Sweet Rendezvous

by Danielle Stewart

  “Seemed like she was hard to let go of,” Dallas said, tossing Davis a pair of work gloves from his pocket.

  “She was and is,” Davis admitted. “But she’s a runner. I don’t think Indigo Bay is big enough for a woman like that. Coming from New York City, I know she’s running from something, but it’ll eventually work itself out. When she doesn’t need a place to hide anymore, I doubt she’ll stay here.”

  “No word on what had her running in the first place? Don’t you find it weird that she hasn’t told you why she got in her car without her cell phone or purse and just started driving south?”

  “She’s a tough nut to crack,” Davis sighed. “I’m trying not to push it. She’ll tell me when she’s ready, I’m sure.”

  “I can send my crew over to that cabin today if you want. They can probably have it patched and cleaned by tonight.” Dallas stacked the wood up in the back of the truck and searched around for the straps to tie it down.

  “No,” Davis said, too quickly to sound natural. “I mean, you don’t have to rush over there on my account. Things are all right where she is. I have space in the house. Plus she already has a recipe she wants to cook tonight. I’d hate to mess up her plans.”

  “Right,” Dallas said, looking wholly unconvinced. “I’ll give my crew something else to do this week and send them over next week.”

  “Sure,” Davis agreed. “That’ll work out well. You doing anything tonight?”

  “I’m stopping by the café to help my mom work on one of the stoves that’s acting up. Then I’m free.”

  “Why don’t you come by for dinner,” Davis croaked out awkwardly. “You haven’t been to my place to eat in a while.”

  “I’ve never been to your house for dinner,” Dallas corrected with a laugh. “I don’t think you’ve been to your house for dinner either.”

  “I’m trying to change that. Elaine is something else. I really like her, and I’m hoping the more she gets to know people around here, the more she’ll think about Indigo Bay as the place she could settle down. So come by at six, and see if your mom wants to join us.”

  “All right,” Dallas said, skeptically. “I hope you know what you’re doing with this girl. Aren’t there any women in Indigo Bay you could go out with? I know Lucille has a list a mile long of local prospects. I don’t want to see you getting torn up again if she leaves.”

  “If she leaves, she leaves,” Davis lied as he helped tighten the strap over the lumber. “But I’m gonna give her some reasons to stay.”

  “If dinner with me is your big plan, I’m not feeling very confident for you.”

  “It’s just one piece of it,” Davis corrected. “I’m going to take her to all the best places in town.”

  “So that’ll take about an hour, then what?”

  “You know damn well this place is something special. I don’t see you pulling up stakes and trying to leave. Indigo Bay has a little bit of magic in it. I just have to make sure she sees it.”

  Dallas hummed thoughtfully. “Take her to the old lighthouse,” he offered. “I’ve got a telescope you can borrow. There’s going to be a meteor shower tomorrow night. If the skies are clear, it’ll be quite the show. It’s roped off though, so you’ll be breaking and entering.”

  “Exciting,” Davis said, rolling his eyes. “If the cops come by, we’ll make a run for it.”

  “Do you ever think of going to New York?” Dallas asked, swinging the door to his truck open but hesitating before getting in. “There’s a big world outside of this place. If your plan fails, don’t act like there’s nothing else you could do.”

  “Do you need help unloading this on the other end?” Davis asked, clearing his throat uncomfortably. “I have another hour before I have to meet a client down by the pier to work on his boat.”

  “Sure,” Dallas agreed gratefully. “We can swing by my cabin and grab the telescope.”

  “I didn’t realize you were into astronomy,” Davis laughed, hopping in the passenger seat of the truck.

  “I bought it for the cabins. It’s a nice feature for renters.” He put the truck in gear and backed out quickly. “And maybe a little bit as a plan to impress the ladies.”

  “A failed plan?” Davis asked, looking worried.

  “Yep, but it wasn’t the telescope that failed me. Just point that thing at the sky tomorrow night, and if you really think Indigo Bay is the magic you need, it’ll work.”

