by Jeannie Moon
There was no way to know if it was right for the evening, but it was too late to worry about that particular detail. After adding her jewelry, she straightened the neckline and glanced at herself in the mirror. Not too bad. The whir of a motor cut through the gentle quiet of the house just as she zipped on her boots. Headlights flashed into her bedroom window, then quickly vanished, signaling that a car had pulled into the driveway. Looking at the clock she saw it was seven. He was right on time.
This was just dinner. Just dinner, she told herself.
If that was true, what was the little buzz flitting around in her belly? They had a history, but it was so far in the past, Jane could hardly consider it relevant. After he’d broken her heart, Jane jumped headlong into her schooling, doing her best to put any memory of the man she had wanted more than anything out of her head. The way he’d just dropped out of her life crushed her, shook her faith. And while Jane was quiet and inexperienced in matters of the heart, she was not a fool. Pining over someone who didn’t want her was out of the question.
Instead, she threw herself into her work, taking internships and research jobs wherever she could. Her passport got a good workout, taking her to dig sites, ruins, and museums all over the world. She built an amazing network of colleagues and friends and was considered a rising talent in the archeological community. Jane thrived, forcing herself to forget her heartbreak, burying it like the relics she studied.
When her dad died, it all fell apart, and Jane had been reassembling the pieces ever since.
Back in high school, she was the only one who knew Danny’s dreams were as big as his stories. Now, he’d brought her into his confidence once again as he tried to reinvent himself.
Danny was a thoughtful man, who obviously felt things deeply. Sure, at times it was necessary to hold on to the cool kid facade from his youth, but when she watched him in interviews, or on the red carpet at one of his movie premieres, she saw through the practiced charm. All she could see was the boy who toiled in the back of a bookstore to build worlds. They were bound by an old friendship, and by the shared history of a small town that held one of them back, while the other shot forward.
Her doorbell chimed, rousing Chloe from her spot in the corner of the living room. Her pooch scrambled excitedly on the dark wood floors, crashing into a side table, and nearly knocking over a small glass table lamp that had been in the family since their first days in the United States. Normally, the big fuzzball was quiet, very content to hang with her people. But Chloe lived for visitors—all visitors. She and the UPS man had a little love affair going on. If her dog was ever in the yard during a delivery, he made a point to go over to the fence and love her up. It was the same at the store, where she had a particular fondness for their mail carrier, Elton. The wagging tail and happy bark weren’t going to scare off any intruder. Given the opportunity, the dog would invite a burglar in for tea.
“Chill out. We’ve discussed this. You’re too easy.” Chloe sat, but the whoosh-whoosh of her tail continued excitedly. The dog was incorrigible. After smiling into the hallway mirror for a final check of her teeth for lipstick smudges, Jane opened the front door.
Damn.
It should have been a crime for a man to look this good. She doubted he even made an effort. At the store, when he was wearing a hoodie and jeans, his good looks were casual, boyish almost. Now? The man was gorgeous. He filled the space on her front porch, tall and rugged-looking, in a leather jacket, slacks, and a soft-looking crew neck sweater. There was nothing out of the ordinary, not really. There was something familiar that stirred in her heart, a bloom of awareness that allowed Jane to see past her own fears and insecurities. She sensed neither of them knew what to expect. Normally confident, Danny looked as nervous as she felt. Seeing it on his face, and in his eyes, which now appeared to be a smoky dark blue, pushed her jangled nerves into overdrive. But it also provided common ground.
Shaking off her armchair analysis, Jane chided herself for overthinking. They were old friends. This was JUST dinner.
But was it? If life had taught her anything, it was that sometimes you needed to question what you thought to be true. Based on the way he looked at her, it was possible Jane wasn’t as clued in as she’d thought.
She stood there, hands clasped so tight she thought she might twist off her fingers. The wave hit her all at once, reality crashing into the memories. Jane couldn’t quite contain the emotions that she’d been bottling up since he walked into her store last week. Nothing had prepared her for the rush of feelings that filled her head and her heart.
The sharp bark from behind her broke the trance. “Oh. Oh, hi.”
His smile bloomed. “Hi. You look…beautiful.”
Looking down, she smoothed the front of her dress. “Thank you, so do you. I mean. Um…” He grinned and Jane wondered when she’d lost her power to speak. How old was she? Fifteen? A deep breath helped her regroup. “You look very nice. Handsome.”
Danny rubbed his hand on his chin where he had a perpetual five-o’clock shadow. “I clean up okay.”
“Come in.” Jane stepped back from the door. “I’ll get my coat.”
Chloe had seated herself in anticipation of some attention, but the dog was vibrating with excitement. She and Danny had become buddies since he’d, surprisingly, been writing in the store every day. When he’d arrive, Chloe would abandon Jane and follow him to the round table, beg for his food, and then, regardless of whether he did or didn’t give in, she’d find a corner nearby to curl up. Yesterday, there’d been a spurt of activity during the day and he’d taken her out to do her business while Jane was helping customers.
