This Can't Be Love

by Maria Geraci

  Julie began to whoop. “To Luke and, of course, to my incredibly talented and humble husband! I love you, sweetheart!”

  They all took a swig of the champagne and then Luke gave Ethan the expected manly slap on the back. Sarah watched them, smiling. “Congratulations,” she said. “I’m really happy for both of you.” She gave Ethan and Julie hugs. She looked at him, and for just a split second there was something in her eyes that Luke couldn’t make out, but then she reached out and gave him a big hug as well.

  They’d done it. They’d gotten the contract. Powers and Doyle was about to expand to the west coast. It was everything Luke had been working so hard for these past few years. And yeah, sure, he felt great. Didn’t he? Of course he did. It was just too early in the morning to get excited about anything, that was all.

  “I say we go out to breakfast and celebrate,” Luke said.

  “I brought donuts.” Julie pointed to the box on the counter.

  “Donuts are fabulous,” Sarah said. “But they aren’t breakfast.” She opened up the box and passed it around. “Help yourselves while I make us some real food.”

  Julie took a donut. “Are you serious?”

  “She is,” Luke said, catching Sarah’s gaze. Whatever he’d seen there before was gone, and was now replaced with what looked like complete and total happiness for him and Ethan.

  She began pulling out pots and pans from the cabinets, eggs and cheese and other food items from his refrigerator. Huh. Where had all that come from? It must have been on the list she’d given the doorman on Friday.

  “I want to help,” Julie said, looking on with interest.

  Ethan finished off his champagne. “Me, too.”

  Before long, Sarah had them all chopping and grating while she rolled out dough to make what she called “something that would change their lives forever.” Luke made a pot of coffee and set the table. A mere forty minutes later, the four of them were sitting in the dining room, eating omelets filled with potatoes and Spanish chorizo and the best beignets Luke had tasted this side of Louisiana.

  Julie bit into a beignet that left some powdered sugar on her chin right next to the chocolate smear from the donuts. “Oh my God. The Café Du Monde has nothing on this,” she said, referring to the famous New Orleans café.

  “Sorry, Julie,” Ethan said to his wife before turning to Sarah. “Will you marry me?”

  “Forget you,” Julie said, “Will Sarah marry me?”

  They all laughed.

  “Seriously, Sarah, these are fabulous,” Julie said. “Where did you learn to make these?”

  “Actually, I learned how to make those at the Café Du Monde. I worked there one summer.”

  “Really? What was that like?” Ethan asked, intrigued. Luke leaned forward in his chair. He wanted to know the answer to that, too.

  “Hot,” she said and they all laughed again. “It was a busy summer, but I learned a lot.”

  “Obviously,” Julie said. “If this is the kind of food you’re going to serve from your food truck then you’re going to make a fortune.”

  The three of them began talking and laughing again, while Luke sat back in his seat and watched. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to participate in the conversation, but the last couple of hours had given him a lot to think about.

  He’d have to make plans. Reach out to their contact in Alaska and see when they’d need to start work. He’d promised Mimi he’d stay in Whispering Bay long enough to attend Claire’s going-away party, which was coming up in just a few days, so, no problem there. But he had a lot to do. Arrange for a flight, a place to stay. Hire more engineers, look into office space in Seattle, maybe. He’d only been there a few times but it was a city he could see himself living in, at least for part of the year.

  He wondered if Sarah had ever been to Seattle. She’d love the food scene, the Pike Place Market, the coffee. Maybe once he was settled, she could come out and visit him.

  He watched her as she regaled his friends with a funny story about a tourist who tried to tell the head barista at the famous café how to make a better cup of café au lait.

  I want to make good food that makes people feel good, too.

  She didn’t need a food truck to do that. She made people feel good just by being herself.

  After they’d eaten, they’d cleared the table and between the four of them had the kitchen cleaned up and the dishes all stacked in the dishwasher.

  “You’re heading back down to Whispering Bay this afternoon?” Ethan asked.

