“Oh?” I sipped my water.
“My mom was from here. She talked about her hometown a lot, and I wanted to check it out. I’m kind of finishing up my farewell tour, I guess you’d say.”
My respect for this woman kept increasing. “I bet she’d love that.”
“I hope so. This was my last place to go. Today was my final goodbye.” She picked up her water and took a long drink. When she set it down, her eyes were bright, maybe with tears, but her face was relaxed. “That’s a bit deep for a get-to-know-you drink. Sorry.”
I leaned closer. “Please don’t apologize for being you. I happen to like what I’ve heard and what I see. You’re a thoughtful, compassionate woman, Vivian.”
She chuckled even as she shook her head. “Well, I’m all right, I guess. Tell me more about you.” She cupped her chin in her palms, those silvery eyes focused on me.
We sat in that booth for hours. At first, we simply ordered drinks—Arnold Palmer for her, iced tea for me—then appetizers, and finally a late lunch. As the waiter heaved a sigh while filling our glasses, Vivian glanced around. Her eyes widened and a flush worked its way up her neck and stained her cheeks. “Wow. It’s nearly dinner time. This place has filled up. I guess we should give up the booth so a family can have it.”
I nodded reluctantly. “I have to admit, I don’t want our time here to end. I’ve so enjoyed getting to know you.”
She grinned. “And I you. But I’m not suggesting we go our separate ways.” She tugged out her wallet and riffled through it.
“I got this, Vivi,” I said quietly. I pulled out three hundred-dollar bills and set them on the table under the saltshaker. Vivian gawked at me.
“We hogged one of the best tables all afternoon. The least I can do is leave Joseph a decent tip.”
“That’s so generous,” she stammered.
I smirked. “Maybe I’m just showing off, trying to make you think I’m a better person.”
“Are you?”
She’d collected her items, so I set my hand at her lower back as I led her out of the restaurant. We stepped out into the late afternoon, and I raised my eyebrows. Vivian pointed to the right, so I turned that way, falling into step beside her.
“Nope,” I told her. “My mother was a waitress when I was little. She worked her way up to a high-end place that even offered health insurance. That’s how I was able to get skates. I’ll never forget how excited she was after one generous businessman doubled his check. Mom had told him about me playing hockey and how I was a natural, but it was hard with me and my two sisters. That guy was a regular at the place, always asked for my mom, always left her a big tip. He’s the reason I was able to do summer camps and get a scholarship in Michigan. Without Brendan, I wouldn’t be a starting D-man for my home team.”
“So you’re a pay-it-forward kind of guy.”
“When I can be.”
“I like that,” she said. We walked in silence until we came to a small, quaint Victorian in pastel blue with yellow accents. “This is me,” she said. Then, she laughed. “Well, it’s me for the next two nights.” She tucked her hair back again. “I had a great time today, Lennon. And I’d love to see you?—”
“How about in an hour, hour and a half?” I asked. I rocked back on my heels, shocked by how much I didn’t want to leave her, even for that short amount of time. Is this what falling in love feels like? Can it hit this fast, this hard?
I wasn’t sure, but I knew I liked these emotions bubbling up in my gut and chest, and I really liked how Vivi made me feel.
“I-I?—”
I frowned. “I came on too strong.”
Vivian shook her head. “It’s more that I’m worried about taking up too much of your downtime. I just… I don’t want you to regret this weekend.”
I leaned in a little so I could smell her shampoo. “There’s one thing I know for sure, Vivi, and that’s that I could never, ever regret meeting you.”
Chapter 3
Chapter
Vivian
* * *
Later that night, we sat back on the beach, this time to watch the sunset. Lennon had brought a large blanket as well as a bottle of wine, sharp cheddar cheese, crackers, and grapes. We’d nibbled our way through most of it while we sipped and enjoyed the balmy breeze and the faint lapping of waves along the shoreline.