  “Try to look presentable for dinner tonight,” Davis cut in. “Maybe ditch the sweaty shirt and dirty boots before you come over.”

  “You don’t want me looking too good,” Dallas said, kicking up some dirt as they headed out onto the main road. “She might take a shining to me.”

  “I doubt it,” Davis challenged. “She’s a classy woman. She has good taste.”

  Chapter 11

  “Hey Caroline,” Davis said as he strolled into the familiar café and took his usual seat. Now, however, the view was light years better than usual. Elaine’s silky hair was flowing over her shoulders; her piercing blue eyes were glowing brightly. She’d managed to make his sister’s old clothes somehow look fashionable again, knotting up the bottom of the flannel shirt and perfectly filling out the cut-off shorts.

  “You two are here a little early. You still want the usual?” Caroline asked.

  It had become their morning ritual to come to the main strip together, grab a bite to eat at Caroline’s, and then both head off to work. Her car hadn’t left his driveway since he had it fueled. Being the passenger in his truck, turning that task over to someone else, had been so freeing. She could close her eyes, hang her arm out the window, and trust that he’d keep her safe. Trust that they’d end up right where she wanted to be.

  Like they’d been doing it for years, somewhere along the way kissing goodbye had worked itself into the morning ritual. As had holding hands across the table and whispering little jokes that only they knew the punch lines to. It began as teasing the nosy women of the town who loved a juicy piece of gossip. But now, sitting here across from Elaine, Davis was certain he was falling for her. It was nearly an out of body experience. He could look down on himself and see how absurdly attracted to her he was. How quickly he’d change his plans to make sure they had one more hour together.

  “Yes please, Caroline,” Elaine answered when Davis, too lost in staring at her, couldn’t manage to reply. “Are you all right?”

  “Fine,” he said, reaching out and covering her tiny hand with his. “I know you’re thirty days will be up soon—” She cut him off.

  “Let’s not think about that right now. I haven’t felt this good in a long time. I’m relaxed, I’m happy. I don’t want to waste a second wondering what the future holds. I just want to be right here right now with you.”

  “I can live with that.” He smiled. “We don’t have to make promises to each other. We don’t have to figure it all out. But please, will you consider one thing?”

  “I’ll try.” She shrugged as a waitress filled their coffee mugs and lingered around a long moment, hoping to hear his request. Davis was too patient to fall into that trap. He bit his tongue until she finally moved on.

  “When it comes time to decide, when you figure out your next thirty days, try to remember how important it is to feel happy. At some point logic is going to come back into play. You’re going to remember you have an apartment in New York and that cutting flowers all day doesn’t make much money. Math isn’t going to add up, but factor in the way you feel right now.”

  “I can do that.” She beamed, grabbing the warm mug of coffee and lifting it to her lips. She breathed in the smell and closed her eyes. “Caroline’s coffee alone could be enough to make me stay. It’s the nectar of the gods. I don’t know how she does it.”

  “It’s you,” Johnny Mildred said as he bumped against their table, nearly knocking their mugs over. “Bill, I told you it was her. Come over here.”

  Bill Nethers hopped off his chair and approached their
table, his beady eyes narrowed as he stared at Elaine. Scrutinizing her in a way that made Davis want to bash him in the head with one of Caroline’s fry pans.

  “What are you two going on about?” Davis asked, as the heat rose in Elaine’s cheeks. She looked mortified and then suddenly afraid. “We’re trying to enjoy our morning. Beat it.”

  “It’s the girl from the video; I knew it,” Johnny said, slapping Bill’s shoulder in victory. “We need to get her picture. Grab my phone off the table.”

  “No,” Elaine pleaded, covering her face with one hand and waving at them to leave with the other. “No, please leave me alone.”

  “Everyone is looking for you,” Bill announced as though Elaine should be as excited as they were. “Just give us a smile. When we post this it’ll go viral. We’ll all be famous.”

  “Please leave me alone,” she begged again and the desperation in her voice knocked Davis out of his temporary shock and confusion.