  Sarah nodded. “I need to be back at work bright and early in the morning.”

  “How much longer are you planning to stay down there?” Ethan asked Luke.

  Luke stole a glimpse at Sarah, curious if she had any reaction to the question, but she looked at him with the same blank expression on her face as Julie’s. “I should be back in Atlanta by this Friday.”

  “Good. We can spend the weekend strategizing on the new project.” Ethan gave Luke a friendly goodbye thump on the shoulder. “Sarah,” he said, reaching out to hug her. “I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you. Thank you for the best food I’ve ever had the privilege to eat. Anytime you want to come to Atlanta, my home is open.”

  “Thank you,” Sarah said, looking flushed from Ethan’s warm words. “I don’t expect to be back in Atlanta anytime soon, but if I do ever get back here, I’ll definitely call you and Julie.” She gave Julie a tight hug. “And you, pretty lady! Best of luck with that baby.” Her words sounded choked with emotion.

  They were almost out the door when Julie gave Luke a hug goodbye. “See you next weekend.” She leaned up to whisper in his ear. “If you let Sarah go, then you’re the dumbest man on the planet.”

  “I love you, too, Jules,” he shot back.

  He waited till they were gone a few minutes. “That was fun,” he said to Sarah.

  “Oh my God, yes. They’re the best, Luke. You’re lucky to have such good friends. And, I know I said it before, but I’m so happy for you. This Alaskan contract is a big deal, huh?”

  He nodded. He wanted to ask her about last night, but things seemed okay between them now, so why rock the boat? “What do you want to do today? We could go down to the park and—”

  “I hate to be a killjoy, but do you think we can head back to Whispering Bay? It’s a long drive and I have a super early morning tomorrow.”

  He’d love to show her Piedmont Park and maybe even hit the little wine bar down the street. It would mean they’d get back to Whispering Bay late but she could sleep on the drive home. He understood, however, her desire to get back early so he did his best to hide his disappointment. “Sure, no problem. We can leave whenever you want.”

  “Great. I’ll start packing my stuff.” He watched as she made her way back to the bedroom. The urge to follow her and tell her…tell her what? That he didn’t want to leave Atlanta yet? That he didn’t want to get back to real life?

  They’d started off this relationship with no expectations except to have a few fun weeks together, but if he was being honest, his feelings for Sarah had morphed into something more serious than a fling. Julie was right, of course, as usual. He’d be an idiot if he let Sarah walk out of his life. Especially when there was absolutely no reason they couldn’t go on seeing one another. Once she bought her food truck, she’d want to go around to local festivals and take advantage of the business, but she had to have a home base, right? She could make Whispering Bay that home base.

  His heart began to beat wildly. It made perfect sense. She loved his beach house, so why not let her move in permanently? She could do whatever she wanted with it. Hire a decorator, make it her own. Hell, he’d even let her reprogram his remote control.

  When he wasn’t away on a project, he’d come visit and, of course, he could fly her up to Seattle or wherever he was working for the occasional weekend.

  Should he tell her his plan now? No. He should do it right. He’d wait till some night this week, maybe after the
y’d just made love. Or maybe they’d go for a long walk on the beach. He should buy her a nice piece of jewelry. Maybe a necklace or a bracelet. Nothing too expensive because Sarah wasn’t the type, but something she could wear every day that would remind her of him. He’d tell her how much he wanted them to continue what they had.

  He’d tell her that he wanted them to be a real couple.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Monday morning at The Bistro by the Beach was exceptionally busy. It seemed as if everyone in town was here and, although Sarah had only been gone from Whispering Bay for three days, according to the Gray Flamingos, a lot had happened. One of which was the rumor that Earl Handy’s daughter, Nora, had hired a hot shot attorney from Miami to contest his will.

  “I hear he’s a member of that law firm Martinez and Martinez,” Betty Jean Collins said while Sarah refilled her coffee cup.

