by Jo Leigh
“Guess who’s here this weekend,” Harlow said, looking at Jade. “Fletcher Preston.”
Jade winced. “So, what do I care?”
Cricket and Harlow laughed.
Ginny smiled, wishing being “present” made it easier to forget about Parker.
“You were into him all of junior year,” Harlow said, as the waitress came to the table with a fresh pitcher of tea.
“At least you’re not denying it,” Ginny said, while Jade poured.
“No.” Jade grunted. “Men are dopes.”
Cricket and Harlow grinned. “Not all men.”
“Most men.”
Sipping her tea, Harlow looked around at the packed tables. “There’s someone in LA that I’ve been kind of seeing. No one special though. Another teacher. Science and math. You’d like him, Jade.”
“Just because I’m a chemist doesn’t mean I instantly bond with all other science nerds. Especially the men—superior jerks.”
“Now this is like old times,” Ginny said. “Remember Tommy Zico? That creep? Is he here? I didn’t see his name...” She gave in to the pull of scoping out the lobby again.
Harlow shuddered. “I hope not.”
“Well, how about that?” Ginny said. “Cricket. Check out who’s at the activity board.”
Jade followed Cricket’s gaze. “I’ll take him to go, please.”
It was Wyatt, the bartender from the local watering hole, Sam’s Sugar Shack. She and Cricket had met him yesterday when she’d asked Cricket for legal advice regarding Tilda...without actually mentioning names or admitting the advice was for her. He looked even scruffier, wearing a sweat-stained T-shirt over running shorts, his stubble darker, his hair a mess. Ginny had to admit, he looked hot.
“Wait a minute,” Jade said. “Cricket? He’s so not your type.”
“You don’t even know what my type is.”
“Uh, corporate. Silk tie. Penthouse apartment. Porsche.”
“You’re so wrong.” Cricket quickly polished off her drink and dropped her napkin on the table. “Don’t get into too much trouble while I’m gone.”
“Why, you hogging him all for yourself?”
“Very possibly.” She tugged her dress down, then headed his way.
Ginny’s anxiety level rose at least two notches. Seeing Wyatt reminded her that Parker could be anywhere in the crowded lobby. She guessed there was no true break from reality. “Hey, I’ve got an idea,” she leaned closer to the others. “How about we go to Sam’s and get away from the reunion crowd for a bit?”
“I’m in,” Jade said, still watching the action at the activity board. “That’s probably where all the guys who aren’t from Roger Williams are.”
“Good point.” Harlow put down her glass. “The mere idea of running into that blowhard Frank Geary gives me hives. I saw him yesterday, and he tried to talk my ear off.”
“Well, that’s a nightmare no one needs.” Jade said.
Ginny laid some money on the table. “Do you guys think we should tell Cricket where we’re going?”
“I don’t think she’ll care.” Jade nodded toward the activity board. The two looked pretty cozy already. “Come on, I’d like to see Sam’s now that I’m legal.”
Harlow and Ginny both laughed.
“What?” Jade’s voice was the epitome of innocence.
Harlow snorted. “As if being underage ever stopped you.”
After they settled the check, Ginny led the way to the beach. Being outside was a relief. It was hot, yes, but the ocean breeze coming off the bay felt like heaven.
“I got dibs on anyone who remotely resembles the bartender,” Jade said.
Harlow stopped so suddenly Ginny almost ran into her. “Are you nuts? You can’t have dibs before we even walk in.”
“Who says?”
Harlow towered over Jade, but there was fierceness in both their eyes. They’d had enough challenges in their lives that Ginny already knew they could hold their own against the rest of the world. She’d always envied their gumption. Cricket’s too. Ginny had been more of a follower in the beginning. It was Meg who’d made her believe she could stand her ground. Always before, she’d been cowed by her father, who’d had a knack for finding her weak spots and exploiting them.
