Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
K atie Wright prided herself on being thorough in everything she did, including matters of the heart. The moment she saw Luke Powell driving Santa’s boat at the Christmas Parade, she found herself intrigued. Luke had a reputation as a nice guy, though some saw him as clueless in relationships.
Katie’s mother, Claire, had learned about Luke’s past relationship from his stepmother, Ciara Moretti Powell. It wasn’t much of a mystery to Katie why her mother thought she needed to know about Luke’s romantic history. Claire often remarked on Katie’s obsession with work and worried that her daughter would never find a lifelong partner.
It was obvious to Katie that her mother saw Luke Powell as a potential boyfriend. While Katie usually ignored her mother’s attempts to meddle in her love life, this time, she didn’t resist.
Luke’s reputation as a “nice guy” wasn’t enough for Katie. She needed concrete details, a clear understanding of who Luke Powell really was, before she could entertain the idea of spending any time with him.
They had already talked quite a bit at the book club meeting, and she found him interesting, pleasant, and good-looking, but in an approachable way. He wore glasses, though she noticed he took them off at the meeting, leading her to assume they were for reading only. His light brown hair had streaks of blond, likely from spending so much time in the sun. He was tanned and, when she saw him up close, he was taller than she had initially thought—just a couple of inches taller than her.
Her research was exhaustive, blending online searches with subtle inquiries among the island’s residents. The picture emerged of a man deeply committed to his career, to the point where relationships seemed a distant second. This didn’t surprise Katie; she herself had always prioritized her work. It was something she respected, even if it made romance more challenging.
The story of Luke’s ex-girlfriend, Meredith, seemed like gossip to Katie, and so, thus far had ignored it. But when her mother brought it up, Katie paid attention. After six long years of waiting for Luke to propose, Meredith had finally decided to move on. The fact that she was now getting married, just seven months after their breakup, was something Katie found strange. Her mother indicated that Luke’s brother, Joshua, thought it was a cruel attempt to upset Luke, but Katie wasn’t so sure.
Katie didn’t consider herself overly romantic. She liked things to be clear, straightforward, and above all, logical. Emotions were fine, but they needed to be controlled, understood, and managed. That’s why she found her reaction to Luke so confusing.
There was something about the way he interacted with Ciara and the other women that caught her off guard. He was confident, but not arrogant, engaging, but not overly familiar. It was enough to make her curious, though she would never admit it out loud.
She’d given Luke her phone number, but didn’t expect him to call so soon.
“I know you’ve probably got a million things to do before Christmas, but I wondered if you’d like to meet and take a walk on the beach tomorrow morning? Early morning walks are the best, because hardly anyone is on the beach at that hour,” he said.
“Thanks for asking, but I can’t,” she answered, not sure why she was putting him off.
“How about later in the day? Business is slow this time of year, so I’m free all day.”
“Um…I’ll have to see. I’ve got a conference call at one o’clock. What time were you thinking?”
“You decide, and I’ll meet you in front of The Mucky Duck.”
She didn’t want to appear rude, so she agreed. “I can meet you at three o’clock, does that work for you?”
“Yeah, that’s great. I’ll see you then.”
When the call ended, she shook her head.
I did it again.
Reminding herself that their interaction shouldn’t be so formal and businesslike. But that was how she operated, and apparently, it was how Luke did too, if she believed her mother.
When the time came, Katie made her way to The Mucky Duck, her mind still half-occupied with the tasks she’d been working on earlier in the day. As she walked toward the restaurant, she paid no attention to the clouds forming overhead.
As she approached the beachside restaurant, she spotted Luke waiting for her on the beach path. He looked far more relaxed than she felt.
“Hey,” he said. “Thanks for meeting me, although I just now looked at the forecast. It’s supposed to rain.”
Katie laughed. “I was under the impression that you and I had paying attention to detail in common. How did we miss this?”
He smiled, “Didn’t you know there are always exceptions to the rule?” he teased.
She smiled and nodded, pleased to see he had a sense of humor.
As they started walking along the shore, the conversation initially focused on safe topics: Captiva Island weather, the latest island gossip, and the upcoming holidays.
“I’m not sure if you know this, but I think your mother and my stepmother have been trying to get you and I together,” he said.
“Together, as in dating?” she asked.
He nodded. “Exactly. Are you surprised?” he asked.
Katie rolled her eyes and sighed. “I didn’t know, but I’m not surprised at all. If you knew my mother, you wouldn’t be either.”
