Summer Street (Crown Island #5)

Chapter 1

“How about dessert?” Jo asked, reaching to remove her friend’s plate from the red Formica counter. “I’m running a special on hot fudge sundaes.”

“I couldn’t, not after that enormous veggie burger,” Junie said, sweeping her long, sun-lightened hair over the straps of her aquamarine cotton sundress. Yet she plucked the last sweet potato fry from the plate before Jo took it away.

“What’s your secret recipe for these fries?”

Jo smiled at Junie, who lived across the street from her on Sunshine Avenue. “It’s my special herb blend. Rosemary, oregano, and garlic with sea salt and pepper. Like the herbs in your garden.”

“I bet that would be good on the steaks Knox makes. We’re thinking of having a barbecue this weekend or next. Why don’t you come over with—well, I mean, anyone you like.”

Jo caught her meaning and lifted an eyebrow. “Slim chance of that.”

“Have you heard anything from him?”

“Not a word.” Jo wiped crumbs from the counter and quickly shifted the conversation. “How are you and Knox doing?”

Junie’s deep green eyes sparkled. “Never better.”

“Enjoy it. I mean that.”

Junie furrowed her brow. “Listen, Blue is a good guy, but if something happened back in Chicago, I’m here for you. I know there’s someone out there for you.”

“I thought I’d found him.” Jo quirked a corner of her mouth to make light of the situation.

“I’m in no hurry, though. I’m fine on my own.

After seeing what MaryJo went through in her divorce, I’m not settling for anyone.

Hey, how about a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie?

My baker, Dulcie, makes them from my grandmother’s recipe. ”

Junie’s expression brightened. “Wrap one up, and I’ll take it to go. I have a meeting with a vendor at my shop to view their new lines.”

When Junie reached for her purse, Jo shook her head. “This one’s on me.”

“Thanks,” Junie said. “Want to go for a walk on the beach after work?”

“Sounds great. See you there.”

They agreed on a time, and after leaving a tip on the counter despite what Jo said, Junie whisked out the door.

In this small lull after the lunch rush, Jo restocked the bar with napkins and cardboard coasters emblazoned with her new Cuppa Jo’s logo on them. Junie’s sister Maileah had designed it for her.

This was part of a much larger plan she had for the diner.

She had promoted one of her servers to assistant manager.

Now she could work regular daytime hours and take weekday evenings off.

In theory, that is. Her plan was proving more challenging than she’d thought it would be, and she still worked Friday and Saturday evenings, the diner’s busiest times.

Yet, she didn’t mind. This is what she loved doing. With the live music and all her friends gathering at the diner, it was more like a party than work.

For years, Jo had worked diligently to make Cuppa Jo’s the favored place for breakfast, burgers and fries, and other casual fare on Crown Island. Her friend Adrian played guitar most weekends, and sometimes she featured other musicians.

She was happy for Junie and Knox. Her friend adored Knox’s daughter, Penny, who was going into second grade in the fall.

Junie had confided in her that she and Knox had been talking about marriage and expanding their family.

Junie was thrilled because she hadn’t had children before being widowed at such an early age.

On the other hand, Jo had no excuse.

Of all the men who passed through her diner doors, Blue was the only one who’d stuck around. Off and on, that is.

Maybe it was because she comped police officers’ meals. That practice was good for keeping trouble away from the diner, especially during spring break, when hordes of college students, intent on partying, descended on Crown Island.

Despite Jo waiving the bill, Blue always insisted on leaving a tip that covered the cost. He’d taught his rookies to do that, too.

Whether it was to avoid the appearance of impropriety or simply out of good manners, she appreciated it.

Her staff worked hard. She always deposited his cash into the tip jar to be divided at the end of the shift.

Most had children, so they welcomed the extra tips.

As for herself, Jo had always dreamed of having a family. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t panic until she turned thirty-five, but she was getting close.

Lately, she’d found herself thinking about alternatives.

A friend had spent a fortune on in vitro procedures.

After an arduous journey on that path, they now had a lovely little girl.

Jo wasn’t sure she’d want to take such measures, if it came to that.

Besides, she loved being an auntie to the girl.

That might be enough. Women didn’t need to marry anymore, she told herself.

