His eyes softened. “Jeremy. Jeremy Engel.”
She took his hand in hers once more, a warm, pulsing energy transferring from his being to hers. She hated to let go. “Elizabeth Desmond.”
He shot her a killer smile and began to walk along the narrow cement path with her once more. “Nice. It fits.”
She hadn’t lied earlier. He was beautiful—untamed and proud. “How so?”
“You’re classy and sweet.”
She glanced down at her black hoodie, neon yellow tee, and black spandex capris and wrinkled her nose at him. Classy was a silk blouse paired with a pencil skirt and a piece or two of jewelry. Gram had taught her that. This was a work outfit, plain and simple. “If you say so.”
“I do.” His eyes swept over her. “You look incredible.” He sobered, nodding back toward the store. “Congrats. Looks like you’re gonna have a winner there.”
“I hope.”
He gazed at her mouth then glanced away, staring at the water on the other side of the wrought iron fence. “I was on my way to the Ironman.”
“Oh, now I get it. The cowbell.” She remembered the crowds cheering on their favorite competitors to the cowbell’s distinctive clang.
“You should sell them.” He jabbed a finger to his chest. “Locals like me would appreciate it.”
She smiled. “Thanks for the tip.”
Having completed the circuit, they stepped through the park gate back onto the busy sidewalk and headed back the short distance to her shop.
“You living here in town?” he asked, his tone casual.
She shook her head. “A village south of here. I’m staying at a friend’s summer home until I find a more permanent situation. It’s about fifteen minutes away, quieter, on a pretty lake.”
His jaw fell open and he stopped in mid-stride. “Starling Lake?”
She nodded, stopping with him. People walked around them.
He whistled under his breath. “And here I was, thinking how lucky that I found you today when it was only a matter of time before we bumped into each other again. We live in the same town.”
Her breath came out in an excited huff. “No way.”
He grinned. “Yes. Way.”
“Seriously?” She fought the sudden urge to jump and wrap her arms and legs around him.
He began walking again. “I own a small place on the lake.” He glanced down at her Gucci diamond watch. “Although I’d bet my house we don’t live on the same side.” His tone was light.
She stole a look at him. Unlike any of the guys she’d dated or that her family had introduced to her, he didn’t seem intimidated by her or impressed by the possibility of her wealth. It was refreshing. She liked what she saw.
And felt.
And smelled. Like Claire said, Yum.
He shrugged. “But that’s okay with me. I’m a simple guy with simple needs.”
She wasn’t fooled. Those eyes held secrets and dreams just like hers. It made her want him all the more. “I have some needs of my own.”
He chuckled under his breath, giving her another sweep with those sapphire eyes. “And I’d be happy to take care of them.”
They arrived at Body Gear Athletics. “Well…” She looked away and bit her lip. Suddenly she didn’t know what to say, all her initial courage washing away with the reality of navigating relationship waters with a man like Jeremy.
He wasn’t a guy she could control.
And she needed to be in control.
“Hey, I just thought of something.” He looked past her into the store. “That house you’re staying at doesn’t happen to belong to a male friend, does it? Because that’s not my kind of scene.”
Her head snapped up. “Do you think I’d actually be kissing you when—” She glimpsed the pain in his eyes. “Oh, wow.” She covered her mouth with a hand. “I’m sorry. You do.” What kind of girls had he known? She shook her head. “Well, that’s not me. The property is owned by friends of my parents and I’m renting it. I know their kids, they’re about my, our age. You’re about thirty, right?”
He nodded and his shoulders relaxed. “I’m not in the habit of chasing women.” He drawled in that sexy voice of his that made her want to jump his bones. “But I want to see you tonight, get to know you better.”
His invitation floated to her on the warm summer breeze, and everything else disappeared from her vision—except for him. She sighed. “My sisters are staying with me tonight. Claire leaves tomorrow and Tory after the weekend.” It was frustrating but maybe for the best. Their chemical attraction was high-octane and she needed to control the sparks before they both got burned by an inferno. “Tory originally planned to be here for the summer, too, but she lucked out and landed a great job already.”
“Nice.” His voice was sincere. “You gonna run the shop by yourself?”
“I’m in the process of hiring.” She pointed to another sign in the window.
“I see.” He pinned her with his rock-star baby blues. “So, about our date?”
She tried to look away but couldn’t. “You’d call it that?”
“I may not look the part.” He shrugged. “But I can be quite charming.”
Her insides turned to melted butter and she felt a grin spread across her face to match his. “No doubt.” She backed up, hugging her arms close to her chest. “Call me.” Then the obvious hit her. “Oh, wait. You need my number. You have your phone?”
He shook his head. “Cell service isn’t all that dependable around here.”
She dug around in her hoodie pocket and pulled out the Sharpie she’d been using earlier to label boxes. “How about this?”
He held out a hand. “Why not?”
“There’s a first for everything, I guess.” She smiled, pulling off the pen’s cap to scribble her number across his palm. “There.” She popped the cap back on and looked up at him. “So…call me. We’ll talk and get to know each other better.”
He grinned. “You got it.”
