about these Harlen men that just gets into you and doesn’t let go.” Jewels shot Chance a warning look. “But don’t let that go to your head.”
“Who me?”
“I’ll be back. Looks like my man’s about to dunk.” She darted through the crowd, and I drew in a deep breath.
“Thanks for dinner last night. It was really sweet of you. I fully intended to buy.”
“Well, you said you wanted to get into a guy’s head, right?”
I nodded.
“Well, I don’t think women should buy on a first date.”
“It wasn’t a date,” I corrected.
“Call me old school.” He nodded, shoving his hands into the pockets of his down jacket. His eyes fell to my scarf and he smiled. “Did you have cheese sauce recently?”
I froze in place and slowly looked down.
“I like to save some for later,” I mumbled, pulling out the napkin from my pocket and wiping the cheese sauce off my red scarf.
“Whatever works.” He laughed.
“So would that be cute or disgusting?”
“Cute. Did you get a dog from Billy’s?”
When the cheese was nothing more than a pale smear, I looked up at Chance. “Yup. It was pretty incredible.”
“Billy knows how to make gourmet hot dogs. He’s actually got a café on Hound Island.”
“Really?”
Chance nodded and glanced over at Billy’s food truck and waved.
“He’s not going to do very well in the long run if he’s busy giving away his hot dogs.”
“Billy gave you a hot dog?” Chance’s brows pulled together.
“Yup.” I noticed Billy watching us and this time it was my turn to wave.
“Oooh.” Chance sucked on his bottom lip, and my mind flashed to his lips somewhere else.
Darn him!
“He’s staking his claim.”
“What do you mean?” I slid another sideways glance toward Billy. He was trading a customer a hot dog for cash.
Maybe I was special.
“That’s how he does it. He works all the angles he can once he sets his sights.”
“Does what precisely?”
“First, it’s a free hot dog, then it’s an exchange of numbers . . .” Chance shook his head. “After that, I don’t even know what goes on, but I’ve obviously got my work cut out for me.”
“How do you figure?” My brow arched.
“He’s got wild stamped all over him, don’t you think?”
I saw Billy wipe his hands on a towel before he started slicing onions and laughed. “Yes. He’s definitely got wild written all over him. Literally.”
Chance rocked back on his heels.
“So you think he might be into me?” I prompted.
“Without a doubt.” He cleared his throat. “Would you want him to be?”
“Not sure. Why do you ask?”
“No reason.”
“Interesting.”
“Is it?” Chance asked, his gaze darkening as if he was accepting some sort of silent challenge.
“Yeah. So tell me, what do you think his next move will be?”
“I’m guessing the longer we stand here and talk, the more it will drive him nuts. I give him no more than five minutes, and he’ll be over here trying to get your number.” Chance sighed. “But, if he slides you his number, at least I don’t have to worry about you calling him.”
I turned my attention back to Chance and a coy smile spread across his lips.
“How do you know?” I furrowed my brows as a big gust of wind came over.
“Just a hunch. I mean you never called me.” A glint of satisfaction flashed through his eyes.
“Is that what you do? Give free lavender to girls you want to take out? Besides, you gave me less than twenty-four hours to call before you showed up.”
He grinned, not answering. There was something about Chance that just made the world feel right.
“Well, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.” I slipped my hands into my pockets.
“For you, maybe.” Chance chuckled.
A shiver ran through me and Chance caught it. “You want a cup of hot cider? I saw them handing cups out.”
“I’m okay. Although, it would help the best hot dog in the world go down all the way.”
“Best hot dog in the world?” His tone turned serious.
“I’d say so.” I nodded. “It was a great wiener.”
“Is that so?”
“I actually haven’t had one in so long, I don’t have much of a comparison.”
Chance’s lip curled up slightly.
The moment I realized what all came out of my mouth I no longer needed a hot cider, but I did want a rock to crawl under.
“Out of the two of us, it’s unfortunate that Billy was the one to end that drought.”
“So when are you headed back to Hound Island?” I asked, clearing my throat.
“Not soon enough, I’m guessing?” Chance’s smile about undid me.
“Not even.” I smacked him softly, and he somehow caught my hand in his.
As predicted, Billy wandered over right on time.
“What did I say? Five minutes?” Chance whispered and I giggled.
“So how was that hot dog?” Billy asked, crossing his tattooed arms over his chest.
He was really muscular, stretching out his gray t-shirt over his chest, and there was a definite spark about him, but truthfully, he was just too much.
I wasn’t sure how he wasn’t freezing to death, but maybe it was hot in the truck.
“It was the best hot dog in the world,” I told him, wishing my sister and I hadn’t gotten into the habit of calling hot dogs wieners. We did it to drive our parents crazy when we were young, and apparently karma really did exist.
“I was just telling Chance he had a lot to live up to when he makes me dinner tonight.”
I didn’t have to see Chance’s face to know a smile touched his lips.
“Oh, are you two a couple?” Billy asked, his eyes narrowing on Chance. “I thought you were seeing that nurse?”
Chance wrapped his arm around my shoulders and brought me into him. Being this close to him did all kinds of crazy things, but I was still mentally stuck on nurse.
