He spread his arms out along the back of the bench. If she leaned back, it would almost be like his arm was around her shoulders.
Without having another thought, she knew she was reading too much into this. This wasn’t a date. It was two neighbors, taking their dogs for a walk at the same time. It was a doggy date, really. Nothing to do with her.
“Are you free tomorrow night?”
Had he really just asked that? “I am. Why?”
“There’s a new restaurant that’s just opened in St. Helen’s Beach and they’ve invited me to the soft opening. I hate going to those things alone. Want to go with me? It’s a free meal. Rustic Italian, for what that’s worth.”
She smiled. That probably wasn’t a date, either. “I’d love to.”
ChapterThirty-Three
Harper texted Mimi to say what a great show it had been, how amazing she’d looked, and what a terrific job she’d done. Maybe that would be enough, and they wouldn’t need to do a Zoom call, but Mimi needed a lot of reassurance.
It was all right if she wanted to talk further. It was billable hours and Harper had nothing else going on anyway.
She turned off the television but stayed seated on the couch. It was weird to have Archie gone. He rarely made noise, but the house still felt oddly quiet. It was like she could feel he wasn’t there.
Maybe she should take a shower. She got up, intending to do just that, when a small tumbleweed of Archie fur drifted across the floor. The house could use a little tidying up. Might as well do that before she showered, because cleaning was going to make her sweaty.
Not that she intended to do a big clean. She was just going to sweep the floors and wipe down counters. That would be enough for a few days.
She found a broom, a steam mop, a vacuum, and some other cleaning supplies in a closet on the first floor. She brought the broom and a dustpan upstairs. The steam mop was intriguing, but she’d never used one and wasn’t about to research how to use it now.
She started in the bedroom, sweeping her way out. The living room and kitchen came after that. She had a pretty good pile going by then. She did the office, too, because why not? She used the broom to get all the dog hair and other debris into the dustpan, then dumped it in the trash.
The place already looked better.
Counters were next. They weren’t bad. Neither she nor Frankie were messy people. Archie’s eating area needed a little touch up. He wasn’t quite as neat and tidy. He tended to get water all over the floor when he drank.
At home, she had a rubber mat that went under his food and water bowls to help contain the mess. She could have used one of those here. She’d have to get one if she—
She straightened. Had she really been about to think that she might stay? How odd. Did some part of her believe that was possible? Because it wasn’t. She had no work out here. No way to make money.
Clients weren’t going to be happy with Zoom calls on a permanent basis. At some point, she’d have to go back to California.
A thought that, for some reason, didn’t fill her with any substantial anticipation. Did she subconsciously not want to go back? Was she avoiding Ford? She didn’t think that was it. He was out of her life and while she might run into him again someday, if she didn’t want to see him, she wouldn’t have to.
So what was it?
Sure, this place was amazing. It was so much better than where she lived now that it would have been pointless to compare. Incredible view, amazing backyard, a pool, a golf cart, tons of space, more amenities, better furnished, nicer…everything. And Hideaway Bay was pretty sweet, too.
But it all came down to where she earned her living. And how, she supposed. No one here needed a professional confidante. Even if they did have buckets of money. They just weren’t those kinds of people.
With a sigh, she finished up her cleaning, put the broom and dustpan away, then went to the bedroom and turned the water on in the shower. She’d been right about sweating. Her back was damp from the work.
The shower was quick. She didn’t think Frankie and Archie would be gone much longer and she wanted to hear all about Lucas.
She slipped into a fresh pair of leggings, a clean tank top, then took her laundry to the laundry room and started a load of colors. With the house cleaned up, and a load of laundry started, she felt pretty accomplished.
On a roll, she took shrimp out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator to defrost. She wasn’t sure what she’d do with it yet for dinner, but she’d come up with something. Maybe just sauté it in some butter, garlic, and white wine, then serve it over angel hair pasta.
That sounded pretty good, actually.
Her stomach rumbled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten anything yet. She was hungry, too. So much for all she’d eaten last night.
She decided on something quick. Maybe another of Joyce’s muffins? But then she thought toast with almond butter and a drizzle of honey felt like just the thing with another cup of coffee. She got out the bread and the almond butter, then realized she hadn’t bought honey. Well, there went that idea. Would it be all right to run next door and ask Joyce for some?
