This Can't Be Love

by Maria Geraci

  Sarah had rolled into town right after the annual Spring into Summer festival, an all-day event of arts and crafts, local entertainment, and food booths. It was held the second Saturday in June and drew tourists from all over the Florida panhandle. This year’s event, however, was more memorable than most. As the town’s mayor, Mimi Grant was in charge of the event and she’d somehow managed to get country music’s biggest star of the year, Billy Brenton, to give a concert. There had also been a robbery involving the city manager, Doug Wentworth, who was currently sitting in the Santa Rosa County jail awaiting trial.

  “I bet Mimi is glad the position has been filled.” Sarah had never been interested in politics before, but Mimi had confided to her the other morning that without a city manager, the town budget was a big old hot mess.

  “Mimi’s not the only one who’s glad that position was filled,” Gus said, meeting Viola’s happy gaze.

  “Am I missing something here?” Sarah asked.

  “The new city manager is my niece Jenna,” Viola explained. “She’s been working down in Clearwater for a few years now as an assistant city manager, so this is a nice step up for her.”

  “That’s great!” Sarah placed an affectionate hand on Viola’s shoulder. “Congratulations to the proud aunt. When does she start?”

  “In a couple of weeks. I can’t wait to properly introduce her to Whispering Bay.”

  Betty Jean craned her neck past Sarah to stare at the door to the café. “Speaking of city politics, here comes Whispering Bay’s number one power couple.”

  Everyone turned to see Zeke and Mimi walk into the restaurant. Even if he hadn’t been wearing a police uniform, Zeke was the kind of guy who would have commanded attention. Mimi, who was four months pregnant with their third baby, wore a brightly colored cotton shift that Sarah instantly recognized as an original Baby Got Bump retro maternity design created by Lauren Miller.

  Baby Got Bump was located next door to The Bistro and was both a factory and a showroom for one of the fastest growing businesses in the country. Lauren and her staff were regulars at the café, so Sarah had gotten to know them pretty well. Once upon a time, Lauren had been married to Tom Donalan. They had a son, Henry, whom they co-parented in what had to be the world’s most amicable divorce. She was now happily married to Nate Miller, one of the two practicing physicians in town, and due to have a baby by the end of summer.

  “Well, hel-lo, Mr. Police Chief,” Betty Jean purred. It was no secret that Betty Jean harbored a mighty crush on Zeke Grant. The fact that he was married and that she was old enough to be his grandmother didn’t stop Betty Jean’s routine morning flirtation. Luckily, both Zeke and Mimi were good sports about the whole thing.

  Zeke nodded to the little group. “How are you folks doing this morning?”

  “Lots better now that we’ve seen you. And of course, you too, Mimi,” Betty Jean added quickly but without much conviction.

  Mimi smiled indulgently.

  “The usual?” Sarah asked.

  Mimi nodded. “That would be great, thanks.”

  The usual was a black coffee for Zeke, a decaf tea for Mimi, and a bagel and scrambled eggs for each of them. They settled into a table near the front of the restaurant and Sarah brought them their order. A few minutes later, Tom Donalan and his construction crew arrived. The crew made their way to the stairs in the back of the kitchen that led to the apartment. Tom sat down at the table with Zeke and Mimi, and Allie joined them for her morning break.

  Sarah brought Tom a large coffee. “How are things going upstairs?” she asked him.

  “Right on schedule.” Tom placed an arm around his wife. He and Allie made an attractive couple. They were nice, too. But then, with the exception of a few grumps, everyone in Whispering Bay was nice.

  “Right on schedule, huh? Which is?”

  “It should be done just in time for Frida and Ed’s return at the end of August.”

  “Oh.”

  He looked at her funny. “Something wrong? I know the construction noise is bad at times, but it can’t be helped.”

  “I just thought how convenient it would be if I could stay upstairs instead of the beach house. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and bake. If I use the industrial ovens here it would give me a big head start for the morning. I could set up an inflatable mattress. I’m pretty low maintenance.”