  “Back off,” he barked, shoving his chair backward, sending it to the ground as he stood. “She doesn’t want her picture taken. Just go on.” He’d known these two guys his whole life. They were hard working fishermen, loud drunks, and always causing someone some annoyance. He’d even scuffled with them a time or two when he was younger, and they’d given him hell when Julie left him for California. Mostly harmless, he figured sticking his chest out and cracking his knuckles would be enough to scare them off. But they were being persistent, and every second that ticked by make Elaine more uncomfortable.

  “You’ve seen the video, haven’t you?” Bill asked, still pointing the camera of his phone at Elaine, waiting for a good shot. “It’s epic. I laughed for days.”

  “I won’t tell you again,” Davis threatened, yanking the phone from Bill’s hand and shoving him backward. “You two get out of here. Leave her alone.”

  “Not a chance,” Johnny blustered, backing up a couple steps, but holding his ground once he was out of punching range of Davis. “I’m getting this on video. It’ll have a million hits by lunchtime. There’s even a hashtag people are using when they think they’ve spotted you. Who the hell would have thought you’d end up in Indigo Bay? This is incredible.”

  Caroline slipped between the men and Elaine, her hands propped up on her hips. She’d created a wall of threatening glares and unwavering attitude. “Bill and Johnny, you’ve got three seconds to get your butts out of my place before I call the sheriff.”

  “We’re not doing anything illegal,” Johnny protested, holding his camera phone higher over Caroline’s head.

  “It’s my place, and if I tell you to leave—” Caroline started but Davis was done with this. Whatever was going on, whatever these jerks were talking about, clearly Elaine wanted no part of it. He wasn’t going to sit idly by and let them upset her like this.

  “Let’s go,” he said, twisting Johnny’s camera-wielding arm behind his back and pulling so tight he cried out in pain.

  “You’re gonna snap my arm off,” he protested as Davis threw him stumbling out the front door. “What’s your problem?”

  “Are you going out on your own or am I throwing you out too?” Davis asked, closing in on Bill, who looked uneasy about this now that his buddy was not by his side.

  “Can I have my phone back?” Bill asked, clearing his throat and putting his hand out expectantly. “It’s my property, and you can’t keep it. I’ll report you for stealing it.”

  Elaine’s eyes were wet with tears as she slouched in the chair, her coffee growing cold, her face falling white as snow suddenly. She looked so small, so weathered by what happened that an anger boiled up in Davis for those who caused this. He threw the phone at Bill, who immediately smiled and took the opportunity to boldly snap a picture of Elaine.

  “Give me that,” Davis demanded charging at Bill who dodged him as he clicked away on his phone.

  “Too late, it’s already been posted,” he said smugly. “Everyone will know you’re in Indigo Bay now. My social media is going to blow up.”

  Davis cocked his fist, and pounded Bill in the eye, sending him stumbling backward into the wall. “That was a big mistake,” he shouted as he closed in on Bill like a dog charging to a fresh bowl of kibble.

  “Davis,” Elaine said, her voice shaking, “don’t bother. It’s too late. He already posted it.”

  He turned just in time to see her run out of Caroline’s and cross the front window. Now he had to choose. Pummel Bill into the bloody unrecognizable heap of garbage he was, or chase after Elaine. “You better hope you don’t cross my path again, Bill,” Davis said, pointing a threatening finger at him. “You better steer clear of me.”

  “Go get your girlfriend,” Bill shot back as Davis headed toward the door. “If you haven’t seen that video, she’s got a lot of explaining to do.”

  Davis was wrong, he could do both. He charged back at Bill and punched him hard in the stomach. When he bent in pain Davis lifted a knee, slamming it into Bill’s nose.

  “Enough Davis,” Caroline demanded. “Go get that girl.”

  Davis grunted in anger as Bill fell to his knees. Rushing out the front door, he ran in the direction he’d seen Elaine disappear. This road would have taken her back toward his place. To her car. Her getaway car. He knew next to nothing about who Elaine really was. If she drove off today, if she disappeared, there was a chance he’d never see her again.