Not that it mattered. We were platonic.
“Only went on a date with Marcy once,” Chance said, not letting go. “And if memory serves me right that was about a year ago. Thanks for asking though.”
A mischievous grin spread across Billy’s face before he let out a boisterous laugh. “My mistake.”
“I’m sure.” Chance nodded.
Billy reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He flipped the thin leather flap open and slipped a business card out and handed it to me.
“If you’re ever on Hound Island, feel free to stop by. It’ll be on the house.” He winked at me as I took the business card.
“Thanks.”
We watched Billy walk back to his truck and climb in. A small line had formed and I looked into Chance’s eyes.
“That was odd. Do you think he really wants me to stop by?”
“Do you really think I wanted you to call me when I left my number?” The low growl of his laughter warmed me up, and I nearly snuggled into him, but I wasn’t going to let myself go there. I’d been burned before and learned my lesson.
“Point taken.”
“The good news is that I’m far more persistent than Billy.” He unwrapped his arm from around me, and I immediately missed being next to him. “And I am going to take you up on the hot dog challenge tonight.”
I stared at him puzzled before remembering I’d used Chance as a decoy.
“I can make you a mean hot dog at your place or my brother’s,” Chance continued, pretending not to notice my
shock. “To stay in the friend zone, it might be safer at my brother’s.”
“Quite the confidence you have there.” I glanced over at Jewels and Jake.
She was helping dry his hair as he drank some sort of steaming liquid near the fire.
“You know what? I think I’ll take you up on the offer. Let me know when and I’ll be at your brother’s with a side.”
The look that flashed through Chance’s eyes made my entire world tilt, and I knew I needed to strengthen the walls around my heart because he was doing a mighty fine job at chipping them away.
Tonight was nothing more than a hot dog challenge with friends.
Chapter Six
I followed the dark road that turned into a long private driveway barely lit enough to stay on course. I didn’t know what had gotten into me to actually agree to invite myself over to Jake and Jewels’ house for a hot dog. Hopefully, Chance mentioned that I was showing up.
I glanced at the bowl of potato salad sitting on my front seat, and my stomach sloshed with worry. In the distance, I saw a few barns with a dim glow surrounding each building. It was a beautiful piece of property and the home was more estate than house. Even in the near darkness, I could see how pretty the setting was with water and pasture views flanking the property.
By the time I pulled my car under the portico, my hands were clammy, and I wondered why I ever devised this plan, especially with him. Before I had a chance to pull through the portico and head home, he flung open the front door and flashed his dazzling smile in my direction.
I was done for.
He looked incredibly sexy as he walked over to my car. The problem was that Fireweed Island was far too small to have a fling with the brother of a resident. Not that I was a fling kind of girl. I’d have to plan the event to death and then back out at the most critical moment with a lousy excuse. Besides, we were a platonic team with a mission.
I reached for my purse as he opened the passenger door and leaned in, smiling.
“Glad you made it.” His voice carried me right back to the idea of a fling. It was so deep and gravelly, full of. . .
Sex.
“Did you think I wouldn’t show up?” I playfully scowled in his direction.
“I had my doubts.” His eyes fell to the salad before I could formulate a comeback. “My favorite.”
“You know all the perfect things to say.”
He grabbed the bowl of potato salad and shut the door as I climbed out of my car and promised myself tonight would be wonderful. The problem was that I knew it would be more than wonderful.
It would be spectacular and then I wouldn’t know what to do with it.
He was moving and I was staying.
But I could always use another friend, and this social experiment might help me avoid mistakes for a lifetime.
I watched him climb up the steps and my pulse accelerated. His slightly weathered jeans wrapped around his long, lean legs, and the dobby dot, yarn-dyed plaid shirt hugged his muscular frame all too well. These were things I shouldn’t be noticing, but with him, I couldn’t get enough.
Determined to shake him out of my system and make this nothing more than a couple of acquaintances getting to know one another better, I took in the beautiful construction surrounding me. The portico had been built out of old-growth timbers, and the iron-scrolled doors were wide open, inviting us into Jake and Jewels’ home.
I quickly made my way up the slate steps and followed Chance inside.
It was spectacular. Between the sweeping marble floors, to the inlaid stonework and iron-spindled staircase leading up the two-story foyer, I didn’t know where to look first. A Christmas tree decorated in silver and red stood at least twelve feet tall on the far side of the entry, and stockings hung along the upstairs banister.
“I’ll try not to set that one on fire. It’s really beautiful.” I smiled, motioning toward the tree.
“Meh. They have four others.” He shrugged and then stood and admired the tree with me. “You know, Jake and Jewels are thrilled to know they don’t have to put up with me all by themselves.”
“You’re that much of a treat, are you?” I joked.
“Only one way to find out.” He grinned and started walking through a hallway and I followed quickly behind. The marble traded out for beautiful wood floors, which even with the size of the home, brought immediate warmth to the oversized room.