  “But I thought you loved the beach house,” Mimi said.

  “Oh, I do! And I so appreciate you letting me stay there. It’s been great. I…well, you never know when your brother might want to use his own house.” As in, now.

  “No worries. Luke is off on some oil rig. Then he’s going to Alaska or someplace like that. As far as I know, he has no plans to come home anytime soon.”

  Sarah hated lying to Mimi, but if Luke wanted his sister to know he was in Whispering Bay, then he should be the one to tell her. “He sounds like a busy guy.”

  “Yeah, he lives quite the life,” Zeke said.

  Mimi’s blue eyes shone with mirth. “Careful, babe. You sound a little jealous there.”

  “Why? Because he’s single and rich and travels all around the world? The whole thing sounds really boring,” Zeke teased. Then in a more serious note, “Not that I begrudge the guy a thing. If it hadn’t been for him, we might not have gotten together.”

  “True,” Mimi said, smiling adoringly at her husband.

  There was a story there, to be sure. Zeke’s words implied that there had been a time when his and Mimi’s relationship had been in jeopardy. How had Luke been responsible for fixing that? Because she’d witnessed enough early mornings with these two to know that they were madly in love with one another. It was refreshing to see a couple so happy after eighteen years of marriage. It almost made the cynic in her believe in true love.

  “He’s a bachelor, then?” Sarah asked.

  “Technically, I suppose,” Mimi said. “He has a girlfriend, Victoria.” She took a sip of her tea, then frowned, like she’d just remembered something. “They broke up a while ago, but I’m sure they’ll get back together again.”

  Zeke nodded absent-mindedly in agreement.

  Luke and the gorgeous brunette from the photos were broken up? “What makes you think they’ll get back together?” Why she wanted to know, she wasn’t sure. What did she care about Luke Powers’s love life?

  Zeke and Mimi exchanged a look that said this was something they’d discussed before. “Luke and Victoria have been dating forever. Three years to be exact,” Mimi confided. “But they’re always breaking up and getting back together again. It’s become kind of a pattern.”

  “The relationship sounds a little unstable to me.”

  “No kidding. Victoria is…complicated. She’s beautiful and smart. Graduated undergrad from Harvard, then Yale law school. Her family’s from Boston. Lots of old money. My mother would give her left kidney to have Victoria as her daughter-in-law. But the rest of us? Well, let’s just say we’re not so easily impressed.” Mimi looked at her curiously. “Why all the questions about Luke and Victoria?”

  Oops. “It’s just, there must be at least a dozen photos of him and a woman I assume must be Victoria on the table by the living room couch. I couldn’t help but notice them and be curious.”

  Zeke raised a brow. “A dozen photos of Luke and Victoria out on display? That doesn’t sound like your brother.”

  “My mother pulled those out of an album that Victoria sent to her last Christmas and had them framed,” Mimi said. “Poor Mom. She’s got a lot riding on that relationship.”

  So, the Luke Powers shrine of beauty hadn’t been built by him after all. Not that it mattered. Luke and his love life were no concern of hers. But finding a place to stay was. If his attitude from last night hadn’t changed, she probably only had a couple of days, tops, before Mr. I’m-Sexy-and-I-Know-It tried to kick her to the curb. She’d found the copy of her lease and stuck it in her backpack, but she hadn’t had time this morning to read the
fine print.

  “Back to my question about the upstairs apartment,” Sarah said to Tom. “Would it be okay if I moved in? I promise I won’t disturb any of the construction.”

  “Sorry,” Tom said. “But I don’t think it’s safe. We’ve completely gutted the bathroom, ripped up the floors, that kind of stuff. And to be honest, I think it would be an insurance liability for the company.”

  Damn. She hadn’t thought about that.

  “Who would want to stay in a musty work zone when you have that great beach house?” Allie said.

  “I was just asking, you know, in case the situation ever came up that I might need a place.”

  “Trust me,” Mimi said, “the beach house is yours for as long as you need it. Luke hasn’t used the place in forever. He’s probably even forgotten he owns it.”