It was kind and unexpected. Neighborly. But, considering how things had been since he’d been back, unexpected was becoming the norm. Like tonight. He was squatting down, stroking Chloe’s face while her Collie looked like she’d found a long-lost best friend. There was such ease. Such familiarity. Jane grabbed her black shawl-collared coat and almost hated to interrupt.
“Who is the sweetest girl?” he cooed. “You’re such a good girl.”
Chloe’s long snout was pressed to Danny’s nose while he scratched her jaw just under her puffing cheeks. There were no licks, but her ears were back, her eyes soft and loving.
“That dog is so easy.” The comment escaped before she could censor herself, and Danny’s response was a loud, bold laugh. He stood up and smiled.
“I believe we established earlier that she loves attention.”
“Yes. Shameless.”
“I need to watch out for her kind, I guess.” Reaching, he took the coat from her hand and held it out for her. Jane wasn’t used to such courtesies, but she slipped her arms in the sleeves. She also wasn’t expecting her insides to shiver when he lifted her hair from inside the collar, before trailing his hand down her back. Sweet Baby Jesus.
Standing behind her he was so close she could feel the heat radiating off his body, and his scent, something subtle and woodsy, completely surrounded her.
The response to his touch was unexpected, putting Jane immediately on guard. She should be beyond this silly crush of her youth. So much time had passed, they’d each lived a lifetime. But with the sparks and heat, there was comfort and familiarity. He seemed to belong in this space, and for a moment it felt like he belonged with her.
Before they left, he glanced around the entry hall. “It’s different than I remember.”
“It’s been a long time, and we’ve remodeled.”
“It doesn’t feel like a long time,” he confessed. “Not at all.”
It didn’t. Having him here felt natural, and right.
“Shall we go?”
With a last pat on the dog’s head, he opened the door and she stepped outside. The night was cold, and her breath came out in puffs as the moisture crystalized in the frosty air. Using the app on her phone she locked the door and adjusted the inside lights, feeling surprisingly tech savvy. That was until she got a look at the low-slung vehicle sittin
g in her driveway.
It had tires, so it was obviously a car, but when he pushed a button on the key fob, the headlights went on and the engine roared to life. From the cabin of the car, a cool blue light glowed, making the vehicle appear otherworldly. He settled her into the passenger seat with manners that Jane feared were becoming passé, then went around the front of the car to his side.
She thought about her seventeen-year-old self, sitting next to Danny in his family’s old Jeep Wagoneer and driving out to a local beach because he’d heard seals were hauled out on some rocks in the harbor. It was early, maybe seven in the morning, and he’d shown up at her house, knowing her parents would be awake, but it was likely Jane wasn’t. It was late November and no kid their age was up that early on a Saturday morning, but there he was pulling her out of bed.
Sitting so close in the confines of the small car, his smell was familiar. There was a hint of sage and cedar, but instead of generic shampoo, fine leather and bergamot blended with his essence. It brought her right back to that day so many years ago, standing on the beach, with the wind blowing and the sun barely up, watching the silky silver-gray forms of the seals slip in and out of the water.
It was a good memory, one that made her remember the close bond they’d had. Or so she’d thought. Less than a year later, he was gone for college, and moments like that one on the beach were lost forever.
Chapter Five
Dan knew he probably didn’t need a reservation for dinner on a Wednesday night, but the restaurant in the next town over from Angel Harbor was an extremely popular foodie destination with a tasting menu he was dying to try. Not wanting to take a chance, he’d called that afternoon and secured a table for them.
Sitting with Jane in the close quarters of his car, he found himself thinking about the community she’d created in the bookstore. It had been an important part of the town when he was a kid, but now, it was so much more. He’d been working there for a little less than a week, enjoying the little rituals that came with a store like Jane’s. He liked the ebb and flow of the place, and in the time he’d been there, he was impressed that in the age of online shopping, the bookstore was thriving. Not only was there a steady stream of customers who came in for books, magazines, a gift, and what had to be the best coffee in the world, but there was also an after-school art club, a story hour on Saturday morning, as well as a writers’ group, several book clubs, and people who came in, like he’d been doing, to meet a friend, get some work done, or read. He even saw the mayor and the high school principal having an informal meeting over coffee. The store was a treasure, and he was gratified to see the good folks in town taking full advantage of it. Dan wondered if Jane knew what an impact she was making.
He observed people and situations for a living, tuning in to their emotions and motivations. His crime novels could be brutal; learning to watch people and their body language helped him make the books a lived experience. He wanted his readers to feel what his characters felt.
Janie may not have realized it, but her store was that kind of experience. Her shop, full of sights and sounds, was comfortable—like a second home—and Jane treated every visitor, no matter how many times they had been there, like an old friend.
Dan observed people visibly relax in her presence. Her genuine kindness, her openness, were what made the shop special. Being there, soaking up the atmosphere of the shop and the town, was exactly what he had needed to switch gears.
Her head tilted, she was watching the world go by from the window. “I love the new Christmas lights on Main Street. I can’t wait until we light up Angel Harbor. The streetlights go on next week, but the big reveal will be right after Thanksgiving.”