Meg had had his number from the first time she’d come over to Ginny’s. If it hadn’t been for her friend’s unwavering belief in shy little Ginny, she’d never have had the courage to leave Juilliard and care for Tilda despite her father’s vehement disapproval.
“Okay, fine,” Jade said. “We get to the table and if we like the same guy, I’ll arm wrestle you for him.”
Harlow laughed. “You little pip-squeak. There’s no way you’ll win.”
“Oh, really? We’ll just see about that.”
Ginny had clearly missed some of the conversation, but the two of them were now speed-walking to Sam’s. Ginny had to hustle to catch up, anxious now to see the outcome of this World Wrestling Federation mash-up. She giggled as they went up the few stairs to the popular hangout, while Jade and Harlow egged each other on.
“Wow, this place hasn’t changed a bit,” Harlow said as she glanced around at the funky decor, with hanging piñatas and bikini tops dangling over the tables and wicker chairs, assorted bric-a-brac like Hula-Hoops and license plates hung on the walls and from the ceiling. Hula girls bobbled in the center of every table. Even the uniforms—short denim cutoffs and cropped T-shirts with the bar’s logo—hadn’t been updated...ever.
“Hey, you guys.” Jade had already slipped into the thick of the crowd. “I’ve got a table. Come on.”
The place was packed with tourists, and it took Ginny a minute to get through the crowd but she finally took her seat.
Jade signaled the waitress. “This was a genius idea. We’ve hit the mother lode. Check out the guy by the jukebox.”
“I’m pretty sure half the bar heard you.” Ginny leaned in, keeping her voice low.
After Harlow ordered a pitcher of margaritas, Jade put her hand over Ginny’s. “Sweetie, it’s okay to loosen up every once in a while. You’re not seeing anyone, am I right?”
“With Tilda around? I don’t even remember the last guy who asked me out.”
“Well, don’t you worry. There are plenty of men here this weekend. We’ll fix you up.”
“I don’t know. I think you guys are bad influences on me. I was always stuck behind a piano, remember?”
“And the night of the junior prom when you were out until one in the morning? Your father almost sent you to a nunnery.”
Ginny groaned. “Jade, you know perfectly well we really did have a flat tire. It was you and Harlow who kept staying out past curfew.”
“Oh, girl, what you’ve missed out on. Tonight’s your chance to make up for lost time.” Jade watched a far-too-cocky golfer sashay past their table. “I promise I’ll find you someone decent.”
“Oh, I don’t need any help,” she said, “I already have someone in mind.”
Both women widened their eyes. “Who?”
Ginny was instantly sorry she’d teased them. She wasn’t thinking clearly. Too much was going on, and she’d been completely caught off guard after Parker had shown up. Maybe she should meet up with him before the dinner. Get it over with. Send him on his way.
But something about him was making it hard to do the smart thing. It didn’t seem possible that they could still have the chemistry they’d shared so long ago. Too much water under the bridge. Surely he had another woman in his life. Besides, nothing meaningful could come of the two of them. Not with Tilda in the picture.
“Ginny? You okay?” Harlow stared with concern.
“I’m fine. I’ve been thinking about Meg a lot, and it’s distracting, you know? I haven’t heard from her in a while, and I feel like we’re losing touch.”
She’d never tell her friends anything about Meg’s real situation. That even if she were alive, she must be in hiding, or under Danny’s thumb. She knew Meg wouldn’t want her to share that information.
“Yeah, you guys were close,” Jade said. “I always liked her, even though she could be crazier than me. I kind of figured that we canceled each other out. It was that, or we’d end up driving each other nuts with our...eccentricities.”
Harlow let out a laugh. “That’s one way of saying you were a lunatic.”
“Gee, thanks.” Jade took a very large drink of her margarita, then dabbed her lips with a napkin. “You have to admit, the two of us made that uptight school a heck of a lot more interesting. Meg sure did have some great moves, aside from getting Miss Piano Practice out from behind the keyboard more than I could.”
