Every Little Kiss (Kissed by the Bay Book 1)

by Susan Hatler

  Megan pointed to the moon. “This is fun because it plays off the Kissed by the Bay legend. People come to Blue Moon Bay for romantic walks on the beach, to fall in love, or rekindle their romance. Right? What do you think?”

  My mind shot back to when I met Max on the beach, by the bay, and our kiss under the blue moon. I had to admit, the site was romantic. “That’s a clever use of the legend,” I said, even though it was nothing like what I’d initially wanted.

  She smiled. “Thanks. Why build a boring website like every other hotel? We should show what makes the Inn at Blue Moon Bay unique.” She winked at me. “Plus, I know the legend has a personal meaning for you. Max seems utterly dreamy. Tell me more about—”

  My phone suddenly chirped, going off five times in a row. I glanced down to see the same text message from Janine over and over, which read: EMERGENCY!!

  “It’s my office. I’m sorry, but I have to take this. I’ll be right back.” I walked out of the room, then hurried down the hall, and dialed Janine.

  “Thank goodness you called,” she said, gasping into the phone.

  My heart pounded. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s your townhouse. The big one in that posh neighborhood you love so much, that’s walking distance from the office.”

  “What about it?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest. The owner had contacted me last month, to tell me they would be putting the home on the market soon. But he promised to let me know beforehand, so I could make the first offer.

  “It just hit the open market.”

  My blood pressure shot up into the red zone. “That can’t be the same property. Mr. Wells promised me I could put the first offer on that home.”

  “Yes, but they’ve separated. Mrs. Wells is the one who listed it!”

  Oh, no! The townhome going on the market was supposed to be the best news ever. It was supposed to mean I’d finally purchase the stable home I’d always dreamed about. But I’d already used my savings as deposits for the roof repairs, the floor refinishing, the exterior painting, and so on. I wouldn’t qualify for a mortgage without a down payment.

  We had to sell the inn now, or I’d lose my perfect townhome. In terms of the will, escrow would put us over the thirty required days that I had to run the inn. But I hadn’t listed the inn for sale yet, because I’d planned to give it the facelift first to entice an innkeeper who would keep our beloved inn running for decades to come. But would that decision cost me the home I’d always wanted? It didn’t seem fair. I wanted to ask my grandma what to do, but she couldn’t help me now. Nobody could.

  “I’m really sorry, Wendy.” Janine sounded as devastated as I was. “I thought you would want to know in case there was a way for you to buy it.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thanks, Janine. I have to go now.”

  We hung up, and I squeezed the phone in my hand. I couldn’t believe Mr. Wells had caved. That was the house of my dreams, and I’d worked so hard, giving up everything for it. I closed my eyes, envisioning the cool granite countertops, the long sunlit rooms, the park view of trees—which was a gem to find near downtown Sac—and my short walk to work. I couldn’t let my home slip away from me. But what could I do?

  With a heavy heart, I went back into the library. Megan was standing at the long windows when I returned. She gazed out at the view, overlooking the sweep of green lawn, and the beach just beyond. Out on the blue water, a sailboat bobbed, its sails filled with wind.

  “It is so beautiful here. I wish my apartment had this view. What I would give to wake up to that sight every morning. You have no idea how lucky you are.” She turned away from the window, saw my face and bit her lip. “What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head, and blurted, “I just found out my dream house is on the market. I had a promise from the owner that I would be able to put a bid on it before anyone else, but they just listed it for sale. Someone could be putting an offer on it right now for all I know.”

  Her brows came together. “Sacramento is a big city. Don’t they have other houses you would love?”

  “Not like that one.” I went back to the couch and pulled up the MLS, using Megan’s laptop. My heart stopped when I found the listing. I gestured at the beautiful townhome. “Isn’t it perfect? Look at the interior, too. See that soaker tub and those countertops? It’s also the ideal location for long hours at the office.”

  “Um . . .”

  My eyes bulged. “Does it say sold?” I stared at the screen, but all I saw was a glamour shot of the airy living room. “What is it, Megan?”

  “Well, isn’t it a little plain?”

