This Can't Be Love

by Maria Geraci

  * * *

  Blondie was doing a good job of trying not to act hungover, but Luke could see the weariness behind her forced smile. He tried to hide his own smile. Normally, he wasn’t this petty, and a whisky hangover was sure as shit nothing to laugh about, but there was satisfaction in knowing that she was suffering some kind of repercussion from last night.

  You’re a real prince, all right.

  She thought he was a dick. And worse yet, one who didn’t love his mother or care what anyone else thought. He shouldn’t let her opinion of him matter. Once Frida and Ed came back from their vacation, Sarah would be gone and he’d never see her again. But she’d struck a nerve. It wouldn’t kill him to make more regular trips back home. His business was stable and more than lucrative. He didn’t have to supervise every single job the firm took on.

  He studied the overhead chalkboard menu. “Good morning,” he said in a purposely loud voice. She winced, and he got such a perverse pleasure from it that he was instantly contrite. Stop being such a bastard.

  “I’ll have a coffee. Black. And a low-fat muffin, if you carry any.”

  “Low-fat muffin. I’m on it!” Lucy said with a shy smile before scurrying off to the back kitchen.

  Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. “You seem awful cheery.”

  “Why wouldn’t I be? I caught three grouper this morning. They’re already cleaned and filleted and just waiting to be cooked and eaten.”

  “It’s just after ten. What time did you get up?”

  “I went fishing around six. Then I ran five miles, took a shower, and came here for some of The Bistro’s delicious coffee.”

  She narrowed her green eyes at him like she thought he was lying. “What time did you get to bed last night?”

  “Around three.”

  “I thought you came home for some rest and relaxation. Three hours isn’t much sleep.”

  “I caught up on my sleep the first day I was here. Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ll probably hit the sheets pretty early tonight.” He kept his tone neutral but the censure in his voice made her blink.

  “Sorry,” she said woodenly. “You’re absolutely right, it’s none of my business.”

  There he went again. Being a world class jerk. Normally, he was a nice guy. Women liked him. They found him charming. But there was something about Blondie’s unfettered candor that got to him. She had a way of calling him out that made him uncomfortable. And if he was being honest, more than a little intrigued.

  The good guy in him said she was strictly hands-off. Not only was she Mimi’s friend, Sarah was now also his roommate. But the asshole in him had never turned down a challenge.

  Her hair was pulled back in a sloppy looking bun and her cheeks were flushed, probably from the heat of the nearby kitchen. She wore a blue T-shirt and snug white shorts that came to just above her knees. She turned to help another customer in line and he couldn’t help but check out her ass, something he’d already done more than a couple of times since she’d shown up in his bed a few nights ago. She was slender but with just the right amount of curve. Not too much and not too little. In other words, just right…

  “Luke Powers! It is you!” someone shrieked.

  An attractive woman wearing workout clothes stared up at him. She looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t quite place her—

  “It’s Stacey Connors! Or rather, Stacey Bennet. From high school. You have to remember me! I was on the cheerleading squad and you were on the football team and, well…” she lowered her voice, “we made out on the team bus after we whooped those Crusaders from Old Explorers’ Bay.”

  Images of a sweaty make-out session on a crowded bus ride late one warm and humid fall night flashed back to him. Stacey had been the first girl he’d really kissed. The two of them had snuck to the back of the bus and discreetly (or so they’d thought at the time) rounded first base with all the finesse of two horny seventeen-year-olds. How had he forgotten that?

  They hugged, a little awkwardly at first, then she pulled back and gave him a sly wink. “Best night of my high school life. But don’t worry, I never told Brad a thing.”

  “Brad?”

  “My husband, you big goofball!” She laughed. “Don’t pretend you’ve forgotten Brad the Cad. You gave him that nickname!”

  Brad Connors had been more of a teammate than a friend, but he and Luke had either played or competed against one another in nearly every sport since grade school. He’d been a good guy but more into girls than school and he’d ended up blowing an academic scholarship to the University of Florida when he’d flunked out of calculus senior year. Luke had lost touch with him the summer after high school graduation. So, Brad and Stacey had gotten married. He vaguely remembered his mother telling him something about that.

