Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Summer waited with bated breath for Joe to show up at her cottage that night. He didn’t.
Then she decided that waiting for him was ridiculous, and over the next few days dedicated herself to becoming part of her family again. She had dinner with her mother. Lunch with Tina. She dragged Chloe a quarter of the way up the mountain before Chloe cried uncle and begged off.
For Diana and Madeline, Summer lowered her expectations and took them into the wilds of a Nordstrom’s Rack, where they tried on five-hundred-dollar shoes for the fun of it hit up a pizza place nearby.
She had another dinner with her mother and had her laughing out loud at the story of Diana and Madeline arguing over a pair of heavenly velvet five-inch Manolos, of which neither could even afford the ankle buckle.
It felt wonderful.
As for Joe, he stayed away, and she knew why. He didn’t want to be tempted.
Inspiration in that regard struck her midweek.
She drove downtown to the Fire Department and the MAST offices.
“It’s not the lunch special,” she said wryly when she found him at his desk looking tired, frustrated, and sexy as hell with his hair all wild and his sleeves shoved up to his elbows. “But you’ll like it.”
He caught the jumbo bag of potato chips midair. Turning it over in his hands like a prized Christmas gift, he finally tossed it back to her. “I gave up chips when I had to work at passing the tests at the fire academy. Even those half-assed baked ones that taste like sandpaper.”
As he’d once practically lived off chips, she was shocked. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope.” Joe’s gaze never left the bag in her hand. She’d have sworn he started to drool as he patted his now flat belly. “And believe me, it was a huge sacrifice—Damn it, don’t even think about opening—”
She ripped open the bag and came around his desk, wafting the bag beneath his nose.
“You are evil,” he said, gaze still locked on the bag.
“Finally my secret is out.”
“Oh my God.” He grabbed her arm to hold the bag beneath his nose and inhaled deeply. “Okay, I can die happy now.”
She smiled and started to move away, but he tightened his grip.
Holding her gaze, he tugged slowly, inexorably, until she stood between his sprawled legs. “Give. Me. The. Bag.”
“I don’t want to bring you to the dark side.”
“Too late.”
“I won’t be responsible for—”
“I have a gun,” he said. “And I know how to use it.”
She laughed.
He dove into the bag and came out with a fistful. At his first bite, he leaned back, closed his eyes, and let out a throaty moan. Then his eyes whipped open. “You’ll leave these with me.”
She dropped the bag on his lap. “All yours.”
Munching, he smiled. It was his first, and it was contagious. “Thanks. You give great lunch special.”
“You should try my bedtime special sometime.”
“Oh, no. That would be waaaay too fattening for sure.” Playfully, he tugged at her hair. An old gesture.
And an entirely new meaning.
He was enjoying her company. Affection burst through her, and relief. But she didn’t want to push. She’d have to do this in layers with him, so she dipped into the bag for a few chips, then moved to the door. “Don’t work too hard.”
“Whoa there, Tiger. Hold up.”
Slowly, she turned back. His hair was still wild, his sleeves still shoved up, but he no longer looked so frustrated.
Still sexy though. Still very sexy.
“That’s it?” he asked. “You came just to corrupt me with food?”
“What else would you like?” she asked softly.
He let out a low breath and pushed to his feet. Stopping a hairbreadth away, he shook his head. “Actually, I don’t have a clue.”
“That’s okay.” She smiled as her heart tightened just a little. “Maybe it’ll come to you.”
He stroked a finger over her jaw. “Maybe.”
She felt like turning her cheek into his touch. Or stepping closer to his body. She forced herself to remain still. “See ya,” she whispered.
His mouth quirked. His dimple made another appearance. “See ya.”
The official news came at the end of the week. In compliance with the fire department, the warehouse fire had been ruled an accident by the insurance company.
To celebrate, Summer took her mother to lunch at an old favorite, the Blues Café, where the music was excellent, the food more excellent, and it was impossible not to relax.
When they were done, her mom hugged Summer tight. There on the warm sidewalk with the scent of the ocean all around them and the welcoming feel of her mom’s arms around her, she thought this wasn’t a bad place to be at all.
“That was a lovely good-bye lunch,” her mom said when she pulled back. “Thank you.”
Summer blinked. “Good-bye?”
“Well, we have a ruling now, right? The report is just a formality, and due any day.”
