“Please, I’m late,” she said, her eyes compelling him to understand. “I’ll find a way to pay for any damage. I promise.”
Then, as if she’d been an apparition, she disappeared. “Wait …” His words were wasted. She melted into the crowd.
Shivering, Joshua began climbing from the water. Two men assisted him, and an older woman wearing festive-colored waitress attire offered him a large warm towel as he stood. “Thanks.” He wrapped it around his shoulders.
“You’re welcome. Now, why don’t you come inside?” She gestured toward La Cocina del Rio, a popular Mexican restaurant. “Would you like hot apple cider or coffee?”
With both hands, he shoved the wet hair from his face. Feeling numb after the dunking he’d taken, Joshua nodded. “Do you have hot chocolate?”
A twinkle in her eye, the woman smiled. “Sí.”
The throng around him began to disperse, and Joshua followed the waitress. It wouldn’t hurt to give himself a moment to collect his thoughts about what had just happened. And what had just happened?
Before he went inside the restaurant, someone nudged Joshua’s shoulder from behind.
He turned to see an elderly man, wanting his attention.
“Can I help you?” Joshua asked.
“The woman left this for you.” He winked and held out a business card. “I wouldn’t let that one get away.”
Still struggling to wrap his mind around the incident, Joshua accepted the card and stared at it. “Thank you,” he said and looked up. But it was too late. The man had vanished.
The name Eliza Connors was printed in the center, and underneath, a phone number. That was it? Who was this Eliza Connors who’d knocked him into the river?
As Joshua pondered the questions, little birds busied themselves on the sidewalk, collecting remnants of food left behind by people rushing to and fro.
A slight tug on his arm pulled his attention back to the waitress and the kindness in her eyes. “Do you still want something warm to drink?”
Joshua shrugged the towel from his shoulders and smiled. “Thanks for your generosity, but no. I’m feeling much better.”
Taking the towel from him, she nodded and entered the restaurant, leaving Joshua standing in the cold. He stood on the Riverwalk soaked to the bone. Shivering, he’d never noticed how cold it could get in San Antonio until that moment. A drop of water slid down his forehead and into his eye.
Joshua wiped his eyes and face with his sleeve then headed in the opposite direction of the Paloma restaurant, toward his truck near the Rivercenter Mall. Once inside, he started the vehicle, and since it was still warm from his drive over, he turned up the heat.
He pictured the young woman with silver-gray eyes and short blond hair, staring at him.
One look into those eyes and he knew—I must find out more about you, Eliza Connors.
He drove away from the curve where he had parallel parked and into traffic. Facing off with Tom was no longer in his plans today. No, the mysterious woman had seen to that. Still, he couldn’t help but be thankful for the collision.
When his eyes had locked with Eliza’s, it seemed as if she’d stirred life into his soul—that she’d shined light into the loneliness he held inside, chasing it away.
Could his mother be right? Was there such a thing as love at first sight?
Sitting at a table in the restaurant, Ecko sipped on her water, thankful that her prospective employer was the one who wasn’t on time. After the mishap on the Riverwalk, Ecko was fortunate to be only five minutes late.
This day was turning out to be the worst she’d experienced in a long time. The flight delays, missing her interview, and then there was Daddy’s news.
“Oh, Daddy, what are you thinking?” She murmured under her breath.
And that poor man she’d sent tumbling into the river. She hated leaving him like that, but she had no time to help him. Likely, she couldn’t have assisted him anyway. Still, she hoped someone else had helped him out.
Ecko forced her thoughts back to the interview. A glance at her watch set her nerves on edge even more. If she weren’t already panicked from the volatile day, now she was beginning to worry that her interview wasn’t going to happen. But with so many things vying for her thoughts, could she even make a good impression today?
One thing would go a long way to help her focus on her job interview. She dialed Daddy. He answered on the first ring. “Ecko, how did your lunch appointment go?”
