Chapter Three
Lena
“I can’t believe you let yourself be conned by Trouble,” Marina tells me after Cade agreed to the Mermaid Bay Legacy Tour, finished his latte, and left. “He’s up to something.”
“I’ve seen his type before,” I say. Just not in such an attractive package. “I’ve got this. Besides, the Mermaid Bay Legacy Tour has scared away its share of bad eggs.” I couldn’t recall anyone making it past the second stop.
“He’s a different kind of trouble.” Marina came behind the coffee counter to refill her mug. She’s the grandmother of Keira, my best employee, and she likes the dregs in the coffee carafe at the end of the day. “He’s the kind that doesn’t know he’s trouble.”
“Don’t worry, Marina. This is me, remember?
Three step-children. Two divorces. And one layoff.
I’ve seen things.” Been broken. Glued my pieces back together.
Been happy with the result. “I agree with you. That man is up to no good.” Hot guys in Italian leather usually were.
“But we don’t let troublemakers wander about Mermaid Bay unsupervised.
What if he runs into Merry?” The woman who ran Merry Christmas Cheer and was gullible when it came to salesmen, hence her overstock of drum-banging Santas from two years ago.
And Mr. Handsome was definitely trying to sell something.
“I suppose you’re right, Marina. Can’t have Cade talking to the mayor.” Everyone knew the mayor could be bought. Hence the winery that had been planted on the bluff above the cove five years ago. “I can handle Cade,” I assure Marina.
“That’s what I’m worried about.” Marina taps her coffee cup, studying me with narrowed eyes. “I saw the way you two looked at each other—like the Love Boat had unexpectedly come in.”
“You and your over-active imagination.” It’s closing in on four p.m. and time to close. I’ve been in the café for twelve hours and I need to put other business owners on notice for the tour tomorrow. “Move along, Marina.”
“There will be kisses,” Marina predicts, moving slowly toward the door.
How long has it been since I kissed a man?
I blink. That type of thinking led to trouble.
Instead of arguing, I open the bakery case and reach inside for what has replaced kisses in my life—chocolate.
“Even if you eat that truffle, there will be kisses,” Marina predicts again crossing the small dining space toward the door.
Her comment doesn’t stop me from eating the truffle and enjoying it. “Sometimes, you need to live dangerously.”
Or, as they say, dance with the devil under the pale moonlight. If only for a greater purpose. In this case, protection from whatever threat Cade represents to Mermaid Bay.
I’ll be fine long as I don’t kiss the devil.
Instinctively, I reach for another truffle.
“I feel it in my bones,” Marina mutters as she opens the door. “Trouble and kisses are blowing in with the tide.”