Elizabeth turned and walked into the store. When she glanced back, he was still standing there, smiling at his hand before he stuffed it back in his pocket and headed north on Main Street with the rest of the crowd.
Chapter Five
‡
Elizabeth carried the platter of barbecued chicken into the expansive dining room of her rented summer home, setting it next to the salad and julienne carrots she’d already placed at one end of the long white-washed oak table. “Eat up.”
Tory scooped a heaping of steamed veggies onto her plate. “Thanks for feeding me the past few weeks.”
She dismissed her sister’s thanks with a wave of her hand. “Cooking you a few meals here and there is the least I can do. Claire and you saved my bacon. I had no idea it would take so long to hire staff.” Elizabeth smiled as she sat next to her sister. “I’m going to miss this, us.”
“Me, too.” Tory’s brows furrowed. “Are you certain about moving up here, away from everything?”
“Gram and Gramps are here.” She poured vinaigrette onto her salad.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, but not year-round, and not us, not Mom and Dad or Michael, and none of your friends. We all live five hours or more from here, longer if you factor in winter conditions.” Tory bit into a forkful of carrots.
Elizabeth glanced out at Starling Lake through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and soaked in the beauty. Nothing compared to the setting sun like orange fire on navy water smooth as glass. “I’ll miss everyone. I do already. But look how beautiful it is here. I like the Adirondack pace, too, you know, and the people. They’re so friendly, especially once they know you’re staying around. Think about it. When was the last time we spoke to our neighbors in Chappaqua? Here in Starling, they all know each other, most of them have for generations. I think it’s cool.”
“Yeah. I hear you.” Tory sighed, stabbing a chicken breast with her fork.
Elizabeth set down her own fork. “Hey, we’ll still see each other. We’ll be together at Gra
m and Gramp’s for the holidays, and I’ll be sure to pop down whenever I get a chance. We can catch a show together, go shopping at Macy’s.”
“I know.” Tory’s smile seemed forced. “If the snail’s pace of the country starts getting to you, you know you can always come live with me.” She pushed her carrots around the plate.
Elizabeth’s heartstrings tugged. “You’re going to rock that new job and make lots of new friends. No doubt.” She leaned to give Tory a one-armed hug. “And remember, I’m always just a text or phone call away.”
“I know. I guess it just hit me, between Claire relocating to Colorado for Olympic training and you up here, and me starting a real job, that we’re actually adults. Life is moving so fast it makes me realize we need to take advantage of our opportunities, because if we don’t, it will be in our rearview mirror in the blink of an eye.”
Tory’s words stuck her how different her younger sisters were from each other. Where Claire collected friends like dogs did bones, Tory was the opposite, preferring select, tight-knit relationships. “It’s all good.”
Her sister shrugged. “I know. This is what happens when I have too much time to think. I’ll be fine once I get back in the groove.”
Elizabeth’s phone chirped from the kitchen where she’d laid it on the counter.
Tory squinted. “You going to get that?”
She shook her head and picked up her fork again. “It can wait.”
“I saw how your eyes lit up just now. Is it that guy from the beach? What was his name? Oh yeah, Jeremy…” She teased, drawing out the syllables in his name. The old Tory had returned, the annoying middle sister clamoring for attention even though it was just the two of them together without any outside competition.
Elizabeth struggled to appear unimpressed. “Perhaps.”
Tory jumped up and ran to grab the phone from the kitchen, racing back to thrust it in her face. “Answer it.”
Elizabeth leaned back, laughing and shaking her head in denial. “I don’t want him to think I’m too eager.”
“When did you last see him? Three days ago?”
She crossed her arms.
Tory continued. “And I’m guessing you told him you’d be available after today.”
She nodded. “So?”
Tory waved the phone even closer. “He’s following directions like a good little boy. Why don’t you reward him by actually answering?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Maybe because I’m afraid.” Oops. Where’d that come from?
Tory’s eyebrows disappeared under her auburn bangs. “Of what?”
She grabbed the phone from his sister’s hand and set it on the table. “That it’s too easy. He’s single, hot, and he’s into me.”
“You forgot to mention he’s one hell of a kisser.” Tory leaned a slender hip against the table.
Elizabeth blew out a breath. Why did she tell her sisters everything? “Exactly.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Definitely don’t answer.” Tory tapped her fingers against the edge of the table for effect.
Elizabeth stared down the phone until it fell silent once more.
Tory sat and they returned to their meal.
If only she knew how to navigate male-female relationships as smoothly as she ran her business.
The phone chirped again and she squeaked.
“Chicken,” Tory whispered.
Pursing her lips, Elizabeth reached out and slid the phone toward her. “I was going to return his call, thought it was rude to leave during our meal. But since you obviously approve, I’ll take this in the other room.” She pushed back from the table, ignoring Tory’s smirk as she exited through the back sliders to stand on the screen-in patio. “Hello?”
“Great! You’re there. Ready to experience all that Starling has to offer?”
She smiled. Jeremy made it so easy. She hoped she was ready.
*
The corner table in Starling’s Main Street Café was Jeremy’s new favorite writing spot. Maybe there was something to be said about being surrounded by people, the steady stream of chatter, and plenty of comfort food while drafting.