  He glanced over to see Sarah watching the exchange with amusement and something else that he didn’t quite like.

  He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Of course, I remember Brad. Good to see you again, Stacey. What’s Brad up to these days?”

  “Are you serious?” she asked, like he should already know the answer to that question.

  He really hoped Brad wasn’t in prison or anything. “Uh, come to think of it—”

  “He’s the principal at Whispering Bay High.” Then her face went soft. “Everyone was sad when you missed graduation. But you must be so proud of Claire. Her valedictorian speech brought tears to the entire audience.”

  Luke stilled. His niece had been her class valedictorian? Why hadn’t anyone told him this?

  “I heard the news this morning about your ex-fiancée dumping you for another guy,” Stacey said. “What is she thinking?”

  How the hell—“Victoria was never my—” Before he could finish his sentence he was surrounded by a gaggle of women, all hugging him and reminding him of how they knew one another.

  “Jody Myers. We were in tenth grade chemistry,” said a short woman with freckles wearing a Just Do It T-shirt over stretch pants. “I sat behind you. You practically got me through the class. I just want to say that on behalf of the Sunny Days Preschool Program, we are so grateful for your generosity!”

  He got a lot of requests from alumni organizations, but he didn’t remember anything from a local preschool. Lori must have taken care of that for him. “I’m glad my check could help out,” he said, smiling.

  They all laughed. “You didn’t contribute money, you big lug!” Stacey went on to explain. “Your mother called this morning and told me all about what happened with your ex and how you’re just so heartbroken and she volunteered you for our silent auction.”

  “Win a date with Whispering Bay’s most eligible bachelor, Luke Powers!” Jody added. “The single women in town are already going crazy. We can practically buy the new outdoor playground equipment right now. “

  They all began talking again and thanking him.

  His smile faded.

  Win a date with Luke Powers?

  Was this for real?

  He must be in the middle of some kind of bad dream. Or maybe he’d just misunderstood them. Sarah was right. He wasn’t getting enough sleep.

  Stacey handed him what looked like an invitation. “I’m in charge of the silent auction, but don’t worry, you don’t have to do anything. Just show up the night of the auction looking fabulous, which won’t be a problem, and, of course, go on a date with the winner.”

  He glanced down at the card in his hand. The Sunny Day Preschool Program invites you to a night of Dinner, Dancing and Fun! Join us Saturday the 10th at six pm. Please bring a covered dish and remember, all proceeds will go toward the purchase of new playground equipment.

  “You look surprised,” Stacey said, noting his reaction. “Your mom did tell you about this, right?”

  Shit. So this was no dream.

  “Of course, she did,” he lied. “Happy to help out, but, uh, can’t I just make a contribution instead? I mean, how much money could a date with me really raise?”

>   The women all laughed like it was the funniest thing they’d ever heard. Luke tried to tamp down his irritation. Obviously, he was providing his hometown with some much-needed entertainment.

  Jody stopped laughing long enough to say, “That is just so darn sweet of you! And, of course, we won’t say no to your money, so contribute away. But we expect to make a lot of money off you on this date. Plus, we’ve already included you in the silent auction brochure. It goes to the printing press this afternoon, and we don’t want to disappoint the single women of Whispering Bay!” She glanced at her watch. “Ladies! It’s almost time for morning yoga class. We’d better get moving.”

  They all took turns hugging him goodbye before they walked out the door.

  “Luke Powers!” came a familiar male voice.

  Now what?

  Luke turned to find Rusty Newton, a good ol’ local boy and one of Zeke’s deputies, grinning at him. The two men shook hands. “Hey, Rusty.”

  “Haven’t seen you in ages,” Rusty said. “What you been up to?”

  Luke made nice with Rusty and before he knew it, half the café had surrounded him, all shaking his hand and asking a myriad of questions. Where had he been all this time? What did he think of his little sister being mayor? And his personal favorite, Why wasn’t he married already?