  “The big personal injury guys?” Everyone in the state was familiar with Martinez and Martinez. Their scary-looking billboards threatening to sue the pants off everyone and their mother practically littered the Florida highways.

  “That’s them.”

  Viola and Gus shared a look. “Ben Harrison is the attorney handling the case,” Viola said. “Have you heard of him?”

  “No,” Sarah said. “Should I have?”

  “He’s in the south Florida papers all the time. A real shark with an even nastier reputation,” Gus said. “He never takes a case he can’t win.”

  Viola’s forehead scrunched in worry. “Jenna says that all that beachfront property Earl left the community is in danger now that Nora is contesting the will.”

  “I don’t envy Pilar and Jenna having to go up against that snake Ben Harrison, but knowing your niece, he’s going to have his work cut out for him,” Gus said.

  Viola nodded thoughtfully, but there was still a hint of worry in her expression that puzzled Sarah.

  The other big news was that Frida and Ed were on their way back to town. They’d called Lucy last night and told her they should be back before noon, a whole four days earlier than expected. Luckily, Tom and his crew had just finished the renovations on the upstairs apartment.

  “I have to decide whether or not to buy The Bistro pretty soon,” Lucy said, “Before Frida puts it on the market.”

  Sarah gave Lucy a long look. “Have you thought any more about accepting Will’s offer? He really wants to help you, Lucy, and he’s looking to invest his money right here in town.”

  “Yeah, but where did he get that money? That’s what I want to know. I’ve known Will since we were all kids. His parents are still alive and, as far as I know, he hasn’t come into any inheritances.”

  Sarah hesitated to bring it up, but since Lucy seemed so concerned… “You told me once that you can always tell if someone is lying. Have you come right out and asked Will where he got the money?”

  “That’s the thing, he’s vague enough that I can’t get a good read. If he would just come out and say where he got the money, then I’d be able to figure out whether or not he’s telling the truth, but all he’ll say is, ‘Don’t worry, Shortcake, the money is all legit.’ Which, luckily, is the truth. Not that I would ever suspect Will of doing anything illegal.”

  “Shortcake?”

  Lucy rolled her eyes. “He’s called me that since I was five and he was ten. Apparently, Will Cunningham doesn’t realize that I’m all grown up now.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Sarah said, “the fact that he wants to loan you the money to buy this place tells me he has a lot of confidence in you. It’s pretty awesome, really.”

  Lucy mulled her words. “You’re right, of course. And I don’t want to seem ungrateful. I’d take Will’s money if I felt that I could keep The Bistro at the same level of quality that it enjoys now. Frida had Ed, and we’ve had each other all summer as backup, but I’ll be honest, I couldn’t imagine running this place without you. Is there any way you’d reconsider going in with me?”

  And that was the million-dollar question. Of course, she’d thought about it. She’d been thinking about it all weekend. The food truck had been a goal for so long that it had been hard to think of anything else, but there was something to be said about the stability of staying in one place and having a partner like Lucy.

  But staying in Whispering Bay would also mean she’d continue to have some kind of interaction with Luke. She’d see his sister almost daily and his parents occasionally around town. She wouldn’t be able to help herself and she’d ask about him, and Mimi would tell her what exciting part of the country he was working in or, worse yet, that he had a girlfriend. And then, of course, there was the man himself. Even if he only made it to town once a year, there was no way she could avoid him. Not when The Bistro was the most popular spot in town.

  Once they went their separate ways, seeing him again under those circumstances would be too painful. The past weekend had taught her that.

  “It’s a tempting offer, Lucy, but I really can’t,” Sarah said. “You could totally get another partner, you know.”

  Lucy’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, but they wouldn’t be you.”

  Mimi came into the café and, with the familiarity of a good friend, came around the counter to give her a hug. “Hey! How was the wedding? I’m going to get Luke’s version this afternoon, but I wanted to hear the truth from you.”

  “It was…interesting,” Sarah said, because she couldn’t lie to Mimi.

  “I bet.”

  “Why don’t you take a break?” Lucy said to Sarah. “The early morning crowd has slowed down.”