  Chapter Four

  Lunch was slow today and Sarah had already prepped what she could for tomorrow’s breakfast. Lucy was willing to close up The Bistro so Sarah snuck out an hour early to check out an efficiency apartment in Panama City.

  Online, the place had seemed charming (in a boho-chic kind of way). In real life, it was more hobo than boho. The super had opened the door to show her the apartment and no fewer than a dozen cockroaches had scattered for the hills. No matter how cheap the rent, there was no way she could stay there. While she’d been waiting for the super to show up at the apartment from hell, she’d read her lease. The document was signed by Ann Powers, who according to Mimi, had Luke’s power of attorney.

  Sarah wasn’t a lawyer, but she was pretty sure the lease was a binding agreement. The thing was that over the past few weeks Mimi had become a friend and she hated the thought of causing trouble for her. If Luke (who, after all, was the home’s legal owner) wanted his house back, it would be pretty crummy of Sarah to insist he honor a lease he’d known nothing about.

  She was sitting in her hot car, contemplating her limited (okay, nil) choices when her cell phone rang. She glanced at the screen. “Hey, Mom.”

  “What’s wrong?” Olivia Jamison immediately asked.

  “Why do you think there’s something wrong?”

  “A mother knows when there’s something wrong with her only child.”

  “I’m absolutely perfectly wonderful,” she lied. No use worrying her mother over something she couldn’t control.

  “Are you sure, sweetie?”

  “Positive!” Sarah said trying for her most upbeat voice. “How’s work?”

  “Quiet.”

  Sarah automatically laughed. It was Mom’s standard librarian’s joke. She’d worked at the Cocoa Beach Library for over thirty-five years now.

  “When is this job in Whispering Bay over? Maybe I can drive up for a weekend and check out this house you keep bragging about.”

  Crap. Why had she told her mother all about the beach house?

  “I’d love for you to come up for a visit, but I’m working so much… I’m not sure we’d be able to spend any real time together.”

  “How’s the food truck fund? Surely you must have what you need by now? Maybe I can cash in some of my 401(k) money and—”

  “That’s a big fat no.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing. That’s your retirement. Besides, I’m pretty close. If I keep saving at this rate, I’ll have what I need by the end of the year.” Maybe even by the end of summer, although that was probably being just a tad too optimistic if she had to find another place to stay.

  “Maybe your father could help. He certainly has the money and he’s always been generous.”

  That was true, but there was a difference between child support and giving his adult daughter the money to buy a food truck.

  As if her mom could feel her hesitation, she added, “You know, sweetie, money is the only way your father has ever been able to show you how he feels about you.”

  “No need to involve Dad. I want to do this on my own.” The way you taught me. She left the last part unsaid between them.

  “That’s my girl!” Mom said cheerfully. “I didn’t raise you to take the easy way out. You know, hon, I was thinking maybe we could take one of those three-day cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral. Just you and me for Labor Day weekend. It’ll be my treat to celebrate your big birthday coming up.”

  “I’d love that.”

  “Great! Can I go ahead and make the reservation? We’ll be cutting it close as it is.”

  “Book away,” Sarah said and her mother laughed, immediately getting her joke. Yeah. The two of them were corny that way. Her mom was her best friend. Despite a few bumpy teenage years, it had always been the two of them against the world, and Sarah couldn’t think of a better way to spend her birthday weekend than lying on a chaise lounge next to her mom with a frozen margarita in her hand.

  After the call, she went to see two more apartments that made the cockroach place look like the Ritz. There was a fourth apartment that had been affordable and semi-decent, but they wanted her to sign a one-year lease. It appeared she had no choice. Unless she wanted to spend a small fortune on rent for the remainder of the summer, she was going to have to insist that Luke honor her lease.

  * * *

  Luke scoured the pantry for any signs of caffeine but came up empty. There was a box of sugary cereal, some cookies, and, of course, the leftover Chinese and that half-eaten pizza in the refrigerator. All that was missing was an empty keg and his kitchen could belong in a frat house.

