by Nicole Ellis
“I’d love that.” Tonight was sudden, but she could make it work. “Maybe Arturo’s in Haven Shores for tapas at seven tonight?” she suggested. “I’ve heard good things about it from my co-workers. I’ll make the reservation.”
“Arturo’s at seven it is. I’ll see you there.”
The phone clicked as he ended the call. Had she really just asked Parker out on a date? And he’d accepted? She did a little dance and then looked around. Reilly gave her an amused look and then put his head back down on the sofa.
She raced upstairs to figure out what to wear on her date. As she pulled a few possibilities out of her closet, she couldn’t help feeling buoyantly happy. Things were looking up.
6
The wooden door to Arturo’s stood open slightly, allowing beats of jazz music to waft out. Gretchen touched the rough wood of the door, but hesitated before pulling on the wrought iron door handle. Insecurity stopped her from entering the restaurant. It had been a while since she’d been out on a real date. She couldn’t back out now, even though she was pretty sure Parker was out of her league. She’d agreed to this date, and she owed him after the hard time she’d given him when he came to her house with Charlotte. A salt-filled breeze blew her hair back and fortified her resolve to enter. She smoothed down the hem of the little black dress she’d found at the back of her closet and entered the restaurant.
Inside, the lights were low and the chatter of patrons competed with the beats of the live jazz band. Delicious aromas floated in the air. Her co-workers had highly recommended Arturo’s and raved about the tapas.
She didn’t see Parker in the restaurant. She glanced at her watch. Ten until seven. She approached the hostess desk. “Hi, I have reservations for seven o’clock. Should be under Roberts.”
The hostess checked her tablet. “Yes, I see you here.”
“Has the other member of my party checked in yet?”
“No, not yet. Would you like to take a seat until they arrive?” The hostess motioned to a bench along the wall.
“Thanks.” She settled herself on the bench next to a couple who were holding hands. Her stomach grumbled as she watched servers carry plate after plate of food out to the dining room. At exactly seven o’clock, Parker arrived.
“Hey,” he said. “You look beautiful.” He gave her a warm smile.
She smiled shyly in return and melted a little. “Thanks. You look nice yourself.”
He was wearing a royal blue button-down shirt under a charcoal-gray suit that fit him like a glove. She hadn’t thought he could improve on his looks from when she’d seen him last, but she’d been wrong.
The hostess noticed him and ran up to them with two menus in her hands. “I see the other member of your party has arrived.” She beamed at Parker. “Right this way, sir.”
Gretchen followed behind them to a table in the center of the restaurant. A votive candle flickered on the table. Parker pulled her chair out and then seated himself.
The hostess handed them their menus with another big smile for Parker. “Your server will be right with you.”
He looked around the restaurant. “This place is nice. I hope the food tastes as good as it looks.”
“Me too. I’ve been eying the shrimp since I got here,” she admitted.
He opened his menu. “Well, let’s get the shrimp then.” He ran his finger down the menu options. “How about the clams and the gazpacho as well to start?”
“Perfect.”
Their server arrived to take their drink and tapas orders. Gretchen ordered a Pinot Grigio and Parker asked for a glass of Merlot. After their drinks arrived, they sat and stared awkwardly at each other for a minute.
“So...” Gretchen started to say.
“Nice weather...” Parker said. They both laughed as they talked over each other and the ice was broken.
“Let’s start over,” he said. “Tell me about Candle Beach. Have you lived there a long time?”
“Yes, I grew up there. I moved away for college, but came back soon afterward.” She sipped her wine and then set it back down on the coaster. “My whole family still lives there. In fact, the house that I live in, or rather that Charlotte will be living in, has been in my family since Candle Beach was founded in the early twentieth century.”
“Ah, so your family is a founding family,” he noted.
She laughed. “I guess you could say that. My grandfather’s family used to come to Candle Beach for the summers to get out of the city. By the time my dad was born, the family lived there year-round. Have you lived in Haven Shores for long?”
“Same as you,” he said. “I grew up there and most of my extended family still lives there.”
“Do you have any other siblings?”
“Well, you met Charlotte, but I have an older brother, Graham, and an older sister, Claire, who lives in town with her family. We also have two younger brothers, Michael and William, who both live in Seattle.”
“Wow, that is a big family. I only have one sibling, Lindsay, but I’m close to my cousin who lives in Candle Beach as well. I can’t imagine growing up with so many brothers and sisters. I’m jealous.”
“Don’t be.” Parker grinned. “As the middle boy, it seemed like I was always in trouble. Graham could never do any wrong in my parents’ eyes and my other brothers were several years younger.”
“And you couldn’t possibly have deserved any of it.” Gretchen smothered a grin.
“Of course not.” He smirked. “I was the picture of innocence.”
Their food arrived and they dug in.
“Okay, this is amazing. My friends were right.” She bit into her second shrimp. The seafood had been bathed in an addictive tomato and garlic broth.
“No kidding. I can’t believe I’ve never tried this place before.”
They were finishing their first order of tapas and contemplating a second round when a buxom brunette wearing a strapless red dress approached the table.
“Parker!” she said. She leaned in to hug him, showing off a considerable amount of cleavage.
