Chasing Dreams

by Deborah Raney

  He raised his brows in mock concern. “And I suppose that’s the sign of a good shopping trip?”

  “It is! Phee and Quinn helped us switch a bunch of furniture between the cottage and one of the cabins last night, so we needed to replace some things in the cottage. We found everything we need and then some.”

  “That’s good?”

  She flicked an ornery grin at the question in his typical guy response. “If you were Ginger, I’d be dragging you out to my car right now to show you the gorgeous mother-of-pearl trinket box I found.” She’d bought the little box at Annie Laurie’s, her favorite antique haunt on Broadway. And even though it was a little steep for her budget, she paid thirty-six dollars for the box because she had a feeling it was worth that and more. It would be perfect for the decorative shelf in the bathroom—a place to put aspirin, first-aid items, and a little sewing kit—things guests might need while staying at the cottage.

  Luke shook his head, matching her orneriness. “All I can say is thank goodness I am not Ginger—whoever that is.”

  “Sorry. Friend and former roommate.” She loved that he knew when she was teasing and could dish it right back.

  “Ah, I see. Well, your enthusiasm is impressive.”

  “Why thank you. You might think I’m a shopping-crazed maniac. I prefer to think of it as retail therapy.”

  “Well, of course.” He didn’t look even remotely convinced.

  “We have guests coming this weekend. So we really did need to find that stuff right away.”

  “Guests? Real company? Or for the Airbnb?”

  “Sorry, yes, the Airbnb.”

  “I’ve never used Airbnb, but some of the guys at the radio station have stayed in them. How does that work exactly?”

  She told him how they’d set up the rental on the Airbnb website and that guests could book a room—or the whole cabin—online. “We’re only getting started. But now that we have one of the cabins finished and another one close, we’ll be able to rent out the cottage and one cabin for families or larger groups. We’ll all stay in the other cabin when both properties are booked.” She told him about Quinn and Phylicia’s plans to build a house on the property.

  “Sounds like business is hopping.”

  “I don’t know if I’d go that far.” She tucked a strand of hair behind one ear. “Our rentals have mostly been weekends at this point. And fixing up the cabins is kind of eating our lunch, so we’re on a pretty tight budget, but I think it has potential. Especially after Quinn and Phee’s place is done and we can rent out three of the four houses at a time. We’ll see. At least none of us are paying rent and we don’t have a mortgage.”

  “That’s an accomplishment in itself. How did you manage that?” He held up a hand. “Not that it’s any of my business. I don’t mean to pry.”

  “No, I know you didn’t. You could say it was a gift from my mom. It’s how we spent our inheritance from her … buying the property. So we can’t take any of the credit.”

  He looked thoughtful. “I think she’d be really proud of what you’ve done with the place. And I’m guessing any mom would be happy to know that her daughters were such good friends that they wanted to be close.”

  She flung a wry grin at him. “You haven’t seen us fighting over the one bathroom in the cottage.”

  He laughed. “That sounds more realistic.”

  “It’s one reason we were in such a hurry to move things around last night. We did get Britt moved into the finished cabin so now there are two bathrooms up for grabs. Except the nights we have guests in the cottage—then we’ll be back to fighting over one bathroom.”

  “Apparently that’s a big deal for women?” He gave an exaggerated shrug. “I wouldn’t know. No sisters. I’m an only child, actually, so I didn’t even have to share with—”

  “Me too.” Mateo piped up. “I’m an only child. Like Luke.”

  “Yes, you are, buddy.” He put his hands on Mateo’s shoulders and winked at Jo over the boy’s head. “Guess we don’t know what we’re missing, not having sisters.”

  She smiled wanly, a little ruffled. She hadn’t realized the boy was listening so intently to their conversation. She made a mental note to guard her words more carefully—and hated the resentment that came with the thought. “Count your blessings.”

  Luke and Mateo both laughed at that. Was the kid going to horn in on their conversation the rest of the night? She checked the thought. She knew she was being petty and unreasonable where Mateo was concerned. The invitation had been Luke’s to make, and he’d made it clear that his Little would be coming with them.