“I’m still waiting for the woman to show. Listen, how about dinner tonight?” Ecko held her breath, hoping Daddy didn’t have plans with—that woman. She winced at her sour thoughts of the woman Daddy thought he loved, a woman who could soon be his wife, Ecko’s stepmother.
“I have plans with Laura. But I suppose asking you to join us at this juncture would be too much.”
Ecko closed her eyes, hating to hear the pain in her father’s voice. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispered.
“No, it’s all right. You’re still the most important woman in my life. I want to make you understand.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” Ecko smiled at the man who began taking his seat across the table from her. “My appointment is here. I’ll call you later.”
She snapped the phone shut and offered her hand. “I’m Eliza Connors.”
The man smiled and shook her hand. “Chris Barnett.” He adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses and tugged his tie.
Wearing a blue suit, he had black hair gone silver at the temples. Ecko guessed him to be in his early forties.
“I confess I was expecting someone else,” she said.
Mr. Barnett took the menu the waiter offered. “We’ve had a slight change in our direction, Miss Connors. Or should I call you Miss Lewis?”
That evening, Ecko spotted her father waiting for her. La Canarias was a four-star restaurant on the Riverwalk. If nothing else, she would have experienced the fine cuisine of San Antonio restaurants by the end of her stay. There was nothing like Tex-Mex.
Wearing her nicest dress and a warm velvety jacket, Ecko rushed into his arms. “Daddy!”
When he released her, she stood back and admired his suit. “You’re a handsome man. No wonder you’re engaged.” Ecko attempted to keep the tone light, though she remained greatly troubled with the circumstances, especially considering Mom had only been gone a year.
Once ushered to their seats by the maître d’, Ecko smiled across the table at Daddy. “Why the fancy restaurant?”
“Can’t a father treat his little girl to a nice dinner at a fine restaurant?” He winked then perused the menu.
“You know you don’t need to impress me.” She giggled. Why hadn’t she noticed before what a handsome man he was? Glad to spend time with him this evening, she dreaded the inevitable discussion regarding his upcoming nuptials.
“How did your day go? Did your lunch appointment finally show?” He peered at her over his menu.
“Yes, finally.” She focused on her own, hoping to discourage further questions on the topic.
The interview had been disturbing. Mr. Barnett had assured her that, if hired, she would be working on serious human interest stories, though it sounded more like the publication had changed direction and now resembled a tabloid. She suppressed the sigh that arose at the disappointing thoughts. For the moment, it was her only prospect. She couldn’t live more than two months without an income.
“I missed reading your column this week. Are you writing for another segment now?”
Ecko froze. She’d hoped to share good news with Daddy before he noticed her column was no longer in print in the Kansas City Star. Though he was her biggest fan, she knew that Daddy would sometimes go days without reading it because he was busy with work.
“Yes.” She dipped her head to focus on the menu again, pretending she cared about her choices. “I’m looking into a human interest piece.”
The waiter came to take their orders.
Ecko sent him an apologe
tic look. “I still haven’t decided. I’m accustomed to tacos and burritos. But this is seriously upscale Mexican. What do you suggest, Daddy?”
“How about I order for us?” He winked.
“Okay.” She handed the menu to the waiter. “Surprise me.”
For her, Daddy ordered the seared sea scallops with jalapeño cream and for himself, turkey chipotle–cranberry tortas.
The waiter smiled his approval and left them.
“Now, where were we?” Daddy asked. “Oh, I remember. Will you write this new piece under your pen name, Eliza Connors? Or can the world know my daughter is a famous writer?”
“I’m not famous.” Guilt mingled with the heat in Ecko’s cheeks. “Oh, Daddy—”
Her cell rang. Maybe this was the call telling her she had the job so she could be up front with Daddy. Her heart raced.
To Daddy, she said, “Excuse me. I need to take this.” Into the cell, she answered, “Eliza Connors.”
“Miss Connors, I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“No, not at all.” Who was this? It didn’t sound like Chris Barnett.
“My name is Joshua Sheppard. We met earlier today when you knocked me into the river.”
