A Lot Like Love

by Jennifer Snow

Obviously not a best seller.

  Marissa wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like black licorice. I think I’ll stick to my vanilla, chocolate, strawberry triple scoop.”

  “Triple scoop, huh?”

  “Yeah, I’m a kid; I don’t have to watch my diet like you do,” Marissa teased.

  Wes laughed. “I just burned a ton of calories out there riding those waves.” Mostly, he stood in the shallow area and made sure the summer camp kids could stand on the board for a few seconds, but he’d skipped breakfast, not having much of an appetite after the crash-and-burn situation of the night before. “I’ll have the same,” he told the guy behind the counter.

  Marissa’s eyes widened as the guy handed her the overflowing ice cream cone. Wes accepted his, paid, and they headed back outside. The hardest part would be eating it before the sun turned it into a big melting mess.

  Spotting a free picnic table on the sand, Wes nodded toward it as he licked around the base of his cone. “Let’s sit for a few minutes,” he said. “I can’t walk and eat at the same time.” The top chocolate scoop looked dangerously, haphazardly placed, and any sudden wrong moves could ruin a good thing.

  Kinda like his sudden wrong moves with Sarah the night before. Shit, he’d really messed things up and had no idea what to do next. Would she want to talk about it or pretend it hadn’t happened? What did he want?

  “So what’s going on with you and Sarah?”

  Wes choked on the ice cream, the creamy vanilla flavor sticking to his throat. He coughed. “Nothing.” He coughed again. “What gives you the idea that something’s going on?” Marissa had no idea that he’d returned to the B&B the night before…or about the untimely kiss.

  She shrugged casually, but her perceptive little nine-year-old gaze was daring him to bullshit her. “Just a vibe, I guess.”

  Kids obviously noticed and saw more than adults gave them credit for. He wasn’t a great liar, and she was the last person on earth he’d want to deceive, but he actually didn’t know what was happening between him and Sarah.

  “Well, we go way back,” he said carefully. “And I do like her…” More than he realized, maybe. The kiss suggested he more than liked her, but he couldn’t quite define his feelings. Suddenly he found her hot as hell. She was amazing with his daughter…

  “I’ve always loved Dove’s Nest and felt sad when it closed, so I’m glad she’s making it better and reopening it. Do you think she might consider staying?” Marissa asked.

  Obviously that’s what Marissa wanted. Wes didn’t hate the idea of Sarah staying in Blue Moon Bay, either, but she had her own life goals and a career she was working hard to advance in. Wes knew firsthand what it was like to have dreams derailed, so he didn’t think for a second that Sarah should stay. “I’m not sure,” he said honestly. “Hey, I know you really like her and like hanging out with her…”

  “We have a lot in common,” she said.

  He turned to face her, his own ice cream forgotten and dripping down his forearm. “Yeah, and that’s wonderful. I just don’t want you to be too disappointed when she goes back to L.A.”

  Marissa licked her own dripping ice cream. “She said we’ll keep in touch.”

  Would she want to keep in touch with him as well? Probably not after last night. And did he want to stay in touch? That part was still frustratingly unclear. He’d had the first kiss—best possible kiss—since Kelly, and it had definitely spurred something in him, but a long-distance relationship wouldn’t work when he had Marissa to consider.

  “Hey, I have an idea—why don’t we bring something back for her?” Marissa said. “You know, as a thank-you for letting me work with her.”

  “Sure,” he said. It was actually a good idea. It would also serve as an apology from him about the night before. “What were you thinking?”

  “What about one of those?” Marissa said, pointing to the hut behind them. Harrison’s Blown Glass. Hanging outside were hand-blown glass ornaments in different shapes and colors, capturing the sun’s light and reflecting against the sidewalk and surrounding buildings. “She could hang it in her house in L.A. and it will remind her of home. Of us.”

  Wes smiled, inhaling the entire melting mess in one big bite and standing as brain freeze threatened to numb his mind. “I think it’s perfect. She’ll love it.”