  He answered them all as best he could, deftly avoiding the last question.

  A woman wearing a Gray Flamingos T-shirt and a Boston Red Sox baseball cap stared him up and down like he was a prize hog at the local fair. “You’re the Luke Powers everyone is talking about? Mimi’s brother?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, wondering if he’d ever met her before. He didn’t think he had, but then, he didn’t know everyone in town. Just most everyone.

  She slapped her hands together in glee. “Betty Jean Collins here. You’ve probably already heard of me. I moved to town a couple of years ago. Retired from Boston. Divorced three times. But even in their primes, none of my husbands were ever as hot as you.” She winked at him.

  Before he could respond to that (as if he could) Grandma Cougar linked her arm through his. “Come with us!” she said, leading him to a table where a couple of other senior citizens were seated. One was his former sixth grade teacher, Viola Pantini, and the other was an older gentleman named Roger Van Cleave.

  “Luke!” Mrs. Pantini said, giving him a hug. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you!”

  “How are you, Mrs. Pantini?”

  “Oh, please, call me Viola. It’s been years since we’ve been in the classroom. Sit down and tell us what you’ve been up to.”

  He tried to turn the conversation back to them, discovering in the process that Viola’s niece Jenna was the newly hired city manager, and that Roger had taken over part ownership of the local paper, the Whispering Bay Gazette, something he vaguely remembered hearing about from Mimi, since the other owner was Zeke’s sister, Allie.

  “I understand your business is going fabulously,” Viola said. “Your mother is always bragging on you, but then, who wouldn’t? A smart, handsome and successful man like yourself. It’s a shame that you can’t say the same for your sex life.”

  Good thing he didn’t have his coffee yet, or he would have choked on it. “Excuse me?” He must have heard her wrong, because he could have sworn—”

  “I play bridge with your mother,” Viola said. “We always know what’s going on with you.” She sighed. “My poor Jenna is just like you, hardworking, always on top of whatever she does, but she can never seem to find the right man. Now don’t get me wrong. The whole family is proud of her, but she needs to slow down and smell the coffee.”

  “You mean smell the testosterone, don’t you?” Betty Jean said. “Because what does coffee have to do with her not finding a man?”

  Viola rolled her eyes at Betty Jean then turned to give Luke a sympathetic smile. “I hope I haven’t spoken out of turn, but your mother was expecting an engagement announcement any day, and then to hear that your girlfriend is marrying another man! It’s like something out of a soap opera!”

  “Refill, anyone?” Blondie appeared at the table with his order as well as a full pot of coffee.

  “Thank you, Sarah,” Mrs. Pantini said, putting her cup out. “My goodness, you’re absolutely glowing this morning.”

  More like hungover and working way too hard, Luke thought. Then he frowned. She’d been here since the crack of dawn. She had to feel like crap. Wasn’t there anyone else who could have filled in for her?

  Sarah flushed. “I’ve been here over a month now but I’ve never seen the place this crowded.”

  Roger leaned in and lowered his voice. “It’s the news about Earl Handy. People have been coming in and out all morning to talk about how his death might affect them. That’s why we’ve been manning this table.”

  “We’re on the GFCC,” Betty Jean said proudly.

  “The what?” Luke asked.

  “The Gray Flamingos Communication Committee. We’re more accurate than Wikipedia. If anyone in town wants to know what’s happening with the Earl Handy situation, then we’re here to provide information. We’re taking shifts all day long till the place closes.”

  “Yeah, my mom told me about Earl.”

  “Oh! I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Pantini said. “I forgot. You’re related, right?”

  “Just distantly,” Luke said. “But I don’t understand. How is his passing going to affect the rest of the community?”

  Betty Jean perked up. “I can communicate that to you. Apparently, this Earl person owns almost all the beach front property for miles. People are scared to death that his heir, that would be his daughter, Nora, is going to sell off the land for condo development.”