  “Clean lines are simple,” I said defensively. I wanted to keep extolling its virtues but it was obvious she didn’t like it. Her idea of a cool house would probably be one with Wyland murals on every wall, which was fine. That one suited her, and this one suited me.

  “I’m sorry about your townhome, Wendy. Do we have a winner on your inn’s website at least?”

  Oh, great. I needed a good website now more than ever. Something clean and simple, just like the townhome I wanted. We had to get into escrow fast, though, on the offhand chance the townhome didn’t sell out from under me. They had priced it a little high, although I would pay full asking price in a heartbeat. “I’ll take the version with the romantic couple under the moon.”

  Megan beamed. “I knew the legend would be your favorite. You loved that story when we were kids. You always believed that was how you’d find your true love.”

  “That was before I was cheated on, and dumped.” I pointed out. The legend did still hold a special place in the back of my heart, but all I could think about right now was my townhome. I needed to get the inn listed, and I needed a website. I tapped my finger against the coffee table. “How soon can you get it done?”

  “It should only take a few days to get everything set up. I have an authorization form right here, and once you sign it I’ll get to work right away.” She pulled out the document, and I scanned the paragraphs, then signed on the line. As she stuffed it back into her bag, she asked, “Max is the double date guy Olivia told me about? Right?”

  I ran a hand through my hair, feeling stressed beyond belief. In all of the commotion, I’d forgotten about my date with Max tonight. “He and I are just friends. We can’t date for real, because . . . it’s just too complicated.”

  “What’s complicated about falling for someone? He seems nice, and you get all giddy around him like I’ve never seen you do before. It’s pretty obvious he’s crazy about you, too.”

  “He is nice, and I do like him,” I admitted. “But after we sell the inn, I’ll be back in Sacramento, and he’ll be off for some project in Japan. If we don’t live by each other, that makes any kind of relationship impossible. Long distance things never work out.”

  Her eyes became large and sad. “Why won’t you consider staying in Blue Moon Bay, Wendy? Is it really so bad here?”

  I thought about the reasons. My parents had abandoned me here, and it still hurt. Whenever I thought about Ian’s betrayal, it felt like a knife to the gut. Even after all of these years, this town was still a painful reminder of the pathetic girl I used to be. “My life is in Sacramento, Megan. There’s nothing here for me.”

  Max peeked his head through the doorway. “I’m sorry to interrupt the two of you, but I need to talk to you for a moment, Wendy.”

  His blue eyes darkened, and I sensed it was bad news. I wasn’t sure I could take anymore today. My stomach sank. “Is there a problem?”

  “I called the painters, and they got the dates wrong. They can’t start until next weekend.”

  My mouth fell open. “But we’re on a time crunch. Things have happened . . .”

  “What things?” he asked.

  I sank back into the sofa. “There must be a way for them to come out sooner.”

  “They scheduled another job, so it will have to be next week. Sorry, Wendy.”

  “Hey, Max?” Megan waved h
im over. “Check out the inn’s new website design.”

  With one last concerned look at me, he bent over her computer, taking a quick peek. Then shot me a grin. “That’s incredible. I love how you’ve tied in the legend with the inn, which is an enticing feature here.”

  My gaze connected with his, and my belly fluttered, which was not good. I’d been trying to keep my emotional distance from Max, but each day pulled me closer to him. But now my townhome was on the market, and getting the inn listed for sale might be delayed. If only there were another legend. One that told me what I should do, when everything I wanted in the world was falling so far out of reach.

  Chapter Ten

  Max met me in the lobby at seven-thirty sharp. He wore khaki shorts that showed off his tanned, muscular legs, and a short-sleeved button-up shirt along with a pair of canvas deck shoes. He carried a light hoodie in one hand and I was relieved to see it. We were going sailing and it could get cool out on the bay. He smiled at me. “You look beautiful.”

  I’d pulled my hair back into a ponytail, and I wore a pastel blue long-sleeved shirt, a pair of denim capris, and deck shoes. It was a far cry from my usually formal attire, and his compliment eased my nerves. “You look great, too. I’m ready if you are. We’re meeting Olivia and her date at the docks. It’s just a couple minutes drive from here.”