Ecko gasped and looked at her father, hoping he didn’t see the disappointment and embarrassment infusing her at that moment. She covered the mouthpiece, “Daddy, I’ll be right back.” Rising from the table, she hurried to the restaurant foyer and found a private corner. “Sir, I apologized for that. I’m so sorry. Is there something else?”
Ecko cringed, wishing she hadn’t left her card. But at the time it seemed like the right thing to do. At least it had been her business card with her pen name—that way the man couldn’t track her down or stalk her, if he were crazy. These days, one never knew. She’d covered enough of those stories in her gossip column.
“Yes, there’s something else.” He was silent for a moment, then, “Would you allow me to buy you lunch sometime?”
Oh no. Ecko pressed her head against the wall, forcing herself to remain calm.
He cleared his throat. “I understand your hesitation. How about a cup of coffee?”
To his credit, he hadn’t exactly used her guilt for landing him in the river to force her into lunch. He mentioned it only as a way to identify himself. And, after all, didn’t she owe him at least a cup of coffee? In a safe public place, what could be the harm? And, it would be a simple way to ease her conscience in the matter.
“All right. And I’m buying. I owe you. But after coffee, we’re good. Is that a deal?”
“Fair enough. Are you familiar with La Cocina del Rio?”
“I’m sure I can find it.”
“It’s near the place where we met. Ten thirty, tomorrow?”
“I think I can fit that into my schedule.” Ecko started to ask how she would recognize him then caught herself. She recalled the surprise in his dark eyes and how his black wavy hair had looked so different when wet. Unfortunately, a small laughed escaped.
“Is something funny?”
Other than the comical way you fell into the river? “No, not at all. I’ll see you there.” After ending the call, she had the strange sense that he knew exactly why she’d been laughing.
Standing tall, she straightened her dress and headed back to Daddy. Now, to find out why he was in such a hurry to get married …
Chapter 3
The waitress who’d offered Joshua a towel yesterday also served him today as he sat at a lone table in La Cocina del Rio. Her name tag read Marcy.
She approached his table again and held out the coffeepot. “Another cup?”
“Yes, please.” This was his fourth, and he was beginning to think that Eliza Connors wasn’t going to show.
“Don’t worry.” Pouring his coffee, Marcy’s smile was sympathetic. “She’ll be here.”
Joshua narrowed an eye and looked up at her. “How do you know it’s a she?”
“You were nervous when you got here, like a schoolboy on a first date. Now, your jaw is twitching because she’s late.” She gave a soft laugh and squeezed his shoulder. “You remind me of my son.”
Joshua ripped into a sugar packet and poured it into his cup, stirring, then took a swig of the coffee, feeling it burn his empty stomach. “I’ll give her five more minutes.”
Fifteen minutes later, he was shaking his head at Marcy when she offered more coffee, this time her eyes telling him she’d lost hope, as well.
I’m a fool. Bad enough, Eliza Connors made him look like an idiot yesterday when he’d fallen into the river, but she’d done the same today. Thankfully, Marcy was his only witness. He wondered if she had an inkling about who he’d been waiting for.
As he stood from the table and tugged his jacket from the chair back, he realized that he wasn’t much different than his mother when it came to the opposite sex, or at least with this one woman. He’d allowed her to toy with him.
It would not happen again.
Leaving a big tip for Marcy, Joshua tugged on his cap and nodded at her across the room, forcing a smile to hide his annoyance.
Recalling she mentioned his jaw, he tried to relax that as well. A woman stumbled through the door of the small restaurant. Joshua cringed as Eliza Connors barreled toward a waitress who lifted a breakfast tray just in time for her to walk underneath.
Frowning, Eliza searched the restaurant until her eyes found him then … she smiled. When she looked at him with her light gray eyes, he remembered that moment yesterday when he’d felt his irritation wash away with the river current. Now, her smile caused his frustrations to fade in the same way.
Joshua nodded and held out the chair for her where he’d been sitting as she strolled his way.