  He may not know how to fix the tension between himself and Sarah, but this apology present was a great first step.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next day, a light tap on her bedroom door had Sarah getting up from her laptop and opening it. No one was there, but on the floor sat a pretty box with a tag on it. She picked it up and read: To Sarah…From Wes and Marissa.

  Wes was here?

  Her heart raced a little at the thought of seeing him. The day before, he hadn’t shown up and neither had Marissa, and she’d hoped he wouldn’t prevent the little girl from continuing to work with her, just because of the obvious tension that would be between them now. So far, she’d helped Marissa with the website and her sports app, but she’d yet to pick the little girl’s brain for ideas for her SmartTech proposal, and time was running out.

  Opening the box, she took out a beautiful blown-glass ornament and gasped. It was breathtakingly beautiful with various shades of blue mixed in an intoxicating way inside the dome. Her heart warmed as she carried it inside the room and hung it near the window. The colors reflected the sun, and the kaleidoscope effect across the bedroom floor would have had a calming effect if her pulse wasn’t frantic.

  Hearing their voices downstairs, she took a deep breath before leaving the room. She couldn’t avoid him now. Following the sound, she found them in the den. “Hey, did someone leave a gift outside my door?” she asked, trying desperately to sound casual. Normal. But her voice sounded slightly too high-pitched to pull it off.

  Marissa didn’t seem to notice any tension as she grinned. “Did you like it? We bought it yesterday on the boardwalk.”

  “It was beautiful and very thoughtful,” she said, avoiding Wes’s gaze. Her heart was pounding so loud, he had to hear it across the room. “Thank you.”

  “It was Marissa’s idea,” he said.

  Of course it was.

  “I thought it was a nice gesture as well,” he said awkwardly.

  “What Dad means is, you’re welcome,” Marissa said with an exasperated look at her father. “We thought it might be a nice reminder to visit us when you go back to the city.”

  Us? Sarah swallowed hard. “Um, well, actually. I may be staying a little longer than planned.”

  Wes’s head shot up. “You are?”

  Was he happy about it or pissed? Impossible to tell by the surprised expression on his slightly sunburned face, but the awkward tension filling the air when his gaze met hers made the room suddenly feel suffocatingly small.

  “That’s awesome!” Marissa’s reaction was better, so Sarah turned her focus to the little girl.

  “Yeah. Whitney thought hosting an event here might be nice to show the community the new and improved inn before I put it on the market,” she said.

  Wes nodded. “That makes sense.”

  Again, difficult to know how he felt about it. She wasn’t great at trusting her gut instincts these days.

  “What’s the event?” Marissa asked.

  “A family reunion. An old high school friend of ours,” she said, glancing at Wes. He’d definitely remember Lia. She’d been part of the popular crowd he hung out with. “Lia Jameson.”

  Marissa shrieked in delight. “Aunt Lia’s coming home?”

  “Aunt?” Sarah frowned, looking at Wes. Neither Kelly nor Wes was related to Lia as far as she could remember.

  “Lia is her godmother,” Wes explained.

  “Oh.” Sarah hadn’t realized Wes and Lia were that close. Maybe Lia had been friends with Kelly.

  He check
ed his watch. “We should get going,” he told Marissa. “We just wanted to drop off the gift.”

  “Oh, we’re not working today?” Sarah asked Marissa, genuinely disappointed. Again, she hoped the untimely kiss didn’t have Wes rethinking letting Marissa hang out with her.

  “Dad’s going fishing,” Marissa said, rolling her eyes.

  “Yes, and I’ve got to be on the road in an hour, so I need to get you home to pack your things. I know you didn’t do it this morning when I asked,” he said, shooting his daughter a look.

  Marissa glanced at Sarah. Guilty, she mouthed.

  Despite the awkward situation with Wes, Sarah had to suck in her lips to avoid laughing out loud. The kid was really funny as well as smart. She had Sarah cracking up all week with her nerd jokes that only the two of them would get.

  “Then I need to drop you off at your grandparents’ place,” Wes said.

  Marissa groaned. “Do I have to stay there all weekend?”

  “Yeah. We’ve talked about this. Aunt Carmen can’t be with you at the house all weekend and you can’t be alone. And there’s a winning rockfish with my name on it,” he said.