  She shouldn’t have thought of it as a date in the first place. She simply needed to readjust her expectations. What Luke was doing was admirable and she should be supportive. She knew what it was like to lose her mom. And while she couldn’t imagine what that would have been like at twelve, she still didn’t want Luke to shunt her to the side because of his Little.

  “Hey, speaking of the Airbnb, have you given any more thought to the wedding venue idea?”

  She smiled genuinely now, pleased he’d remembered. “A little. I still think it could work. But my sisters seem to think we should make sure we can keep the cottage and cabins rented before we do anything drastic.”

  “From what I saw at your sister’s wedding, it wouldn’t take much to recreate the beautiful setting you guys made.”

  She laughed. “I wish we could take the credit, but God pretty much made everything up there.”

  “Good point.” His smile said he agreed. “I guess it would depend on whether you buy the tent and tables and chairs—all that stuff—or rent them. You could start out with rentals, so you don’t have a lot of money tied up in the idea. Of course, if you rent them each time, that cuts into your profits pretty severely.”

  “Ha! Tell me about it. I haven’t even shown Phee the rental invoice yet. She’s going to come unglued.”

  “Well, it would definitely be something to look into and—”

  “Hey!” Mateo held the pager aloft, its little red lights chasing each other in a circle. “It’s our turn!”

  “All right! Let’s go.”

  Inside, Mateo handed the pager to the host, and Luke motioned for Joanna to go ahead of them. Even Mateo held back, as though Luke had coached him that “ladies go first.”

  The host led them to a booth. Luke waited for Joanna to slide into one side, then he scooted into the other beside Mateo.

  Another server brought them jumbo glasses of ice water and left a handful of wrapped straws on the table along with colorful menus.

  Jo studied a menu and tried to ignore Mateo as he tore the end of the paper from his straw and blew on it, attempting to launch the remaining paper tube across the table. Not at her, but at the empty spot beside her. When that didn’t work and the straw wrapper became a slobbery mess, Mateo grabbed Luke’s straw and peeled the end off of it.

  Joanna slipped the remaining straws into her lap before they could meet the same fate.

  “Hey.” Luke spoke sharply to Mateo. “Manners. Remember what we talked about? Now stop messing around.” He held out a hand for his straw.

  But Mateo yanked it out of reach, his elbow slamming into his glass of water. Before Jo could react, a flood of icy water gushed into her lap.

  She gasped as the freezing deluge soaked her white capris clear through. Ice tumbled onto the bench seat around her, even as her temper ignited.

  CHAPTER 18

  MATEO!” LUKE SHOT UP OFF the bench, causing other diners to turn and stare. “I told you to quit messing around!”

  “I didn’t mean to!” Mateo’s face scrunched up and turned red.

  Luke sucked in a shaky breath. It took everything he had not to lose it and haul the kid out of here by the scruff of his neck. But it had been an accident.

  Joanna was the one who needed his attention now. Although he couldn’t exactly go help her sop up the flood that had landed in her lap. Not knowing what else t
o do, he handed her his flimsy paper napkin. “I am so sorry, Joanna.”

  She attempted a smile, but he thought she was as close to tears as Mateo was. Using his forearm as a bulldozer, he cleared the puddle of ice and water that remained on the table, sweeping it onto the floor, then went looking for a busboy.

  When he returned with their server, armed with towels, Mateo was still sitting with his face in his hands, dark eyes peeking over his fingers at the mess he’d made. “It was an accident. I swear,” he whispered.

  Joanna took one last swipe at her lap with a dripping wad of paper napkins. She swallowed hard and patted Mateo’s arm awkwardly. “I know it was an accident. It’s only water. It’ll dry.”

  Luke could have kissed her. And yet, he thought he sensed reservation in her tone. He truly felt for Mateo, who couldn’t seem to come out from behind his hands. But it didn’t seem fair to forgive the boy too quickly, when he did owe Joanna an apology, not merely the defensive excuse he’d offered up so far.