“How do you feel about it?” he asked.
The question was too direct for her, and she didn’t want to commit to anything yet.
He laughed. “Too much, too soon?” he asked.
She smiled and nodded. “Let’s leave it at that for now.”
“Understood,” he responded.
“So…Powell Water Sports, you must love working outdoors all day. I know I would if I had your job,” she said.
He nodded. “Absolutely. I don’t think I could ever sit behind a desk all day. I need to move, and I love being in the sun. What about your work?” he asked.
“I’m out and about a lot, but I’m also on my cellphone day and night, and don’t get me started on meetings.”
“Sounds like you work seven days a week? Don’t you allow for some down time?”
“I’m here with you right now, aren’t I?” she said.
He smiled. “I’m honored.”
She shrugged. “I know it’s a lot, but I guess I’m just wired that way. I have a harder time relaxing than most.”
“You seem pretty relaxed to me,” he pointed out.
She smiled and thought about that. “I guess I am.”
There was a brief pause as they both walked in silence, the waves gently lapping at their feet. Katie found herself wondering what Luke was thinking. Was this just a casual outing for him, or was there something more to it? She couldn’t tell, and that made her feel slightly off-balance. It wasn’t a feeling she was used to.
Finally, Luke broke the silence. “So, I’ve been thinking, and please don’t think your mother and Ciara have anything to do with this…but…”
“Uh-oh, should I be nervous?” she asked.
He laughed, “No, this will be painless, I promise.”
“I’ve got this wedding to attend in a few weeks. It’s kind of a last-minute thing, and I wondered if you’d like to go with me?”
Katie stopped walking for a moment, turning to look at him.
“A wedding? Whose wedding?”
She couldn’t wait to hear how he would explain Meredith to her.
“My ex-girlfriend’s actually,” Luke admitted as he seemed to search her face for a reaction.”
“You want me to be your plus-one at your ex-girlfriend’s wedding?”
“Sounds crazy, right?”
“I’m not sure. Are you mad at her? I mean, is this some sort of revenge date?”
He shook his head. “Absolutely not. I know it’s a bit unusual, but I’d be honored if you’d accept.”
She considered the proposal for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in her mind. It was unconventional, yes, but it could also be an interesting experience. And if nothing else, it would give her more insight into Luke Powell.
“When is it?” she asked.
“Three weeks from Saturday,” Luke replied, watching her closely. “It’s in Naples, so it’s not far.”
Katie nodded, her decision made. “Okay, I’ll go with you. But we should probably set some ground rules, don’t you think? Just to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
Luke raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
“Ground rules? Like what?”
“Well, for starters, we should agree that this isn’t really a date, it’s, well…I’m not exactly sure what it is, but what I know it isn’t, is a romance. Agreed?”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure about that. I mean, I get that we’re not in that place right now, but can’t we leave that topic open for discussion?”
The twinkle in his eye suggested more between them, but Katie wasn’t ready for such declarations.
“We’ll leave that alone for now. What about Meredith? How are you going to explain me to her?”
“Let’s let Meredith worry about that. I don’t care what she thinks, and neither do I feel I owe her an explanation. I’ll be polite and wish her and her new husband all the best. I’m not angry with Meredith, and I want her to be happy. I’m not so self-absorbed to think she invited me for any other reason than to remain friends. I’m going to believe that she wants me to be happy.”
Her smile let him know that she liked his answer. It was the most she was willing to reveal. She was glad she’d accepted his invitation to Meredith’s wedding, and hoped there would be more opportunities to get to know Luke better.
As they continued their walk, the skies opened and a windswept rain came pouring down on them. He took her hand and together they ran back to The Mucky Duck. Finally under the protection of the awning, he pulled her close and rubbed her arms.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
She shook her head and looked into his green eyes.
“A little,” she answered. It was a small lie, but the only way she could stay close to him. When the rain stopped, they walked up Andy Rosse Lane and then across to the marina.
“I’m sure the rain has stopped in Sanibel by now, but you take care driving home,” he said.
She nodded.
“Thanks for the walk. If I don’t talk to you before, I hope you have a Merry Christmas,” she responded.
“You never know, maybe I’ll call Christmas Eve to wish you the same,” he said.
“Won’t you be busy helping Santa and his reindeer take off?” she asked, remembering his driving Santa’s boat at the Christmas Parade.
He smiled and nodded. “Once we get him in the air, I’m free to do what I want.”
She laughed at his answer, gave him one last wave, and then drove away.