  Ah, the annual fishing trip. Sarah had seen photos posted online every year. It looked more like relaxing, eating, and drinking than actually fishing, but there was always the customary photo of the biggest catch of the weekend.

  “But Grandma and Grandpa don’t even have Wi-Fi,” Marissa said.

  Sarah did a double take. “How is that even possible?” The McKennas weren’t that old.

  Wes sighed. “They have a playset in the backyard and a basketball net in the driveway…”

  Marissa looked at Sarah, and she could only offer a sympathetic look back at the child. She’d rather die than be stuck someplace without Wi-Fi, too. She understood Wes’s desire for Marissa to get outside more and play with kids her own age in real life, not online, but she could also relate to Marissa’s desires. Sarah had always preferred her books and inside, too.

  There had to be some sort of balance or compromise they could reach. But she kept her thoughts and opinions to herself. She’d already inserted herself in the middle of their family dynamics enough.

  “Wait, I have an idea.” Marissa’s eyes lit up. “Why don’t I stay here at the B&B with Sarah?”

  What? Had the air in the room suddenly evaporated? “Oh…um…”

  Wes shook his head quickly. “No…that’s probably not the best idea. Sarah has a lot to do.”

  “Exactly! She could use my help. And it will give me time to finish the…surprise I’m working on for you,” Marissa said.

  The new website was coming along really well. The little girl had used Sarah’s camera to secretly capture some photos of the renovations to use, and her write-up on Wes and his company was truly touching. Sarah was eager for Wes to see the end product as well.

  Right now, he was staring at her. They both were.

  Was he actually leaving this up to her? She didn’t know anything about babysitting. An only child, she hadn’t even had to take care of a younger sibling before. But it wasn’t like the little girl was in diapers or anything, and she could feed herself… Plus, it would be kinda fun having her around the B&B that weekend. Jessica had a wedding out of town, and Whitney was working around the clock as usual. And she desperately needed the child’s perspective on the SmartTech Kids app.

  Still, she hesitated. They’d been spending a lot of time together already, and Wes didn’t look entirely thrilled by the idea.

  “Please, Sarah. Save me from a weekend in the eighties,” Marissa said.

  Sarah laughed, any resolve weakening at the little girl’s plea. How did Wes ever say no to her? “Okay, well, it’s fine with me if your dad’s okay with it.”

  They both looked at Wes, and he didn’t look completely convinced, but he nodded slowly. “I guess it’s okay.” He checked his watch. “Well, let’s get your things and I’ll drop her back here in an hour?” he asked Sarah. The questioning look in his expression reflected her own uncertainty about where they stood, and she had no more answers than he did. But she could save Marissa from boredom that weekend and maybe find some inspiration to try to save her promotion that was slipping away with each failed attempt to wow Gail.

  Sarah nodded. “Sounds great.”

  …

  He was going to be late for check-in if he didn’t leave now. Still, Wes lingered on the front porch of the B&B almost an hour later. “Did you pack enough clothes?” he asked Marissa, eyeing her Minnie Mouse suitcase in her hand. The one they’d bought for her first trip to Disneyland when she was four and the one she always took on sleepovers.

  “Yes.”

  “Toothbrush?”

  She nodded.

  “Toothpaste?”

  “I assumed Sarah had some,” she said, looking at Sarah for confirmation.

  Sarah nodded.

  “Your nighttime retainer? The dentist said the grinding was causing cavities.”

  “Yes, Dad. I have it. I packed everything just like if I was going to Grandma and Grandpa’s,” Marissa said, her small hands against his stomach, pushing him off the deck and down the steps. “Go. If traffic is bad, you’ll be late.”

  Wow, she was eager to get rid of him. Guilt washed over him. Years without a female role model in her life might be taking their toll. Or maybe it was just having someone in her life with shared interests, someone she could bounce ideas off and have them understand, someone she could learn a lot from.

  Maybe this time with Sarah would be a good thing…but then what?

  Could he, should he try to protect Marissa from potential disappointment and heartache by cautioning her not to get too attached, or would that be teaching her to be guarded, closed off in relationships?