“Mr. Sheppard, I don’t think we’ve met formally.” Eliza held out her hand, setting the tone like a businesswoman. “I’m Eliza Connors.”
Joshua took her soft hand in his and gently shook it. “Joshua Sheppard. Please, call me Joshua.”
“All right, Joshua. Call me Eliza.” Eliza sat in the chair he held for her. “I’m sorry I’m late. I hope you didn’t wait too long.”
Joshua took the seat opposite her at the table, wondering if he could down yet another cup of coffee. “I arrived only a few minutes ago myself.” He avoided looking at the empty sugar packets surrounding the lone cup—evidence to the contrary. To think, she was supposed to be the one to pay.
Unfortunately, the sugar packets snagged her attention. A small grin slipped into her lips.
Nailed. The woman was observant.
“Thank you for warming the seat for me. Can I buy you an early lunch?”
Joshua owned and operated his own business and could arrange his schedule. Though agreeing would mean he’d have to work late, he needed to spend time with the woman who lit his heart.
“Lunch is good.” He wanted to add that he would buy, but feared he would scare her off with the way his heart and thoughts raced out of control.
Slow down, man. He was crazy, no doubt there. If his mother found out, he’d never hear the end of this. But her situation was different. Completely.
Eliza smiled when Marcy approached the table. “I’ll have a cup of coffee and we’d like to see lunch menus.”
Marcy poured coffee for Joshua, too, but he had no intention of drinking it. Joshua was aware of her particularly big smile, but she said nothing to him and handed them both a menu.
When Marcy left, Eliza relaxed into the chair, appearing uninterested in the menu. “Tell me, Joshua, what do you do for a living?”
He leaned against the seat back and smiled, surprised at her question. A good conversationalist knew how to draw others out, rather than talking about themselves. “I own and operate Sheppard Christmas Lighting. We install both residential and commercial Christmas lights.”
“Ah, so this is your busy season. I’m flattered that you allowed me time to repay you.”
He searched her unusual eyes, thinking he could look into them forever. The
same words of caution he’d given his mother warned him to slow down. He couldn’t be in love—he’d told his mother it was impossible for her to love someone in such a short time.
Yet, here he was, hoping that Eliza would agree to see him for some reason other than to repay a debt. “Your apology is payment enough,” he said.
Her gentle laugh and the look in her gaze told Joshua that she felt it, too—there was chemistry between them.
“I hope you know I truly am sorry for dunking you.” An image of him plunging backward into the river flitted across her vision. She felt the smile slip into her lips and covered it with her hand as she rested her chin on her palm.
A broad grin spread across Joshua’s face. With black hair and eyes to match, a tanned complexion and a strong jaw, he was a handsome one. Despite her earlier hesitation to meet him for coffee, she was glad she’d agreed. And now, coffee had turned to lunch, after all. Marcy returned, and Ecko ordered a chicken fajita salad, Joshua an enchilada dinner.
“So, Eliza, what do you do for a living? Or an even better question, why were you in such a hurry yesterday?” Flashing an easy smile, he tapped a sugar packet against the table.
Though he appeared to pack a lot of nervous energy, Ecko felt comfortable with him. She laughed. “Actually, the two questions are related. I majored in journalism in college, and I’m still searching for the right job. I was running late for an interview—one that I had to reschedule because I missed the first one.” She warmed her hands on the steaming mug and watched Joshua’s reaction.
“Ah, so that explains it.” Elbows on the table, he cradled his cup, as well, then leaned closer. “I hope you made it on time, despite our little mishap.”
A mishap that had brought them together. Ecko found she was glad to be sitting across the table from Joshua Sheppard. Feeling heat in her cheeks at the thought, she pulled her gaze from his dark eyes and stared into her cup of coffee.
“Yes, I made it.”
He drew back and leaned against the chair. “Then I’m glad you didn’t stop to help me from the river.”
A Riverwalk Christmas: Four-in-One Collection Page 2