  He should go to the Piggly Wiggly to stock up on groceries, but there was absolutely no way he’d get out of there without running into someone he knew. His mother would be waiting for him in the parking lot before he could even hit the cash register.

  He sat on the couch contemplating his next move when the front door opened. Blondie (what was her name again?) came waltzing into his living room like she owned the place, holding a paper bag and a large cardboard cup of—

  “If that coffee’s for me, I might have to kiss you.”

  The look on her face told him that the idea either disgusted her or startled the hell out of her. He couldn’t tell which. Then she took in his appearance—boxers and a T-shirt, messed up hair. Her eyes narrowed, and it was definitely disgust. “It’s four in the afternoon. Did you just wake up? And yes, this coffee’s for you.” She handed him the cup as well as the paper bag.

  “Not that my sleeping habits are any of your business, but yep, I just woke up.” He pulled the lid off the coffee. God bless her poaching heart, it was still hot. He took a long sip of the brew and opened the bag. The smell of bacon hit him like a tidal wave. “Who are you again?” he asked before taking a huge bite of a bagel sandwich.

  “Sarah Jamison. Your sister, Mimi—”

  “Got it.” Last night’s conversation came flooding back to him now. “She gave you permission to use my house.” He munched on the sandwich, thinking about the fastest way to get her out of here, but he didn’t want to be a dick. “Are you the one who made the mac and cheese I found in the fridge last night?”

  “Why?” she asked suspiciously. “Did you like it?”

  “Do fish swim?”

  She smiled, and Luke was reminded of just how pretty she was. Add in last night’s too-short glimpse of tan legs and a spectacular ass and he found himself more than just intrigued. She wore skinny jeans and a T-shirt and her long, blond hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, but somehow, the look worked for her. He thought about the little red bikini still hanging in the bathroom. Now that he knew it didn’t belong to his niece, he could appreciate its skimpiness. His brain automatically conjured up an image of Blondie in the bikini.

  Then he remembered the retainers lying next to the sink. Sarah Jamison was hot, no doubt about it, but probably way too young for the direction his thoughts were once again speeding toward.

  “How old are you?”

  She looked ridiculously pleased. “How old do you think I am?”

  “Christ,” he muttered. “Don’t tell me y
ou’re not old enough to drink the scotch you stole from me.”

  Her cheeks went pink at the reminder. “I’m twenty-nine.”

  “Prove it.”

  She dug inside her backpack to produce a Florida driver’s license. According to the date on the card, she was turning thirty on September fourth, just five weeks away.

  So, not too young after all.

  After Torie had broken up with him, he’d had a couple of rebound one-night stands to soothe his ego, but it had been three long months since he’d gotten any. The old Luke would go for it. But the new Luke was suddenly feeling old. He was thirty-seven. Definitely not a kid anymore. He’d come home for some long overdue rest, and although Blondie was attractive, she emitted a nervous kind of vulnerability that screamed hands off. Plus, she was friends with his sister, all of which made her the last woman on earth he should get involved with.

  He handed her back the driver’s license.

  “I ran into your sister and Zeke this morning at The Bistro. She has no clue you’re in town, by the way.”

  He stopped eating.

  “I didn’t rat you out, if that’s what you’re thinking,” she said.

  “Thanks.” He finished off the sandwich while she sat on the opposite end of the couch, watching him with a wary eye like she expected him to pounce on her at any minute. Then he realized she was waiting for him to explain. “Look, I plan to stay for a few weeks at least, and of course I’ll tell my family I’m here, but first I wanted a couple of days to myself. If my mother knows I’m in town, let’s just say it’s—”

  “Complicated,” she finished. “I totally get it.”

  Her words said one thing, but her eyes said she didn’t understand. How he knew that, he wasn’t sure, but he did. She had one of those faces that couldn’t hide anything. “And how do you know my sister?”

  “I didn’t until I moved here. You know Frida Hampton, who owns The Bistro by the Beach?” She went on to explain the rest of the story and how Mimi had helped her out by offering her his place.