Ah, she got it. With the report, she was free to go. And she couldn’t wait. Really, she couldn’t. But her thoughts raced as they walked along the noisy, crowded sidewalk. Before they got in the car, she grabbed her mom’s hand. “Mom? I need to say something.”
She smiled softly. “I already know.”
“You do?”
“Yes. You love me.”
“Yes, I do, very much, but that’s not what I was going to say.” Summer sucked in a big breath. “I’m sorry I left the way I did all those years ago, that I wasn’t there for you… I’m sorry I disappointed you.”
Her mother put a hand to her heart and shook her head. “I don’t want you to be sorry—”
“But I am. I’m so damned sorry, Mom.”
“Oh, Summer. Do you think I don’t see how hard you’re trying to love it here?” She hugged Summer again. “And I love it that it matters so much to you to be with me. But you’ve already given me nearly three weeks. I’m sure you’re dying to get out of here.”
“I have a few more days.”
“Honey.”
“No really. I’m taking a customer and a group of her friends on a day hike tomorrow.” And she was looking forward to it, she really was.
Her mom smiled, though suddenly it seemed strained. “That’s lovely.” She cupped Summer’s face. “You know we’re going to be fine, you and me, when you go.”
But were they? Or would they revert back to not really knowing each other at all? “I just want you to understand why I’m leaving this time. That I’m not running anymore. That I’ll be back, really back.”
“I do.”
But was knowing enough? Summer didn’t know that either.
Two nights later, Summer was at the new Creative Interiors II, helping the last customer of the day before closing. It was her last time at the register.
She was leaving tomorrow morning.
She’d led a few hikes, she’d gone out kayaking with Chloe, and she actually almost wished she had more time to keep exploring her old haunts.
But tomorrow she’d drive to her small studio apartment in San Francisco. She had a plane ticket for two days from now, to Colorado, where she’d immerse herself in the river rafting season, and not think too much about what she’d left behind: her mom, her family.
Joe.
He’d come by earlier, with a copy of the fire report.
He hadn’t said good-bye, and neither had she.
And now she faced her last evening. Alone.
She knew that everyone often hung out at Tooley’s Bar and Grill after work.
Normally the bar scene was not her thing, but tonight she thought she could use it.
“What are you doing after work?” she asked Chloe.
Chloe’s grin said it all. “Guess.”
Summer’s gaze cut to the very gorgeous but very silent Braden on the other side of the shop, behind the counter, fingers clicking at the speed of light over his laptop keyboard. “He asked you out?”
“Does it matter who asked who?”
She thought of how she’d kissed Joe on the beach and had to admit that no, it didn’t matter who started the asking. “He’s so quiet. Do you two ever talk?”
“Maybe I’m not looking for talk.”
“Yeah.” There was something greatly unfair about Chloe getting lucky while she was not, despite her best efforts. “Maybe you could jump him another time.”
“Why?”
Because it’s my last night. But Chloe already knew that, and Summer was getting tired of pushing herself on absolutely everyone. “No real reason.”
“Well, then, not a chance.”
“Right.” Out of sheer desperation, Summer approached Diana and Madeline.
They were planning to go to some college party, and though they were actually pleasant—and Diana gave Summer a glowing horoscope for once—they didn’t invite her to come along as they vanished out the door smelling like forbidden cigarettes and trouble waiting to happen.
With no customers left, Chloe was chomping at the bit to go home and get ready for her hot date with Braden, so Summer gave up and shooed her off as well.
As she did, Stella came through from the back with her purse.
“I don’t see why you won’t let Gregg and me close up for you on your last night in town,” she said to Summer.
“That’s okay.” If she left now, her big evening alone would start even earlier. “I’ve got it covered.”
“All right. Gregg!” she yelled down the stairs to the employee break room. “He’s so particular about the routine,” she said to Summer. “He likes to make sure everything is closed up just right. You should have seen him when we had our own store.”
“You had a store?”
“Oh, yes. And it was beautiful,” Stella said with soft pride. “But then we—”
“You’re not boring Summer with our life story, are you, Stel?” Gregg asked as he came into the room. He hooked an arm around his wife and hugged her, then smiled at Summer. “See ya on the next trip home, Cookie. A couple of years maybe?”
“Not so long this time.”
“Okay.”