He made a shrill, whistling sound through his teeth. “That must be some story.”
“It’s a terrible story you don’t want to hear.” I held my hand up, taking tiny bites of the last two sticks to make them last longer.
“Try me.” He narrowed his gorgeous eyes.
“You don’t even know my name.”
“What if I told you mine? Joe.” He extended a hand. I let it dangle between us for a couple of beats as I drew back in my seat. “Owner of The Beach Pub.”
“Ah.” I nodded. “That’s why you had pull in the kitchen.” I shot him a wry grin. I took his hand, and a foreign warmth spread through my chest. My tired mind was playing tricks on me. We held the handshake for just long enough to be awkward. “Caterina. My friends call me Cat.”
“That’s a beautiful name. Nice to meet you, Caterina.”
I gulped as my gaze fell to his lips. There was something about the way my name rolled off his tongue as if his voice was caressing each syllable. When he took the empty seat across from me, I stiffened against the back of my seat. My attraction to this guy was as overpowering as it was confusing.
“So, talk to me.” He leaned his elbows on the table and leveled his gaze at me. “Why the instant vacation? Did you rob a bank before you left?”
I rolled my eyes at the mirth in his baby blues.
“No, I did not. No need to call the local sheriff or whatever you guys have for cops out here.”
His chest rumbled with a laugh, drawing my eyes to the way his T-shirt stretched across his broad torso.
“I came home from work early and caught my boyfriend,ex-boyfriend, cheating on me. On the new couch I’d just bought.”
It was funny howthatwas the part I kept coming back to. Sure, the fact that my boyfriend of two years had his dick in another woman’s mouth in our apartment stung, but the fact that it happened on my beautiful, brand-fucking-new, gray woven fabric couch twisted the proverbial knife. Dread filled me for all it would entail to go our separate ways along with the residue of shame at realizing that was probably the only reason we stayed together for so long.
“That sucks. I’m sorry that happened to you.” Genuine empathy spread across Joe’s gorgeous features.
“You’re actually the first person I’ve told.” I settled back in my seat, an odd relief relaxing my shoulders to let it out to someone. “I came home, found…that…and left. Shocked the shit out of everyone I know. See, I’m the sensible one. The one who doesn’t go out on work nights, who dated one guy at a time in college, who never takes a vacation. The sensible one. Theboringone.” I shook my head as I dragged my nail along the drip of condensation down my beer glass, my eyes darting from the table to Joe. Why was I spilling my guts to a stranger? When my gaze met his, his eyes were kind without a hint of judgment, as if he was actually listening to me.
“Believe it or not, I know exactly how you feel.” Joe draped his arm along the back of the booth. “When I wanted to buy this place, my family thought I was insane. I never expressed a big interest in business before, so where was this coming from?”
I laughed when he draped a dramatic hand over his chest.
“Not exactly the same, but I know how much it sucks when people underestimate you.”
I blew out a long breath and nodded. “I left a mess that I’ll have to clean up when I get back, but something in me…snapped. It sounds completely nuts now that I actually say it all out loud.” I winced.
Joe gave me a warm smile. “Not nuts at all. I think it’s brave to come out here all by yourself and sort things out. My family thoughtIwas nuts for driving all the way here from Queens when I found out this place was for sale.”
“You’re not from around here?”
“Nope.” He shook his head. “Transplanted local. Bars and restaurants are a dime a dozen in the city, but here, I thought I could really make it mine and not give into stupid trends that I didn’t like. It’s a cool little town, too, even if some streets are stuck in the 1950s.” His smile stole a little air from my lungs. I sucked in a quick breath in a futile effort to compose myself.
“My friends say this is the new hot spot for vacation. Though, I honestly didn’t even know the name of it until they told me they were booking it.”
“It’s like a big secret that everyone suddenly wants in on.” Even his laugh was sexy—deep and gruff. “I could have tried for something closer to home or gone corporate after college like my brilliant sister, but it wasn’t what I wanted.” Joe leaned forward, squinting at me. “I’m not sure why I’m telling you my life story right now.”
“I was wondering why I was telling you all my troubles, too.” I laughed as my shoulders softened, my whole body less rigid as I locked eyes with Joe.
“But I’m guessing a lot of customers tell you their troubles. You have that kind of face.”
“What kind of face is that?” The sudden heat in his stare made me tense up in a whole different way.
“The sweet smile and the crystal blue eyes. Like you don’t have a mirror.” I rolled my eyes, unable to hide the twitch of my lips.
“Like those big dark eyes don’t make guys spill their guts all the time, at least that’s whatI’mblaming it on. Men probably trip over themselves to get to you.”