  He spoke Mateo’s name. “Hey, buddy. What do you tell Joanna?”

  “Sorry.” The word was muffled behind his hand.

  “Hey. Look up here.”

  Mateo peeked out. “Sorry,” he repeated.

  “It’s not me you need to tell.”

  “I said it was an accident. I didn’t do it on purpose!” he spat.

  Luke looked at Joanna and shook his head. “I’m sorry. Can you give us a minute?”

  She started to get up from the table.

  “Oh … no. I didn’t mean you have to leave. We’re going to go outside for a little talk.”

  She nodded, not smiling.

  He put a hand under Mateo’s arm and lifted him from the bench. “We’ll be right back.”

  She motioned toward the restroom. “I’m going to go stand under the blow dryer in the restroom for a few minutes.”

  “I’m sorry,” he mouthed again.

  She’d already turned away, her soaked pants clinging to her thighs as she hurried to the restroom. His spirits plummeted as he realized how embarrassed she must be.

  This whole night was turning into a disaster.

  But right now, he needed to deal with Mateo. With a firm hand on the boy’s shoulder, Luke steered him through the front doors. The patio was crowded with noisy diners, but it was too hot to take Mateo to the car. He eyed a spot of shade around the side of the building. “Let’s go over here.”

  “Am I in trouble?”

  “No, buddy. It was an accident. I know that, and Joanna knows that. But it happened because you were goofing off, and you should have told her you were sorry.”

  “I did!”

  “No. You gave her excuses and made it sound like it wasn’t your responsibility.”

  “I said ‘sorry,’ Luke!”

  “Only because I told you to. Are you listening to me? What I’m trying to say is that, whether you meant to or not, you knocked a glass of water over on a very nice lady.”

  A glint came to the brown eyes. “So, you’re saying if she wasn’t a nice lady, it would be okay to dump water on her.”

  It was everything Luke could do to curb a smile. But he made his voice firm. “No, that’s not what I’m saying. And please don’t be a smart aleck. This is not the time.”

  Mateo smirked, but seeing Luke’s glare, he quickly turned somber. “I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate that. Now, you need to tell Joanna that same thing. And not just one word. How should you say it? To her?”

  Mateo scraped his flip-flop on the asphalt, eyes downcast. “I’m sorry.”

  “Not too bad, but you can do better. You need to look her in the eye. Now, what will you say to her when you see her inside in a few minutes? Pretend I’m her.”

  “You’re not nearly as pretty as she is.”

  “Very true. But Mateo, I’m not joking about this, and I don’t think you’re taking me very seriously. Now what are you going to say to her?”

  Mateo met his eye. “Miss Joanna, I am very sorry I spilled my water on you.”

  Luke chose to ignore the hint of defiance in his tone. “That’s more like it.”

  “Wait. I wasn’t done.”

  Luke reared back. “Oh … Sorry. Go ahead.”

  “I am very sorry I spilled my water on you. I shouldn’t have been messing around, and it won’t happen again.”

  Smiling big, Luke raised his right hand for a high five. Mateo gave it begrudgingly and Luke pulled him into a quick side hug, proud of him for going the extra mile.

  Now if the kid could just pull it off when he actually apologized to Joanna.

  Jo took one last glance at the full-length mirror by the restroom door. Not quite dry, but she couldn’t hide out in here all night. This would have to do. She hiked her purse over one shoulder, inhaled deeply, and opened the door.

  Mateo was back in their booth, which looked as if it had been wiped off and reset with new silverware and napkins. And little bowls of salsa and a basket brimming with chips. Luke was speaking to the server, pointing at a menu.

  Jo was suddenly ravenous. She approached the table with a smile she wasn’t quite feeling, but she was determined not to let this ruin the evening. Looking at Mateo, she stretched out her arms. “See? You can barely tell I went for a swim in my clothes.”

  Luke laughed and nudged Mateo with a stern look.