Still, she watched couples together and thought how nice the companionship would be. Having a partner she could count on. Someone who cared about her. Someone she could love.

She sure thought she’d found him.

With a small sigh, she swept her short, dark curls from her forehead, idly wondering if she should try a dating app.

For all the people she’d met, no one had captured her interest enough to think of spending a lifetime with them.

She shuddered at the thought of marrying just to have a family.

Some women who sat at her counter quietly admitted that after a few beers near closing time, but she could never.

No, she hadn’t met anyone who sparked a fire in her.

Except for Blue. Somehow, he’d wedged his way into her heart. Even with all his issues.

Across the black-and-white tiled floor, a teenager with short denim shorts and a strappy bare-midriff top stood at the jukebox, drumming her fingers. Finally, she dropped in some coins and tapped a button before joining her friends in a circular red vinyl booth.

Taylor Swift’s latest song filled the diner.

Jo hummed along as she tidied the counter area.

The back of her Cuppa Jo’s red neon sign shone through the window.

Making sure that her server Candy was on the floor, she checked in with her kitchen staff, then returned with a tray of glasses from the kitchen, fresh from the dishwasher.

She placed it on the bar. Taking glasses in each hand, she bent to fill the shelves under the bar.

She sensed a presence above her.

A warm, deep voice sounded. “Is this bar stool taken?”

Jo looked up to see Blue easing onto a red swivel stool at the counter.

He wore mirrored aviator sunglasses with his police officer’s uniform, which fit him like it was molded to his physique.

People thought he looked more like a polished silver-screen officer than a real actor.

With his shiny dark hair and bright blue eyes that shimmered under dark brows, he was like a character straight out of Central Casting.

Seeing him, unannounced after two weeks of silence, nearly knocked the wind out of her. Still, they hadn’t officially broken up. They were taking a little break, as he’d put it before he left for his hometown.

Admittedly, they both had issues. She stood, acting cool and nonchalant. As if he hadn’t disappeared and left her to cancel the hotels they’d booked for their holiday off the island.

“So, what will it be, Blue? Same as old times?”

He removed his sunglasses and grinned sheepishly. “If you can remember that far back.”

Not wanting him to see how his silence had hurt her, she shrugged. “Hasn’t been that long, has it? I hardly had time to miss you.”

“It’s not often I can get time off.” He reached across the counter to take her hand. “I’m sorry about the trip we planned. My mother—”

“We both have a lot of pressures,” she said, cutting in while ignoring his hand. She’d been looking forward to their romantic getaway to Yosemite Park.

She shrugged off the thought that had been haunting her since he’d left. “Coffee?”

“Sure. Hey, do you have some of that Kona coffee?”

“The Imperial Kona Reserve?” That was her new top-of-the-line specialty coffee she planned to invest in. She had only a few sample bags.

His eyes brightened. “That’s the one.”

“Sorry. Fresh out.”

She pulled out a mug from behind the counter and filled it with her standard coffee left over from lunch that she’d meant to throw out, including the bitter sludge at the bottom. No way was she going to make a fresh pot for him.

“Here you go.”

She glanced around, hoping another customer needed her, but they were all laughing and having a good time. Candy and the rest of Jo’s staff were doing their jobs.

Blue took a sip and blinked, clearly aware of what she’d done. Nevertheless, he said, “You make the best coffee around.”

She put a hand on her hip. “Now you’re patronizing me.”

He was avoiding what they needed to talk about, but she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of asking. She folded her arms and remained silent, watching his discomfort, and deriving a certain amount of satisfaction from it.

She went back to putting up the clean glassware.

Between the demands of running Cuppa Jo’s and Blue being on the police force here on Crown Island, their relationship had worked for a long time.

Mostly because he could drop in whenever he had time to eat or come over after a shift.

Her kitchen had always been open to him, here at the diner and her home.

She’d probably made it too easy for him. That’s what her mother once said. Not that Sylvie Dufour’s advice was worth much, or that she heard it often, since her mother was now living in Cabo San Lucas with her current future ex-boyfriend.

The last time Jo spoke to her, maybe a year ago, she suspected her mother was drinking or on drugs from the way she slurred her words. Her mother had an assortment of issues, none of which Jo could help her with.