  Where was the parenting book on how to deal with situations like this?

  “Dad. Go,” Marissa said when he continued to stand there like a statue.

  “Okay…I’m going.” But he paused at the base of the steps. “You sure?” he asked Marissa. Sure, she liked Sarah, but the woman was still virtually a stranger. They’d only really met a week ago. Would Marissa be comfortable with her for two full days? What about at night?

  “Yes, I’m sure,” Marissa said confidently. Confidently annoyed.

  He glanced at Sarah next. “You sure?” She seemed less so, but she nodded.

  “Absolutely. Go. We’re going to have a great weekend,” she said with what might have been forced enthusiasm—he couldn’t be sure. He really couldn’t read her at all. Seeing her for the first time after the kiss had been as awkward as he’d thought it would be. He was torn between wanting to talk about it and wanting to pretend it hadn’t happened. Torn between wanting to avoid her at all costs and grabbing her and getting another taste of those lips.

  Luckily, he’d been saved from having to make any decisions because Marissa was around, listening and watching. Closely.

  “Okay…” He didn’t move. His gaze shifted from his daughter to Sarah and back again.

  “Go!” they both said in unison.

  Right. He was worrying for nothing.

  The two of them would probably be glued to computer monitors all weekend and not even notice the time passing. It wasn’t the ideal way he’d like Marissa to spend her weekend, but she’d have a much better time there than she would at her grandparents’ place.

  Unfortunately, his in-laws hadn’t been thrilled about this change of events. Carolyn’s “Well, if you think that’s a wise decision…” response had him questioning it even more. Especially when he couldn’t exactly dismiss the woman’s concerns about Sarah’s potential feelings for him, since his own feelings for Sarah were confusing the hell out of him. That kiss had been anything but friendly. But this was about Marissa, and how he was raising his daughter was his call to make.

  “Why
are you still here?” Marissa asked.

  “Okay, I’m gone,” he said, actually walking toward his truck this time. “I’ll have my cell. Reception is usually pretty good at the lodge, a little dicey out on the water, but call Bridget at the desk of Blue Moon Bay Sportfishing if there’s an emergency; they can radio out to the boat.”

  Both of them looked bored as he rambled on.

  “Okay…bye,” he said. “Love you…Marissa,” he said quickly, as though he needed to clarify, then feeling like a fool, he climbed into the truck and gave a quick wave as he backed out of the driveway.

  He sighed as he rested his arm outside the window and honked the horn twice as he drove away.

  Marissa would be fine. Sarah was the one he should be worried about. Nine-year-olds had a lot of energy, and Sarah had never been around a lot of kids. But so far, she’d been a pro at keeping Marissa both occupied and content while he’d worked, and he knew he could trust her.

  What was actually bothering him was that he’d almost wanted to stay and hang out with them that weekend instead of going fishing. Which was a new feeling. He looked forward to this weekend’s fishing trip every year: getting together with his best friends from high school for the once-a-year boys’ weekend. They rented out the private charter, and there was more fooling around and drinking beer than fishing, but their annual competition for the biggest rockfish added a competitiveness to the weekend and kept them all coming back year after year.

  He cranked the music as he drove along the coast toward Blue Moon Bay Sportfishing. It was about forty minutes outside of town, but the owners were originally from Blue Moon Bay and had kept the name when they’d relocated down the coast years before. The sun reflecting off the ocean and the mild breeze blowing through the cabin of the truck made him feel good. Better than he had in a while.

  Pulling up into the lot of the dockside sportfishing outfitter almost an hour later, he grabbed his tackle box, rod, and reel and headed down to the pier where the other men were waiting.

  “Hey, man…thought we were going to have to leave without you,” Phil Parker, his best friend from high school, said as he approached. The man was dressed in a pair of fishing coveralls, rubber boots, and a Boonie hat, looking the part of a fisherman, at least, even though he held the record for no rockfish caught six years straight. The guy had as much interest in fishing as Wes had in crunching numbers, but his accountant-desk-job friend came to hang out with the old gang every year.