  He took my hand and placed it in the crook of his arm in a gentlemanly gesture. A little bolt of electricity shot up my arm. I should move away, but the heat of his skin on mine, and the tantalizing scent of his cologne kept me tethered to him. We walked out of the inn, hopped into his rented convertible, then drove to the docks where the boats sat at anchor, their hulls rising with the slow swell of the waves below.

  “Thank you again for doing this favor for me,” I said. My nerves were raw, and I felt like a young girl on her first date, which was crazy. I already knew Max, and we’d already kissed (a lot). Plus, it wasn’t a real date, so I had nothing to be nervous about. Maybe I should tell that to the butterflies who had taken up residence in my belly.

  He flashed me his sexy grin. “You don’t have to thank me for spending time with you, Wendy. It’s what I’ve been wanting to do since the moment I met you.”

  “You’re sweet.” The butterflies fluttered wildly. He brushed his finger along my jawline, and the tingling I felt made me wonder if I was losing my mind. How could I stay “just friends” when everything about him made me want so much more?

  Olivia waved from the top of the docks. She skipped over to us. “Hi, guys. I’m glad you’re here. I was worried you might get hung up and not make it.”

  “I wouldn’t let you down, sweetie.” I gave her a hug, warmed by the fact that she’d returned it with just as much enthusiasm. “Olivia, this is Max. Max, this is Olivia. She and I grew up together.”

  Max held his hand out. “Nice to meet you.”

  She smiled, shaking his hand. “You, too.”

  Olivia turned toward the man walking toward us. He had a full head of thick, blond hair, and light gray eyes that gave him a mysterious look. Olivia took his hand. “This is Hunter. Wendy, you remember him from elementary school, don’t you?”

  My forehead wrinkled. Did I know this mysteriously handsome man? Then it hit me. Hunter Cartwright! He’d been a skinny little boy, with a buzz cut, who had a strong fascination with ants. He used to follow Olivia down the halls at school, singing an off-key version of the Pink Panther theme song, inserting the words “dead ants” a lot. No wonder she was nervous. What if he decided to serenade her like during our grade-school days? Ha!

  “Nice to see you again, Hunter.” I held out my hand, and he squeezed it gently. Then he shook Max’s hand as I introduced them.

  We climbed aboard Hunter’s sailboat. Max and Hunter started raising the sails, while I pulled Olivia off to one side. “Hunter sure looks different. But the way he looks at you says his crush seems to have lasted. Maybe we’ll get a Cartwright version of the Pink Panther theme song tonight.”

  “Very funny.” She nudged me with her elbow, then giggled. “I ran into him at a fundraiser I put together for my new business, but I almost didn’t recognize him. He’d just arrived back in town after a high-powered job working on Wall Street.”

  Wall Street? That was impressive. “What is he doing back in Blue Moon Bay?”

  “He’s building sailboats now, like this one. That’s always been his dream. He only went to New York to earn enough money to finance the business he really wanted. He leased a building, and has orders for five boats already.”

  “Wow.” It sounded like Olivia had met the exact kind of guy I needed. A stable man with a long-term plan, who lived in the same town, and who would not abandon me to go flitting off to other countries. “Sounds like you and Hunter might have serious potential.”

  “I think so, too.” She gnawed at her bottom lip. “Megan told me you’re interested in Max. But you guys aren’t dating?”

  I shook my head. “His job takes him all over the world. He doesn’t live in Sacramento and he probably never would. If this turned into a relationship, that would mean I’d have to travel and give up my career, and I’ve worked too hard to do that. Plus, this would be far in the future, but what about when we had kids? All of the traveling wouldn’t be fair to them. I’d never do to my kids what my parents did to Brian and me.”

  Instead of any kind of sympathetic look, she laughed. “You don’t want to date him, but you’re already thinking about what would be fair to your kids? Hate to break it to you, Wendy. But you’re into him big time.”