Floor-to-ceiling grey silk drapes framed a wall of windows that no doubt overlooked the water. A grand piano sat in the corner of the room and looked like a miniature. The crowning jewel was the enormous Christmas tree sitting against the far wall. Silver and blue lights twinkled around the tree with cascading ribbons and ornaments to match the room’s décor. The tree dwarfed the one in the foyer. A mammoth stone fireplace, complete with a roiling fire, centered the room, and I felt immediately at ease even though I was out of my element.
“So my younger brother convinced you to have another dinner with him.” Jake’s blue eyes teased his brother more than his words ever could as he walked into the room.
Jewels made her way in behind him and came over for a quick hug. She wore a navy blue pullover sweater, white jeans and her hair was piled in a bun. She always seemed so put together. I had decided to forgo my crazy Christmas sweaters and chose a simple rib knit pullover in pale pink and dark jeans, leaving the cheese sauce at home.
“By the way, I’ve got a great new read for you. I just reviewed a totally awesome story on my blog.” Jewels gave a quick look at Chance. “I’ve got it at the front desk at the library. I forgot to tell you earlier.”
“Really? What’s it about?”
“It’s a total genre-bending story. Part action-adventure and part mystery, while somehow being set in the eighteen-hundreds.”
“I’ll grab it next week. Thanks. I’m still trying to finish the one I picked up a few days ago, but between the tree burning down and keeping my eye on this guy. . .” I pointed at Chance. “The odds haven’t been in my favor.”
“You’re telling me, you’d rather be curled up with a book than here with me, testing out my hot dog skills, and picking my brain?” Chance teased.
“Remains to be seen. I’ll have to see how good the hot dog turns out.”
“It’ll knock your socks off.”
Jake cleared his throat and his smile grew before speaking. “I hate to break up the interesting dynamic at play here, but I’ve got to get my berry pie in the oven.”
“You bake?” I asked, completely impressed.
“He does.” Jewels nodded, wrapping her hands around his arm. “Am I not the luckiest woman alive?”
“Hey, I bake too,” Chance added. “I clean, bake, cook, grill, till gardens, volunteer at various charities. I make wreaths, soap, bath bombs . . .”
“Have you finally warmed up from the Polar Bear Dip?” I asked Jake as Chance continued listing his skills.
The truth was that Chance was so adorably charming I couldn’t even look at him, let alone acknowledge him. I could feel the bumbling mess of me just waiting to come out again, and I refused to be reduced to a couple of umms and nods when I set up the friendship parameters. I at least had to play my part.
Jewels took the potato salad from Chance and patted his shoulder in sympathy.
“I sure did. Amazing what heat and a cup of hot coffee can do for a person.”
“Isn’t it though?” I laughed, feeling Chance’s gaze on me.
“Did you want to take Maddie on a quick tour of downstairs before dinner?” Jake suggested.
“Yeah, but don’t start the bratwursts. I’ll take care of the cooking. I apparently need to make some brownie points. Between Billy this afternoon and your pie, I don’t think I have a shot unless I really come up with something out of this world.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. Don’t want to interfere with your newfound hero complex.” Jake disappeared in the same direction Jewels went, which I assumed was the kitchen.
I gigg
led and Chance just shook his head and waited for his brother to be out of complete earshot.
“I’m really happy you came tonight.”
“I am too.” I chewed my bottom lip for a second. “But do you really think bratwursts and hot dogs are fair competition? Bratwursts would win no matter what you did to them. Not to mention, you don’t need to impress me. We’re strictly in the friend zone.”
“Very rarely does a man not want to impress a woman. No matter the zone she puts him in, if he’s interested, he’ll try to show off, at least a little.” Chance moved closer, and my pulse zipped to a crazy rate just being near him. For a split second I thought he might actually kiss me, but as soon as the thought occurred to me, the moment passed and he just smiled.
“So we need to head that way.” He pointed in the opposite direction of the kitchen. “I want to start with the library.”
“He has a library?” I breathed in a couple extra breaths to regain control, even though my mind still chewed on what he’d just said. His words zipped me back to the time with my fiancé, and I realized that I didn’t think there was one time he actually tried to impress me.
Chance nodded and brought me back to earth. “You name it, I think this house has it. Media room, exercise room, atrium . . . not to mention all the animals he collects, and it’s only gotten worse since Jewels moved in.”
“As in a taxidermy room?” My eyes widened and Chance started laughing.
Prior to Jewels, Jake had a reputation on the island as being a bit of a mysterious recluse.
“I guess I should have been clearer. They have horses, alpacas, goats, the list is endless, all outside.”
I whistled in relief. “Well, that’s a sweet surprise.”
“Until you get on Todd’s bad side. Then there’s nothing sweet about it.”
“Who’s Todd? A caretaker?” I questioned, following Chance down a long hall.
“No. Todd seems to think he owns the place. He’s a crabby, blond alpaca.”
I couldn’t stop laughing as I tried to visualize an alpaca named Todd.
“Who in their right mind would name an alpaca Todd?”
“I know.” Chance spun around. “That’s what I told my brother. Now, I could see Jerry or. . .”
Chance at Love on Mystic Bay (Island County Series Book 6) Page 5