  Luke could feel himself tense. Despite the fact that he was currently Whispering Bay’s poster boy for bachelorhood dysfunction, he liked this town just the way it was.

  “Oh, no worries!” Betty Jean continued. “Apparently, old Earl stiffed his own daughter. His will explicitly states that the land is to revert back to the city of Whispering Bay for public use.”

  It was exactly what Mimi had told them last night at dinner. “That’s some gift,” Luke said.

  “Isn’t it?” Mrs. Pantini agreed. She glanced around the café to make sure no one else was listening. “The rumor is that Nora is going to hire an attorney to try to break her daddy’s will, but Pilar says the will is airtight.”

  The seniors went back to talking about old Earl, so Luke excused himself as graciously as possible and found an empty table in the back.

  He bit into his muffin. Not bad for low-fat. As a matter of fact, more than not bad.

  Sarah delivered an order to a nearby table, tourists, by the look of them. She laughed at something one of them said, then went around the café, refilling coffee and chit-chatting with the rest of the customers. Luke leaned back in his chair and watched his new “roomie” in action.

  A food truck, huh? Well, she was a natural at this kind of thing. She wanted, as she put it, to serve good food that makes people feel good, too. No worries there. She had the good food part down pat, as well as a talent for putting people at ease, the one exception, of course, being his mother.

  Last night, when he hadn’t been sweating out the fact that he needed to tell his family about Torie’s engagement, he’d observed their reaction to her. No doubt that Zeke liked her. His brother-in-law, the cop, was a keen judge of character. And Mimi would have never leased his beach house to anyone she didn’t like and trust implicitly. Dad had been charmed by her and Claire had been intrigued by her free spirit. As for Cameron? It was pretty obvious the poor kid had a bit of a crush on her. Not that he blamed his nephew on that score. Sarah had that whole girl-next-door look going for her that any adolescent boy would find irresistible.

  But his mother? There had been nothing but criticism in her eyes.

  Sarah was on her way back to the counter area when he caught her gaze and waved her over. “Why don’t you sit down?
” Nice Guy Luke asked.

  She pointed to the empty chair across from him. “Here? With you?”

  “Don’t you ever take a break?”

  “Sometimes. It’s just so busy right now, but I guess a few minutes isn’t going to hurt.” She sat down then slowly rolled her head to loosen the tension in her neck, letting out a long sigh as if she’d released a world of pent up tension. Asshole Luke wondered if she made a similar sound when she…

  Get that thought out of your head, dude. Strictly roommates here.

  Except, that squeaky clean wholesome thing she had going for her had a super extra helping of sexy on the side. Last night she’d come out to the patio wearing nothing but a pair of skimpy shorts and a T-shirt so thin he could practically see through it. What? Did she think he was some kind of saint?

  He cleared his throat. “I know you were listening back there,” he said. “Did I really just agree to be auctioned off on some kind of blind date?”

  “Yep.” Her green eyes didn’t look hungover anymore. Blondie was actually enjoying this.

  “Glad to know I’m making your day.”

  “Aw, c’mon, you have to admit the whole thing is kind of funny. Like something out of a sixties sitcom. Last night you were practically engaged to Victoria and this morning you’re Whispering Bay’s newest most eligible bachelor.” She giggled. “This town is really growing on me.”

  “Your inflatable bed can easily be moved to the outdoor patio. The lease doesn’t say anything about you actually living inside the house.”

  “Ouch. Okay, I’ll behave. If it’s any consolation, it’s a really good preschool program. You’re doing a good thing with this silent auction.”

  “Then why don’t you volunteer to be auctioned off?”

  “Sorry, but you’re the hot commodity around here, stud, not me. And as a matter of fact, I am going to be auctioned off. Sort of. I’m giving away what I do best—a fresh cooked homemade meal for four. Winner’s choice of three menus to choose from. Delivered right to their doorstep.” She shrugged. “It’s not a big thing, but maybe it’ll help some frazzled parents on a busy school night.”