  She was so right. I shouldn’t be thinking about our future children when it was so obvious Max was not the man for me. Wanting to change the subject, I gestured toward Max and Hunter, who had already gotten the foresail up. “We should go help them.”

  I laced my arm through hers, guiding her over to the sails. As teenagers, Olivia and I had sailed together many times before, and I knew she could hoist with the best of them. The matchmaker in me knew that Olivia was just being shy around Hunter, because she liked him so much. “Hunter? Why don’t you let Olivia give you a hand with that line?”

  Olivia retreated a step. “No, that’s okay.”

  I grabbed the line, thinking she was would take it. Instead, I tripped Hunter with it. He nearly fell, but, after an awkward movement, managed to stay on his feet. I dropped the line like it was a snake that had just bitten me. Oops.

  Olivia dashed over to him. “I’m so sorry, Hunter. That was my fault.”

  “No worries.” He touched her shoulder, and smiled.

  I stood frozen, wondering what had just happened.

  Max slipped his hand around me. “Want to help me with the jib?”

  “Why don’t we let Olivia and Hunter handle that?” I retreated away from him, because just that light touch, that amazing sweetness of his, made me want to grab him and kiss him. I retreated quickly, and backed into the boom, which swung forward. I watched in horror as it connected with Max’s skull with a heavy thump.

  My hands flew to my mouth. I’d just singlehandedly almost hospitalized half the crew of this boat. They were so going to kick me off this double date. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry.”

  He rubbed his head. “Don’t worry, beautiful. I can still see just one of you.”

  I inhaled deeply, on the verge of a major freak out. “Olivia, why don’t you and Hunter undo the line and pull the anchor, while Max and I get the jibs and foresail up?”

  She looked at me like I was nuts. “I don’t want to lean over and grab the line.”

  I blinked. Her shorts weren’t tight and her neckline didn’t look like it would gape to an embarrassing degree. I turned toward Hunter, but he stepped away from me like I had a contagious disease. “Well, why don’t the guys do the jib, then Olivia and I will cast us off when you’re ready?”

  I didn’t really care if they did the jib, or not. I just wanted to get the men out of earshot so I could find out what was going on with my j
ittery friend. “Olivia, what’s wrong? Why don’t you want to help with the boat?”

  She hugged herself. “I-I almost drowned a few years ago, and guess I’m a little afraid still.”

  My mouth fell open. “Oh, Olivia. I didn’t know . . .” Guilt rolled through me. Of course I hadn’t known, because I hadn’t been around. “I never should’ve pushed you to help. I was just trying to help you feel comfortable around Hunter.”

  Yeah, that plan had seriously backfired.

  I came up next to her. “Why don’t we let the guys handle the sailing stuff then?”

  She rubbed her sides. “Yeah, let’s do that. I’m not sure they can handle any more help from you anyway,” she joked, then winked at me. “Do you know how to make a Bloody Mary?”

  “Yes, that sounds like a safe job for me.” I followed her into the little cabin, and we mixed up a pitcher of the drink. I went a little heavier on the vodka than I normally did since I had the feeling I was going to need it. “Didn’t Hunter annoy you in elementary school?”

  She plunked celery into four glasses, then added ice and a slice of lemon to each one. “Yes. That Pink Panther stalking thing drove me nuts. He seems to be over that now.” She laughed. “What about you and Max? Do you still think you’ll mess your kids up that badly?”

  I gave the pitcher a brisk stir. “I can’t date him, Olivia. Logically, it would never work out. But when I’m near him, I’m drawn to him in a way I can’t explain.”

  “It’s the legend. You kissed him under a blue moon.”

  My tummy fluttered. “You and I both know the legend isn’t real. It’s just a story. Now let’s take these drinks up on the deck.”

  Her grin told me she knew I was changing the subject. But she let it go. Out on the deck, the guys had cast us adrift from the dock, and Hunter had set a steady course. They came over and we all took a seat as the wind blew through the sails, and we headed out into the lovely evening.

  Max sipped his drink, looking out at the setting sun on the horizon. “Thank you for inviting me to be a part of this. I haven’t been sailing since I was in the Netherlands.”