Page 37 of Coastal Reflections

I’m glad I wore these black nylons, she thought. It’s colder tonight than I thought it would be.

She tugged on the sleeves of her white coat, pulling them a little farther down over her hands. The elegant coat went beautifully with the black dress she was wearing, and she felt classy and attractive. She felt excited about her date with Evan, and she adjusted the strap of her red purse on her shoulder, thinking to herself that the accessory completed her look nicely.

A moment later, Evan’s car drove up in front of the mansion. She smiled and hurried down the steps to greet him.

“Good evening, beautiful,” he said, stepping out of the car to give her a kiss before opening her door. “You look radiant.”

She laughed. “Thank you. You look very handsome yourself. I think this gray suit you have on is my favorite.”

“So glad you like it.” He winked and gave her another kiss before helping her into the car.

Audrey sighed happily as she sat down in the comfortable seat. She was ready for a romantic evening out with her considerate boyfriend.

They drove to the Bluewater Bistro and once inside, they were seated at a table that overlooked the ocean. A tealight flickered inside a blue glass cylinder in the center of their table and a live jazz band was playing nearby.

“This is so romantic,” Audrey said, feeling thrilled. “Thanks for taking me out tonight, sweetheart.”

“Thanks for saying yes,” he teased, grinning. “How was your day today? Is it nice having the tiger lily room back in working order?”

“So nice.” Audrey nodded. “We’ve got a couple staying in there now and they just love it. She was all excited about the orange color in the closet and she said she wants to paint their closets at home fun colors now. So that’s cute how that worked out—our little misfortune turned into a moment of inspiration for her.”

“I love that,” Evan said, his tone sweet and sincere. He held Audrey’s hand across the table, looking into her eyes as he spoke.

He’s being so attentive, she thought, her heart stirring with affection for him. I’m so lucky to have a guy who treats me like this.

Their waiter arrived at their table and took their order for glasses of wine and an appetizer of breaded calamari. He returned with the wine a few moments later, and Audrey had just taken a sip of her velvety Cabernet when a lump suddenly formed in her throat.

“What is it?” Evan asked, noticing the way Audrey’s eyes were glued to the front of the restaurant.

She shook her head, fighting back a slew of negative emotions. “Clark and Molly just walked in,” she said, her voice so husky it was almost a whisper.

Evan stiffened immediately, looking around the restaurant with a protective scowl on his face. He looked like a man who intended to challenge someone to a duel.

“Don’t look at them, please,” Audrey said, keeping her own face turned away from the front door. “I don’t want Clark to notice that we’re here. Hopefully they get seated on the other side of the restaurant and we don’t have to talk to them.”

She knew, however, that even if that happened, she wasn’t going to enjoy the meal as much as she’d hoped to. Disappointment twisted in her stomach, and she wished with all her might that Clark and Molly would just suddenly disappear—from the Bluewater Bistro, from Coral Sands, and from her life.

Evan tore his eyes from the front of the restaurant. “I saw them,” he said. “That blonde woman and the man who looks as insensitive as a paper cutter?”

Audrey burst into a fit of suppressed laughter, surprised and delighted by Evan’s unexpected and perceptive critique of Clark.

“Yes, that’s Clark,” she said, shaking her head. “I just hope he doesn’t notice we’re here. That’s why I didn’t want you to look in their direction⁠—”

Evan and Audrey’s heads both turned toward the front doors as they noticed people approaching them out of the corners of their eyes. It was not their waiter, as Audrey had hoped. It was Clark and Molly.

Of course it was. Audrey’s heart sank.

He’s wasted no time in coming over here, Audrey thought, gritting her teeth. They haven’t even been sat at their own table yet.

“Well, fancy meeting you here,” Clark said, a showy grin on his face. It was such a good mask of suave charm that Audrey couldn’t tell what his actual emotions might be. “Hello, Audrey.”

Audrey simply nodded at Clark and Molly. The lump in her throat was bigger now, and she didn’t want to risk talking and having her voice shake.

“Hi, I’m Clark.” Clark held out his hand to Evan for a handshake. “I’m Audrey’s former better half.”

Evan kept his hands where they were. The only movement he made was to grip the edge of the table harder. “I’m Evan McBride, Coral Sands’ mayor. I’m lucky enough to be Audrey’s current partner.”

Audrey could tell that Evan was about to say more—he probably wanted to contradict Clark’s “better half” statement—but Clark threw back his head laughing and immediately cut in.