“Miss Piano Practice?” Ginny hadn’t heard that one, and she didn’t like it one bit. “Did you guys really call me that?”
“Not until today,” Harlow said. “And that was all Jade.”
“We love you, Ginny, you know that.” Jade grinned. “We’d never diss you. Even when you had to cancel all the time.”
“Well, yeah, I did. Which wasn’t easy. But I might, and I stress the word might, be touring with the Rhode Island Philharmonic.”
“What! Are you kidding?” Jade rushed on. “You waited this long to tell us?”
Harlow’s mouth dropped open. Then she started firing questions—when, where, how they could get tickets.
“It’s not happening right away,” Ginny said, shushing their exuberance. “I’m not going on tour while Tilda’s still at Roger Williams. She still comes first.”
“But that’s fantastic. See? Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?”
Ginny smiled, still carrying a bit of doubt about sharing the news. Normally, she preferred to remain cautiously optimistic, knowing all too well that the best-laid plans could turn on a dime. “I hope it turns out. I’ve been working with them, doing a couple of guest spots.”
“Of course it’ll turn out.” Harlow lifted her glass. “To dreams coming true.”
Ginny clicked her glass to theirs. “Maybe it’s turning out that we’re all getting what we need instead of what we wanted.” Ginny smiled, even though she couldn’t shake the feeling that Parker showing up out of the blue was the last thing she needed.
A few minutes later, Jade met a cute surfer who couldn’t have been older than twenty-three, but Harlow quickly reminded her that they hadn’t arm wrestled.
It felt as if everyone in the bar watched as the two women went for it. Ginny, safely staying in her chair through all the chaos, thought she heard a couple guys taking bets. Although Jade gave her a run for her money, Harlow won.
The whole thing brought them more attention than they wanted, or rather, than Ginny wanted. She didn’t join in, but she did enjoy watching her friends flirt and act a little crazy, just like the old days.
When they finally settled, Jade lifted her almost empty glass. “I vote we all go back to our rooms and take naps before tonight’s dinner. I’m wiped out, and a little drunk.”
Ginny was grateful for the suggestion. She’d barely touched her drink, but she felt as if she’d been wrung dry. Time alone would give her a chance to decide what to do about Parker. She turned to grab her purse off the back of her chair and froze.
Parker was sitting at the table right next to theirs, his drink almost gone, as if he’d been there awhile. He gave her a nod and a slight smile as he stared straight into her eyes.
She turned back around, panic seeping into every nerve ending.
Harlow, who was on Ginny’s right and had seen the interaction, didn’t bother hiding her mischievous expression. “I don’t think Ginny’s distracted anymore.”
“What? Who?” Jade scanned the room.
“Behind her,” Harlow said, loud enough to be heard over the jukebox.
Ginny barely gave the girls a thought as she pulled herself together and shifted her chair so she could look at him again. “Parker. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I wasn’t aware it was you before I sat down,” he said.
Silence followed as Ginny wondered if that was true.
Jade cleared her throat. “Uh, hi.”
He nodded, his gaze staying on Ginny for a beat too long, then he stood up and slapped a twenty on the table. “See you later, Ginny.”
Before he walked out the door, he gave her a smile that made her heart clench. She wanted to sink into the floor, even though her stomach was fluttering.
Ginny explained Parker was Meg’s brother, and no, she wasn’t involved with him. Then they made their way back to the resort via the beach. Harlow was the first to peel off when Liam Tandy, wearing board shorts and carrying a six-pack, came trotting over.
Ginny and Jade edged away...until Liam’s friend, who was almost as good-looking as Liam, joined his buddy. “You mind?” Jade whispered.
“Go for it,” Ginny said. “I’ll see you at the dinner.”
Once alone, she felt nothing but relief as she changed course for the parking lot. Being home alone sounded wonderful at this point. Except for the part where she was so torn about seeing Parker again.