“Annabelle, nice to see you.”
“It’s been a while.” She eyed him hungrily.
“It has,” he said in a non-committal manner.
“Where have you been? I tried calling you, but you didn’t pick up.”
“Ah, things have been busy with work.” He turned to Gretchen. “Gretchen, this is Annabelle, a family friend. Annabelle, this is Gretchen, my date.”
Annabelle’s face fell. “Well, I was just here having cocktails with friends. Have fun on your little date.” She leaned in to hug him again and whispered loudly, “I’ll give you a call later.”
His face reddened as she tossed her long hair back and flounced off toward a group of women who had gathered by the door.
“A family friend, huh?” Gretchen teased.
“Yes, a friend of my brother’s mainly, but I gave in and went out on a date with her a few months ago. Never again though. She’s not the brightest tool in the shed.”
Gretchen nodded, but worry niggled at her. If he usually dated women like Annabelle, how could she compete with that? “So, now that I know all about what a troublemaker you were as a child, why don’t you tell me a little about grownup Parker? What do you do for work? Or for fun?”
“Well, for fun, I like to get outdoors, mainly hiking and camping. I also enjoy getting out on my family’s fishing boat. It’s nice to get out on the open ocean.” A faraway look crossed his face. “After being around my family all day at work, it’s refreshing to get away.”
“I completely understand.” Maybe they had more in common than she’d thought. “So you work in the family business?”
“Yes, Gray and Associates. It’s a real estate company. We mainly sell properties in the Haven Shores area.” He finished off his wine. “You may have seen the signs around town?”
“So you’re a real estate agent,” Gretchen said slowly. Unfortunately, she was very familiar with the Gray family
, or rather, their reputation. She looked out the window. What were the odds that she’d end up on a date with the son of her parent’s archenemies?
“Yes.” He regarded her with an odd expression. “Why? Is that a problem?”
“No.” She sighed. “In fact, we do have a lot in common. I’m also a real estate agent. My parents own Candle Beach Real Estate.”
“Oh. That is a coincidence. So you’re Eliza and Daniel Roberts’ daughter.” He fiddled with the stem of his empty wine glass. The server came over and motioned to the glass, but Parker covered the opening with his hand and shook his head. The server left as quickly as he’d appeared. “Do your parents still hate mine with a passion?”
Gretchen made a face. “Unfortunately, yes. They’d probably kill me if they knew I was out on a date with you.” Her eyes darted around the restaurant. She hoped no one there recognized her or her date.
“It’s been twenty years. You’d think they’d be over it by now. One bad real estate deal and they become mortal enemies.”
“Uh-huh.” She looked around the room again.
He stared at her. “Is this a problem for you? Who my parents are?”
Was it a problem that her parents would probably disown her if they found out she’d dated him? She didn’t say anything for a moment. “I don’t know.” Since she was a teenager, she’d grown up with her parents bad-mouthing the Gray family and being hyper-competitive with them in the local real estate market.
The server came by to ask if they needed anything else. Gretchen’s appetite had disappeared and she didn’t want another round of tapas, so she said no. He brought their check to the table, along with some mints. She reached for the bill, but Parker picked it up and laid his credit card on the tray. The server whisked it away and then had him sign the receipt.
“Thank you,” she said. “It’s been a lovely dinner.” He nodded understandingly.
She put her wrap on and followed him out of the restaurant.
They stood in front of the restaurant. Gretchen wasn’t sure of the next move. She didn’t want the date to end, but she also wasn’t sure she wanted to face her parents if she started a romantic relationship with Parker Gray.
Parker cleared his throat. “Are you interested in taking a walk on the boardwalk?”
“Sure.” Maybe more time with him would help her evaluate the situation.
They walked in silence over to the wooden boardwalk. After about a hundred feet, Parker stopped and leaned against the railing. Gretchen joined him and gazed out at the ocean. The temperature had chilled considerably and she pulled her lace wrap tighter against her cocktail length, spaghetti-strapped dress.
“Here,” he said, removing his jacket. He placed it around her shoulders and pulled her closer. They stared out at the moonlit beach. Tufts of grass waved on the sandy dunes and the water shimmered in the glow of the moon. If it weren’t for the tumultuous thoughts running through her mind, it would have been a magical, romantic evening.
Parker pulled away to face her.
“Look, I know we’ve got the family drama thing, but I really like you. I’d like to see where this can go.” He peered into her eyes. “How are you feeling?”
She quieted the negative thoughts and allowed herself to really look at him. His gaze was intense and she felt herself drowning in his eyes.
“I’d like to see where this goes too,” she said quietly. A shock of exhilaration and dread shot through her simultaneously. “Maybe we could keep it quiet for a while? Just to not stir the pot until we know for sure?”
“And not get to see our family’s reactions?” he joked. “Think about what we’d be missing out on.”
“I’m thinking about it, for sure. It would be quite explosive.” She laughed quietly and her eyes met his. On his breath, she could smell the sweetness of the after dinner mint he’d consumed.