And coffee. Lots and lots of coffee, the antidote for a writer on deadline.
He’d written a record number of pages since he’d arrived this afternoon, more than making up for the dearth of the past weeks. He could relax this evening and enjoy being with a striking, intelligent woman.
He shaded his eyes with one hand, the sun hanging low at the end of a long picture-perfect summer day in the Adirondacks—low humidity, mid-seventies, and a nice breeze fluttering through the café’s buffalo-plaid curtains.
The perfect night for the date he had in mind.
She should be here soon. He turned back to scan the small space. Tourists lined the barista counter, ordering their fancy iced coffees and fruit smoothies, while others sat at the tables crowded into the dining area. He was about to turn and look out the window for her when he noticed her walking toward him.
In a white, silk blouse and tight, pink skirt that fell mid-thigh, she was all legs and flowing hair. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was all class and seemed to float toward him in pretty pink heels.
“Hi.” Her voice was soft, her expression eager.
“Hey.” His groin tightened, but manners forced him to stand. He squeezed her hand briefly, sitting down before she or anyone else caught sight of his raging hard-on. What the hell was he, fifteen? “Maybe we should have skipped this place and gone straight to The Nostalgic.”
She looked around. “Oh, but I like it here. I’ve only been in town a couple weeks and I’m already hopelessly addicted to those chocolate chip cookies.” Her eyes fell to the plate on the table between them.
He smiled. “According to my Grandma Bertie, no woman can resist them.” He handed her a cookie before sinking his teeth into one of his own. “Gotta have something to go with the coffee.”
“You going to get a drink?”
He tipped his empty mug in response. “Can always use a refill. You?”
“Definitely. I’ve been at the store since eight this morning. Running on adrenaline now. I’m sorry I’m a bit late, but I changed clothes. Figured you didn’t need to see me in a track suit and sneakers on our first official date.”
She could wear a paper bag and he’d think she was beautiful. “Whatever you feel most comfortable in is good with me.” He waved for her to take a seat. “How are sales?”
“Even better than my marketing team predicted. It didn’t hurt that we opened the same weekend an extra couple thousand potential customers were in town because of the Ironman. She nibbled on her cookie, the tip of her tongue peeking out to catch a crumb caught on her bottom lip.
The bulge in his pants twitched and he coughed to hide his grimace. “You know what you want?” Shit. He didn’t mean to sound so gruff.
Her eyes locked with his. “Yes,” she replied, her voice husky. “How about—”
“Hey, Jer. Want that refill now, hon?” Geri, a server with the café since its opening a few years back, appeared at their table, effectively breaking the mood.
He nodded. “And I believe Elizabeth would like something as well.”
Geri turned to his date as if just noticing her.
“I’ll have your strongest coffee, thanks,” Elizabeth said, picking up another chocolate chip cookie as Geri walked away.
“Woman cannot live on sweets alone,” he joked.
“I beg to differ.” Elizabeth smiled and a cute dimple appeared in her left cheek. He was fascinated by it, considered touching it. But he resisted. No PDA, no PDA.
She glanced at his closed tablet. “Did you write today?”
Good, a neutral topic. “I write every day.”
“That’s dedication.”
“Some days are more productive than others. Creativity has an ebb and flow to it I’ve learned to accept.”
She leaned closer, appearing genuinely interested. “So, was it an ebb or flow d
ay?”
“Flow, but much needed after way too much ebbing.” The sunlight coming through the window shone on her hair just so, making it appear more bronze than brown. She was gorgeous. But more than that, he enjoyed her spirit. That light shone from within her and made him feel something he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Hope.
“Well, that’s good news.” She popped the rest of her cookie into her mouth and moaned with pleasure.
He found himself shifting in his chair again. Clearing his throat, he replied, “Yes, indeed.”
Their coffees arrived and they sat together, talking about the nuances of their day and remarking on the sights until the shadows outside lengthened and dusk fell on Starling’s Main Street. His hometown was smaller and quieter than the tourist town of Lake Placid, just the way he liked it. She seemed to agree.
All was perfect, just as he’d planned.
“Was it difficult getting published?” she asked between sips of coffee.
Not as difficult as getting sober or getting over the loss.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and stared out the window, struggling to breathe after her verbal punch to the gut. It wasn’t her fault. For a while tonight, he’d pushed his daily struggle to the recesses of his mind but with one innocent question, his reality came flooding back. She didn’t truly know him. She saw the man he wanted her to see. He swallowed his guilt. But that was okay. They were too different for this to ever last. He would enjoy it while it lasted. He turned to look at her.
She was still there, chin in hand, waiting for his answer.
So he pasted on a smile. “You’re an entrepreneur. Writing is the same. It takes a lot of practice, patience, and perseverance. If you don’t quit, you eventually succeed.”
She nodded. “I imagine it’s a really competitive business like mine. Anything I can do to help spread the word, let me know. I have friends with kids.” She hesitated. “If you give me the title, I—”
“You ready to go?” He stood, even more unprepared for the new direction their conversation was taking. “We better get moving if we want to beat the rush.”
His Kiss (Summer in New York Book 2) Page 5