“I think it will really feel like Christmas to me this year. Between the excitement from my nieces and nephew, to being in a place that’s actually cold, I’m getting into the spirit. I helped Gavin with his letter to Santa the other night.”
“Oh, that’s fun. Did you have fun? I used to love helping Tara with her letter.”
“It was great. I don’t know if Ella is still on board with the Santa thing, but she’s going to write a letter, just in case. Jamie is thinking an in-person visit is the best way to go.”
“Ha! Make sure the kids bring their letters to the North Pole mailbox at the bookstore. We have volunteers from the Chamber of Commerce who compose responses.”
“Really? That’s awesome.”
“Where did you spend Christmas last year? You weren’t with your family?”
“No, I was at my house in Hawaii. It’s very cool seeing the palm trees all lit up, but it’s not the same. Same with Thanksgiving. I love the food there. I mean I really love it, but I just couldn’t get into coconut sweet potatoes.”
“You never were very adventurous with food.” The observation illustrated how close they had been, and how much she remembered.
“I’ve gotten much better. You’ll see,” he declared. “I am glad to be here for the holidays. Like I said, it’s not the same without family. It took me a long time to figure that out.”
“I can’t imagine it would be. Last year, we had a house full of people. Some of my cousins came from out of town and brought their kids. We went to the city, and saw the tree, and ice-skated in Bryant Park…”
He held up his hand. “Whoa. Back up. You ice-skated?”
He caught her giving him the side-eye, and then one side of her mouth turned up in a grin. “Okay. Maybe I didn’t skate.”
“I was going to say, you’re not a skater. I seem to remember you and the ice were not friends. You spent a lot of time on your ass.”
“That’s true. I can stand up now, but I have no ability. I’d still like to learn, but I’m afraid if I fall, I’ll break a hip or something.”
He chuckled at the reference to their age. “I don’t think we’re quite there yet, but I understand the hesitation. I blew my Achilles tendon out a couple of years ago. Partial tear. It took months for it to heal.”
“This getting old stuff is for the birds,” she snorted.
“Yet it’s a privilege denied to many.”
It was a sobering thought and she nodded in agreement. Jane’s father was only in his mid-fifties, a couple of years older than they were, when he had the heart attack that killed him.
He parked the car in a spot on the street, thankful he didn’t have to put his baby in a municipal lot. It was only a short walk to the restaurant.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I’ve been dying to try the tasting menu at Kent’s. Are you game?”
Jane’s eyes went wide. “Yes! Do you have a reservation? So much for you not being adventurous. The place is always packed. I’ve been wanting to go, but…”
Her voice trailed off.
“But why?”
A heavy sigh escaped. “Time mostly. My life isn’t my own.”
Her comment felt like it was part confession, part realization. She was a single parent who ran a very successful business, and that didn’t leave her much time for things she wanted to do.
Dan got out of the car and circled around to her side to open the door. He loved that Jane didn’t hesitate to take his extended hand when she exited. Looping her arm through his, like it was something she did every day, they started down the sidewalk.
“Did that sound pathetic?” she asked. “I didn’t mean it to.”
“Not pathetic. You have a lot on your plate. From my vantage point, you’re too busy taking care of everyone else to do things for yourself.”
Her mouth pressed into a narrow line. “There’s some truth to that, I guess.”
“Are you happy? It’s not a problem unless you aren’t. You were always running from one thing to another back in the day.” He had a ton of time to himself, and he certainly wasn’t happy.
She lapsed into silence, and he gave her time to think as they strolled to the restaurant. Jane always needed thinking time. It was a true gift that she didn’t just blurt out answers, and i
t was why he had always respected her opinion so much. So many people were ready-fire-aim; she wasn’t like that. Even when they were in high school, she always took time to weigh out the problem. She’d called it noodle time.
“I’m happy,” she finally responded. “I have my ups and downs, but there’s much to be grateful for.”
He loved her outlook. She, of all people, had reason to be bitter, or angry. Her entire life plan had been turned on its head. But instead, Jane put out goodness. Everything she cast into the universe brought light to the people in her orbit. Her generous offer to let him take up residence in her shop was just one example. He’d have to be blind not to notice that she was a beauty, from her skin to her hair, to those luminescent eyes, she was stunning. Jane, however, was even prettier on the inside.
There were a lot of people walking around town, unusual for the middle of the week. Just before he reached for the door of the restaurant, Dan saw a couple walking past them on the sidewalk glance over and whisper. Normally, he’d smile or wave if there was extended eye contact, but he could tell by their expressions and body language, the people on the street weren’t interested readers. Dan’s notoriety had devolved into morbid curiosity, and it was out of his control.
Once inside Kent’s, they were taken to their table right away—a small banquette set at the rear of the room, giving them a good view of the entire dining room.
Deep gray-green walls served as the foundation for an eclectic mix of lighting and furnishings. Other than the banquettes, which were upholstered in deep brown leather, the chairs and tables were a mix of sizes and finishes. A large bar took up an entire wall, and bottles were stacked in front of a crackled mirror that went all the way up to the pressed tin ceiling. The owners had spent a tremendous amount of time and money to make it look like they hadn’t spent a tremendous amount of time and money.