  As much as he didn’t want to lose her, he ran back toward his truck, ready to drive every inch of Indigo Bay looking for her, but there was a more pressing question buzzing in his mind.

  What the hell was on that video?

  Chapter 12

  Elaine had only felt like this once before. Her chest was as tight as an over-stretched elastic band. Her pulse throbbed so loudly she could hear it in her ears. Maybe it was the running, the way she’d cut toward the ocean and then tumbled down the steep dunes that had her body ready to burst. More likely though it was the fact that everything she’d been hiding from had found her. She had no idea how public her humiliation had become, but in this day in age, she should have known. Nothing received more attention on the internet than someone else’s misery.

  Originally her plan was to make it back to her car. Davis had filled it with gas, and she could just hit the road and not look back. That’s what she’d done when she left New York a couple weeks ago, and it had turned out just fine. There would be another town in another state, and she’d stay there for a while. At least this time she had a little cash in her pocket.

  There was only one problem with retrieving her car though. Davis would beat her back there. He’d be standing there, arms folded across his chest, looking for answers she didn’t want to give. It was hard enough to believe strangers had seen what had happened. Once Davis knew, he’d never look at her the same way. Those slow mornings at the café would be over. The late nights talking under the stars would vanish. She certainly hadn’t been able to look at herself the same since it had happened, so Davis couldn’t be blamed for that.

  Instead of taking a chance on bumping into Davis, she’d walk the shoreline south. Once she was out of Indigo Bay, she’d hitchhike. When she got where she was going she would have someone send her purse and credit cards. It was crazy what she’d been doing here. Living without touching her savings just because she didn’t want anyone to know where she was. They’d know now. That picture of her at Caroline’s, tears in her eyes and shame on her face, was going to be plastered all over the internet soon. This thing she was doing in Indigo Bay, this pretend life, was silly. She would close out the lease on her apartment, hire a company to move everything out, and she’d have her doorman ship her purse and all its contents to her new location. The savings she stashed away would be more than enough to sustain her. She could still live this life far from New York, but she’d need to get her affairs in order. Davis had made it too easy for her to live in limbo. To pretend. She could still pull this off, she’d just have to do it without the one thing that seemed t
o make it all worthwhile. Davis.

  As she lifted her hand to her hair, which was being blown in all directions by the ocean air, she caught a waft of his scent on her fingers. Just a little while ago their hands had been laced together. Just a little while ago, he was looking at her in a way no one else ever had. There was an honesty in Davis, a genuine and impressive amount of character she’d never come across before. Her first night in Indigo Bay, Caroline had said he was one of the best men she’d known, and she trusted him wholeheartedly. Elaine had come to see how easy it was to believe.

  She was falling for Davis. His strong shoulders, his easy gentle voice, and his unique ability to make her think deeper than she wanted to. He was a man who, under different circumstances, she could have seen herself falling in love with. The problem was she knew his past. He’d shared it with her, and here she was making him repeat it. Elaine would be just another woman to sweep Davis up in her wake and then coldly leave him behind. It was better she was going now. She’d tamp down all her own desire and the comfort she found while with him and give him the gift he deserved, her absence.

  After about an hour she’d come to the edge of Indigo Bay. Her shoes were full of sand. Her hair was tangled and loaded with knots from the wind. All the cottages and tiny oceanfront restaurants were behind her, and a long stretch of shore with nothing on it lay before her. Stopping abruptly, she turned around and took in the scene she’d just walked through. As the waves lapped gently on the shore and the gulls dove headlong toward their dinner, she drew in a deep breath. Her stomach rumbled with hunger as the sun grew higher in the sky. All she wanted right now was some of Caroline’s cobbler, two spoons, and the best man she ever knew to share it with.

  Chapter 13

  “You can’t file a missing persons case on her and you know it,” Paul said as he leaned back in his chair and threw his legs up on the desk. “A girl can leave town whenever she wants. I know you two were getting hot and heavy, but I can’t chase down every chick who leaves you. I’d have to get some serious overtime on that one.”