“If you’re ready, we can head to my house now.”
“I have a few things I need to finish up here.” Her phone received another text message. This time, she picked it up. Either it was an automated text or one that didn’t require a response because she set it back on the table.
A glance at his watch told him it was only four thirty. “I don’t mind waiting.”
“If I get a ride from you, you’ll have to drive me home later. It makes more sense for me to meet you at your house.”
She made a good point. It did make more sense for her to drive herself, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. “Come on by whenever you’re ready.”
“I’ll probably be over in about an hour. Do you want me to bring dinner?”
“Nah. I’ll order something and pick it up on my way home. How does pizza sound?”
“You must be a mind reader, because I was thinking about making pizza tonight. I’ll eat anything on it except anchovies and buffalo chicken.”
Both items, along with pineapple, had always seemed like odd toppings for pizza to him. Then again, he liked scallops on his, so maybe he wasn’t the best person to decide what should or shouldn’t be on a pizza. Standing, Matt pushed his chair closer to the table. “I’ll see you in about an hour.”
The door closed behind Matt, and Liv shook her head as she leaned back in her chair. Earlier, when she’d heard the door chimes, she’d expected to see Emma standing there because, unlike the other businesses along Main Street, customers didn’t walk in off the sidewalk. Instead, they came when they had scheduled appointments, and she had none today. However, it wasn’t uncommon for Emma to cross the street and visit.
To say she’d been surprised when she saw Matt standing there would be the understatement of the decade. She expected to see him in the restaurant when he was in town. The man had to eat, and in her opinion, the Ocean View Grill was the best place to go. But while she offered samples to clients if they asked, she didn’t serve food, so Matt had no reason to come in here. Yet there he’d stood, looking far sexier than any man had a right to, and it had taken all her self-control not to immediately ask why he was there. Actually, she was rather proud of herself for waiting as long as she had before asking if he was headed to the restaurant. If he’d said yes, his unexpected visit would have made a little more sense. After all, it was easy to see inside her office from the sidewalk, so he would’ve known she was there. And although they weren’t BFFs, she would’ve understood if he’d decided to say hello before going on about his day.
But that hadn’t been the case. If she hadn’t been sitting when he shared his reason for the visit, Liv would’ve found her butt on the floor. Somehow, she’d managed to keep her mouth shut and not share the first thought that came to mind, which had been “You must be either really bored or desperate.” Even without sharing that statement, she’d sounded like an idiot when she answered him. In her defense, she’d been about to ask if his girlfriend would mind if they spent time together when she realized that wasn’t any of her business, and she had to come up with another reason that it might not be a good idea if they hung out.
I wanted to see if you were busy tonight, but I don’t have your phone number. Matt’s words repeated in her head. He could’ve offered her the keys and title to his Ferrari outside, and she wouldn’t have been any more surprised.
“He’s being friendly because he’s bored,” Liv said to the empty chair across from her. It wasn’t like Orchard Harbor was filled with nightclubs or whatever other type of places he spent his time at. “And it’s not like he knows a lot of people in town.”
Actually, other than her family, he might not know anyone else in town. Yep, boredom and a lack of friends in the area explained his invitation this afternoon.
With that argument settled, she retreated to her desk.
Before she did anything else, she needed to add Gina’s meal selections to her file. While Liv waited for her computer to power on, she checked her cell phone. She’d received one text message while she’d been talking to Gina. She’d received two more during Matt’s visit. The first was an automated one letting her know that her electric bill payment had been processed. The second and third messages were from Emma.
Emma: Phoebe and I are going to Northside Tavern for karaoke night. Do you want to come with us?
Every Wednesday night, the popular bar and grill down the street held karaoke night. For much of the year, only locals showed up. In another few weeks, though, the place would be packed with tourists or people with summer homes in town. While she enjoyed going with her friends, she preferred going in the offseason when every seat in the place wasn’t occupied. So, if she didn’t already have plans with Matt, she’d accept the invitation because this might be her last chance to go for several months.
She read the next message from Emma before responding.
Emma: Who’s the new client?
Emma needed to spend less time looking out the store window and more time taking care of her plants.
Liv didn’t want to lie. At the same time, if she said Matt wasn’t a client, Emma would want to know why he’d been there.
Liv: Sorry, I can’t tonight. I have plans. And Matt’s not a client. He’s a friend of Owen’s, and he stopped in to say hi.
Liv reread her message before sending it. She wasn’t lying; she’d just left out a few minor details, such as Matt’s last name and the fact that Emma knew of him.
Rather than another message showing up, Liv’s phone rang.
“Since when does your brother have friends who drive Ferraris?”
“When do you actually work?” Liv asked, avoiding the question.
“It’s not my fault. I was redoing the window display when Owen’s friend parked his car and went inside.”
Emma had Liv there. She changed the front window display almost weekly, and if she’d been working on it, it would’ve been impossible to miss Matt’s car outside.