The drive gave her ten minutes to decide once and for all that she didn’t want him showing up at her door again, and she didn’t want to see him at the resort. And since he didn’t have her phone number, that left her with only one viable option. She needed to call him.
By the time she’d parked in the garage and walked into the laundry room, her thoughts had filled with that little smile he’d given her at Sam’s and the way he’d left so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable. Which was just what the Parker she’d once fallen for would have done. She pulled out her phone but didn’t call right away, deciding she’d get dressed for dinner beforehand, meet him somewhere. The Grind on Main Street would be perfect, and she’d have a credible time limit because of the dinner.
Sighing, she headed upstairs to take a twenty-minute nap, then she’d put on some Debussy and take her sweet time getting ready. Then she’d go and face the man who still made her heart race, just one more time.
CHAPTER SEVEN
PARKER WAS GETTING BORED. He’d been back at the nightmare motel for an hour, and all he was doing was thinking too much about Ginny. He never got bored at the cabin. He liked his own company—when he wasn’t thinking foolish things about a woman who’d made it clear she wasn’t interested.
What he should do was go out to dinner. He’d always liked Crazy Burger. Or maybe he’d splurge and go to Monahan’s Clam Shack.
Who was he kidding? He’d probably pick the closest drive-through. It wasn’t as if Ginny was going to call or anything.
Getting up, he went to the bathroom and splashed some cool water on his face. It was early for dinner and besides, he wasn’t all that hungry. A walk on the beach might be nice...anywhere but near the Seaside on the Bluff resort.
His cell phone rang. Probably Denali again, complaining about Mark.
It wasn’t Denali.
“Hello.”
“Parker,” Ginny said, her voice a little higher than normal. Nervous? Most likely. Probably had bad news to give him. Like she was leaving on the next plane to Somewhere Else. Or that she wanted him to leave sooner rather than later.
“If you’re still free, I thought we could meet at The Grind on Main Street.”
“The coffee bar?”
“Yes. I’m thinking I could make it in about half an hour and that would give us some time before I have to be back at the resort. If you’d like.”
According to the activity board he’d seen at the resort, the dinner was two hours from now. “Sure. I can meet you there. I’ll go a little early. Get us one of those outdoor tables.”
“Whatever’s available is fine with me.”
He wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or not. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll—” A drop of water hit the crown of his head. He looked up to see a small wet spot on the ceiling. Good thing it wasn’t over the bed.
“Parker?”
“Sorry. Yeah, I’ll see you there.”
“Okay, see you soon.” She disconnected.
It wasn’t a good sign that his chest had tightened, his mood had lifted and he was picturing her so clearly it felt as if he could reach out and touch her.
But that was just him. It didn’t matter that he felt the old chemistry. Tonight wasn’t a date. It wasn’t anything more than a coffee and a goodbye.
It also didn’t matter that he kept wondering about Tilda. He had to take Ginny’s word for it. Once he left Temptation Bay he’d have no connection to her, which was fine. There was no relationship in his future. Not here, not in Alaska, not anywhere. He wasn’t about to count on anyone for anything. Or let anyone count on him.
When his phone rang his pulse started pounding again. “Hey,” he said, without checking the caller ID.
“What’s got you all excited,” Mark asked. “Is it because I have to make all your deliveries?”
“As if I haven’t pitched in for you. Just so you could go lose your money in Vegas.”
“All right. Point taken.”
“Listen, I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but it most likely won’t be till next weekend.”
“What?”
“Now, just get out your board and take this down. I’ve got some changes to Denali’s order.”
“What do you mean next weekend?”
“What part didn’t you understand?”
Mark cursed a blue streak, which Parker ignored out of his own surprise. A minute ago he’d decided tonight would be goodbye. So what was it about Ginny that called to him...
“You’re never gone more than a couple days.” Mark sounded cross.
“Well, I am this time. You got a pen ready?”