  “Yes,” Mimi said, grabbing Sarah by the hand. “Come sit with me and tell me all about it.”

  Sarah poured herself a coffee and got Mimi her decaf tea, then settled into a table near the door.

  “First off, tell me everything,” Mimi said. “Did Luke die when you came out wearing that dress?”

  Sarah couldn’t help but smile. “I think we can say he was suitably impressed.”

  “Of course he was. Did you get to meet Julie and Ethan? Isn’t she a total sweetheart?”

  “She is. And Ethan’s pretty terrific, too.” She filled Mimi in on the details of the weekend, leading up to the wedding and reception. She decided, however, to omit the part about her bathroom one-on-one with Victoria.

  “A plastic surgeon, huh? That seems about Victoria’s speed. I’m sure she looked like a million bucks.”

  “She’s very beautiful,” Sarah said. “And maybe just a little…sad.”

  Mimi looked at Sarah for a long minute. “I don’t pretend to know Luke’s mind on things. He’s always been a private person, plus, of course, he’s a man, which means he’s unaware of a lot. But I will say this. My brother is a straight shooter. If he ever promised Victoria anything, he would have delivered on it. I’m pretty sure their relationship was way bigger in Victoria’s, and my mother’s mind, than it ever was in reality.”

  Sarah had no doubt that what Mimi said was completely true. It was one of the many things she liked about Luke. The man didn’t make false promises. He’d offered Sarah nothing beyond a fun couple of weeks, and he’d certainly delivered on that. “So, you said you’re seeing Luke later today?”

  “He’s coming into the office on official business. The city is thinking of hiring his company to do a study in preparation for all the land we’ve just inherited.”

  “Then you haven’t heard the news?”

  “You mean about Nora contesting her daddy’s will?” Mimi shrugged. “Pilar was actually anticipating it. Jenna, too. The will is pretty solid, so I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”

  The door to The Bistro opened and a woman exclaimed in a loud voice, “We’re back!”

  Everyone turned to see Frida and Ed Hampton standing in the doorway. The entire restaurant, Sarah and Mimi included, jumped to their feet and swarmed them.

  “The happy vacationers return!” Mimi cried.

  “How was Europe?” someone asked,
and on it went with the questions and welcome home hugs.

  “It’s about time,” Betty Jean grumbled. “We haven’t a decent cup of coffee since you two left America.”

  Sarah and Lucy exchanged smiles. Poor Betty Jean. Wait till she heard that Frida and Ed were planning to sell the place.

  * * *

  “I can’t accept this,” Sarah said, looking at the five-thousand-dollar check Frida had just handed her. It was a little after two p.m. and The Bistro was now officially closed for the day.

  “Why not? You’ve earned it. Think of it as a bonus for keeping my café safe and prosperous while Ed and I had the time of our lives.” It had taken Frida all of about five minutes to change from her traveling clothes into the restaurant’s signature Got Coffee? shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. She and Ed had insisted on getting back to work immediately. For the past few hours, they’d poured coffee, served muffins and sandwiches, and chatted up the locals. Frida’s red curls had gone wild in the Florida humidity but her cheeks were pink and her eyes were glowing with happiness.

  It had been fun for Sarah and Lucy to see Frida and Ed in action. And, yes, maybe a little bittersweet, too, because now that they’d returned from their European vacation ready to get back to work, there was no reason for Sarah to stay.

  “Are you sure you still want to sell this place?” Sarah asked. “You seem pretty pumped up.”

  Frida smiled sadly. “Oh, honey, this is just my last hurrah. I love this place and a part of me will always belong here at The Bistro and in Whispering Bay, but, yes, it’s time to sell. It’s all paid off and I’ve made more money than I can spend in a lifetime, so now I plan to enjoy the fruits of my labor, as Ed calls it.” She studied Sarah. “I’ve already talked to Lucy. She’s interested in buying but she needs a partner. Are you sure that’s not you?”