Without thinking, she stood on her tiptoes and leaned into him. He bent down and his lips met hers for a long kiss that made every nerve in her body tingle. They broke apart and he put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close against his solid chest as they looked out to sea. Her eyes slid up to his face and she snuggled closer. If this was what every date with Parker would be like, a relationship with him would be worth her parents’ wrath.
Too soon, she realized there were fewer and fewer people out on the boardwalk. She checked her watch and was disappointed to see it was close to ten o’clock. She still needed to prepare for her interview the next day.
“I’m so sorry, but I’ve got to get home. I have a big day tomorrow.”
Parker checked his phone. “I should be getting home too.” He took her hand in his and walked her to her car.
She unlocked the car and got in, but before she could close the door, Parker said, “Wait.” She looked up at him. He stepped around the doorframe and leaned in to kiss her again. “Goodnight,” he said softly.
“Goodnight,” she whispered back. He closed the door and waved at her before getting into his own car.
She drove back to Candle Beach in a haze. Their date had contained so many ups and downs, from the great conversation at the restaurant, to Annabelle’s intrusion, to the discovery of the feud between their families. And then that wonderful kiss on the boardwalk.
All in all, the date had exceeded her expectations. If she and Parker wanted to further their relationship, they’d have to face their parents. But they’d only had one date so far, so that distasteful task could be prolonged. With her track record, there was always the possibility that Parker may not be the man she thought he was, so she’d prefer to not tell her parents yet. She didn’t think that would be the case, but you never knew.
7
Gretchen set the hair dryer down on the bathroom counter and ran a brush through her brunette hair. She tugged at the tangles until her hair gleamed in waves that reached almost to the middle of her back. Some of that length needed to go before summer or she’d be miserable in the hot weather. Bringg! Bringg! Her phone vibrated along the tile and crashed into the hair dryer.
“Hello?” She didn’t recognize the caller.
“Hi, this is Dory, calling from Martin Egglesby’s office. I’m trying to reach Gretchen Roberts.” The woman’s breathless tones reminded her of the tinny voice used on the intercom at a popular women’s clothing store.
“This is she.” What now? Was her chance at the job over before it began?
“Oh, hi,” the woman cooed. “I’m glad I caught you. Mr. Egglesby has had something come up and he won’t be able to interview you today.”
“Oh.” She looked around the room. After coming home from her date with Parker, she’d stayed up late to compile her sales data and iron her interview clothing. Everything was wrinkle-free and ready for her big interview.
“He’d like me to reschedule your appointment. Does Monday at nine o’clock in the morning work for you?”
Gretchen grabbed her day planner and flipped to Monday. “Monday is great.”
“Oh, wonderful. I’ll let him know,” the woman chirped. “Have a nice weekend.”
“You too,” she said automatically and hung up.
Well, at least she was dressed for work now. She called her office to let them know she’d be in after all.
After the excitement and high of preparing for her interview, returning to work felt like a letdown. She pushed through a mound of rental paperwork that had materialized on her desk. By lunchtime, she was itching to get out of the office. On a whim, she stopped in at To Be Read to see if Dahlia had time for lunch.
A teenager she didn’t recognize was perched on the stool behind the bookstore’s sales counter. Other than the girl, the store was empty.
“Good afternoon,” the teenager said. “Is there anything I can help you find?”
“Actually, is Dahlia in? I’m a friend of hers.”
“She’s in the back.” The girl pointed at the door. “Do you want me to get her?” Her face twisted with concern. “I’m not sure
if I’m supposed to allow people to go back to her office.”
“I think it would be fine, but yes, please let her know I’m here.” Gretchen browsed the mystery aisle as the girl disappeared into the back room.
Dahlia came out of the back room with the girl in tow. She brought her over to where Gretchen waited, engrossed in reading the back of a book.
“Thank you, Emily,” she said. Then she pointed to Gretchen. “This is Gretchen, and it’s fine to allow her to go into the back room. But I appreciate you checking with me first.” Emily nodded and scurried back to the sales counter.
“So what’s up?” Dahlia asked.
“I was dying at the office and needed to get out.” She replaced the book on the shelf. “Do you have time for lunch?”
Her friend glanced at the clock behind the sales desk. “I can probably take a break. Let me check with Emily to see if she’s okay manning the fort while I’m gone for an hour.”
Dahlia chatted with the teenager, whose face held a mixture of apprehension and excitement.
“Alright,” she said when she returned to Gretchen. “She’s fine for now. It’s probably a good idea to test her out alone for a short time while we’re not as busy. When the tourist season starts up in a few weeks, she’s going to need to be able to manage the bookstore herself some days.”
“Does teriyaki sound good to you?” Gretchen asked, as they walked out the front door of the bookstore. “We could get Tasty Teriyaki.”
“Yum. That does sound good. Can we get it to go?” Dahlia held her head up to the sun. “This has been a long winter and I want to soak up all the sun I can get while it’s here.”
Gretchen laughed. “Sure.”
After they received their lunch orders, they took them to the Marina Park and sat on one of the benches facing the ocean.
“So,” Gretchen began. “I went on a date with Parker.” She sniffed her teriyaki and pulled a plastic fork out of the bag. The sweet and spicy steam wafting off of the food reminded her she was famished.