  “Miss Joanna, I’m very sorry I spilled water on you.” He sucked in air and recited, his words gaining speed and volume as he went. “I shouldn’t have been messing around and I promise I will never let it happen again, and you have every right to be mad at me and I don’t blame you if you can’t forgive what I did to—”

  Luke cleared his throat loudly. “That’s probably good, bud.” He clapped Mateo’s shoulder.

  Joanna flicked a wink at Luke before turning back to Mateo. “Hey, I forgive you. I know it was an accident. No harm done.”

  “Thanks.” The boy looked at his lap, suddenly shy again. And obviously relieved when the server appeared at their table again.

  “Everybody here now? Are you ready to order?”

  Luke looked at Jo with a question.

  “I know what I’m getting. Whenever you’re ready.”

  “We’re ready. You go ahead.”

  She told the server what she wanted and watched Luke with Mateo as they placed their orders. If she’d been a casual observer, she would have thought they were father and son. Mateo even looked a little like Luke with the same dark complexion and almost black hair, the same athletic build. Only Luke’s gold-flecked gray eyes set his appearance apart from the boy’s.

  While they waited for their order Mateo quizzed Luke from a list of riddles and questions printed on the kids’ menu. Luke played along and laughed at the corny jokes. A few times he stopped and tried to draw her into the “game,” but she felt awkward and very much a fifth wheel. She scarfed chips and salsa in silence and pretended to enjoy their playful interaction.

  When their food came, Mateo shoveled his tacos down in five minutes flat, then turned the extra silverware into fighting machines. Luke made him quiet down, so she and Luke were finally able to visit—albeit with Mateo vroom-vrooming under his breath in the background.

  She was in the middle of telling Luke about the plans for decorating the last cottage when Mateo’s noises got noticeably louder. Luke lifted a hand, looking apologetic.

  He bent and whispered something in Mateo’s ear. The kid grinned, but he quieted down.

  Somehow, the way the two of them interacted made Luke seem older, mature beyond his years. He would be a good father someday. Someday. Right now, she simply wanted to enjoy getting to know the man without any distractions. She had to admit she’d be glad when Mateo was finally placed with a family and Luke was free of the responsibility. She hoped there was a good family waiting for him, one who would be everything a boy like Mateo needed.

  CHAPTER 19

  OOOH! AAAH!” LUKE’S FEIGNED APPRECIATION of the fir
eworks made Joanna and Mateo both laugh and echo his oohs and aahs.

  Jo leaned back on her elbows on the denim quilt Luke had brought for them to sit on. The darkness of the crowded park afforded her a chance to admire him without worrying he might catch her staring. Even though she was staring. Hard. Physically, the man was her ideal—a glorious cross between Milo Ventimiglia and Zac Efron.

  Between flashes of light, she memorized Luke’s silhouette, the firm line of his jaw and the way his hair curled around his temple. With his guard down, relaxed on the blanket—Mateo plopped between them—Luke was even more handsome than she’d judged him to be that day she first saw him talking to Trent at the office.

  Not that she was hung up on physical appearances. That had never really been important to her in a man. Ben was nice-looking, but it had been his personality that attracted her initially. His quick wit and friendliness. And the more she’d gotten to know him, the better looking he’d become in her eyes. Of course, that was before she discovered that he had a fatal flaw: When the going got tough, he ran.

  Luke was different. But sometimes, she almost couldn’t appreciate his personality because he was so stinkin’ good looking. The thought made her smile. And wish her sisters were here so she could whisper with them, find out if they thought he was as handsome as she did.

  Despite the waterworks at the restaurant, and Mateo’s admittedly disruptive presence, she was enjoying herself, and was beginning to wish she hadn’t insisted on meeting Luke at the restaurant. Because once the fireworks show was over, they would walk back to their cars and that would be it.

  Luke scooted back on the blanket, and noticeably closer to Joanna, leaving Mateo in front of them.

  Jo gave him her best smile. “It’s been a perfect night … weather-wise, I mean. For the fireworks.” Good grief. Shut up, Chandler. While you’re still ahead.

  Luke laughed. “I was gonna say … If you consider getting doused in ice water part of a perfect night, you might want to reevaluate your standards. Or have your head examined.”