“There you are!” Gran says, making me jump out of my skin.
She walks through the back with two of the Bees behind her. Lucille’s sunglasses are on, and Birdie is carrying a bottle of champagne and orange juice.
“Oh no,” I mutter. “It’s barely seven.”
“Good morning to you too, Wendy!” Birdie says, pushing her sunglasses up onto her head.
“Jeez, what were you up to last night?”
“None of your business,” Gran tells me.
They move toward the table, each of them carrying a notebook and pen. I hate it when they get like this. This is what I’ve nicknamed a Meddling Meeting, where they get together and fuck up people’s lives.
Birdie disappears into the kitchen and greets Rose. Within minutes, the mimosas are poured, and she’s moving back to the table with the three of them in her hands. This is what they do several times per week, like the B&B is their personal clubhouse.
Lucille settles into her chair. “I saw the most gorgeous man jogging on the beach this morning. He was shirtless, wearing little red shorts. Looked like he belonged on a magazine cover.”
My cheeks heat because I know they’re talking about Carter.
“Really?” Birdie asks.
“Did you take a photo?” Gran asks, returning with an additional bottle of champagne.
I keep my eyes on the laptop, trying my best to ignore them as I make a priority list of things I have to take care of this week.
“Wendy, did you go on your walk this morning?” Lucille asks from the long table. “Did you happen to see anyone?”
I roll my eyes and continue writing.
“That’s a yes,” Birdie says.
I hear footsteps, and my body tenses because I already know who it is.
A freshly showered Carter comes into view, wearing a shirt that sticks to his body and board shorts that fall to his knees. He smells like mountain air and trouble. Carter stops at the bottom of the stairs and takes in the scene—three women over sixty with mimosas and notebooks, giggling at seven in the morning.
I don’t look up from my laptop as he moves past me to where breakfast is being served.
“Oh, hi. Good morning,” Gran says, patting the chair beside her. “Would you like to join us? We’re having mimosas.”
I pull a small mirror from the drawer that I use to see if there’s anything in my teeth. I position it perfectly so I can spy on them. Carter offers them his million-dollar smile.
“Appreciate the invite, but I’m starting with coffee after my run,” he says politely.
Lucille’s eyes widen. “Youwere running this morning? In red shorts?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, and he has manners.” Birdie sounds impressed.
“Grab some breakfast, sweetie,” my grandma says. “Rose makes the best egg and bacon burritos on the island. Homemade tortillas.”
They treat him like they’ve known him his entire life.
“Thank you,” he says.
“Oh, by the way.” Gran stands, “I’m Gale. The owner of the bed-and-breakfast.”
“Pleasure to officially meet you.”
