“I think…”What did she think? She wanted to say no. Say it’s just too much. Say Parker’s was fine the way it was. She looked over as Olivia shifted from foot to foot, waiting for an answer.
“I think if you can make it work and have the financing, then…I’m okay with it.”She forced a smile.“I’mfinewith it.”Did that sound convincing?“I think it sounds…promising.”
Olivia rushed around the desk and hugged her.“Oh, Mom. You won’t regret this, I promise. It’s going to be awesome. Just awesome.”
Awesome. She sure hoped so. For her own sake and more importantly, for Olivia’s. She didn’t want to see Olivia’s dreams get crushed.
Donna workedthe rest of the afternoon kind of on autopilot. Pointing out where the paint was. Helping someone find a cleaner for a hardwood floor. Okaying Melody Tanner to run up yet more on her tab here at Parker’s. She really should deal with that, but so far she hadn’t had the heart to insist Melody pay off part of her growing bill. Her husband had died last year and Melody seemed to be just scrambling to keep her feet under her as a young widow.
She turned at the sound of yet another customer entering Parker’s and self-consciously tucked back a lock of hair when she saw it was Barry. He waved and came over to where she was stocking the latest phone chargers. It was surprising how many tourists came to town and forgot their chargers.
“There you are.”He gave her a warm smile. A smile that reached from his lips to clear, sky blue eyes.
The fact he had such sky blue eyes startled her. The fact that she hadn’t noticed this before now startled her even more. How had she not noticed their color before this?
“Hi,”she replied as she scanned her gaze over him. Or the fact that his brown hair had just a thread or two of gray in it. And the fact he was in need of a haircut. Just a bit of one. She realized she was staring and quickly turned to hang up another charger.
“You look busy.”
“A bit.”She turned back to him, careful not to stare this time.“Did you come for more ice cream?”
“I did. Do you have time to join me?”
The store was fairly empty. Lydia, one of their regular workers, was running the cash register. And if she joined him, she could give Olivia a break from the malt shop counter.“Sure, let’s grab some ice cream.”
They walked over to the counter where Olivia had a pad of paper and was scribbling notes.“Olivia, why don’t you take a break? I’ll run the counter while I have ice cream with Barry.”
Olivia eyed her, then Barry, and a quick smile crossed her face.“Perfect. I need to make a couple calls. I’ll use the office. Be back in about fifteen minutes.”
“Take your time.”She went behind the counter as Olivia slid past.“So, what kind of ice cream today?”She stood across from Barry.
“I think I’ll try your mint chocolate chip. Two scoops in a cone.”
She nodded.“Great choice.”She made his cone and got a scoop of vanilla in a bowl for herself, then sat down next to him.
“So, there’s another reason I came by today.”Barry took a bit of his ice cream and looked at her with those just-discovered sky blue eyes.
“What’s that?”
“I wanted to…”He paused and glanced at his ice cream before turning back at her.“I wondered if…”
She waited for him to continue, her spoonful of ice cream halfway to her lips.
“Would you like to go to dinner with me on The Destiny? I mean…like a date with me?”
“I…uh…when?”Smooth, really, smooth.
“This weekend? Is Friday or Saturday good for you?”
“Yes.”
He grinned.“Which one?”
“Oh, I think Friday would work better.”
“Perfect. I’ll make reservations for us.”
She nodded and they turned their talk to the weather and restoration on the hotel without another mention of their date. He finished his ice cream and rose.“Thanks for joining me. I should get back to work.”
