7. Chapter Seven #2
“I get the feeling this is your favorite restaurant on the island.”
“It is. But I’m not the only one. It’s a good thing we got here before noon, or we might not have gotten a table.”
“Okay then, we better go inside.” He stepped aside to let her go first.
They passed beneath a black wooden sign with the painted image of a red and white lighthouse and the name, Lighthouse Café, scrolled out in white paint.
When they reached the door, he stepped around her and opened it for her.
It was very sweet of him. She couldn’t remember the last time a guy opened the door for her.
Inside the entryway, he paused to look around at the large bulletin board. She paused and glanced around at the multitude of flyers in all different colors tacked to the board.
Jenna stepped up next to him. “This is where locals come to post things they are selling or rentals that are available. Whatever you have that someone else might want, you post here.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, but I don’t know if I’ll be around long enough to take advantage.”
She was disappointed to hear that. “You just got here, and you’re already planning to leave?”
He shrugged. “I was able to get a six-month lease. After that, I’m not sure.”
“Don’t wait too long to make up your mind, or they’ll lease the place to someone else. Beachfront properties aren’t easy to come by. In fact, I’m surprised you were able to get in.”
“I, uh, have a friend of a friend who was able to hook me up with the unit.”
She wasn’t surprised to hear it. That’s how most of the prime properties on the island were rented or sold. “You must have some pretty good friends.”
He nodded. “I do.”
“Let’s get a table.” Before he could move, she grabbed the inner door and opened it. “Do you have a preference between booth, table, or counter?”
“Not the counter.”
“Agreed. So booth or table?”
“Uh...booth.”
“Good choice.”
They stood next to the sign that read: Wait to be seated. They didn’t have to wait long before the server got to them.
“Hi, Jenna.” Lisa smiled. “Is your usual table all right?”
“Sure.” When she glanced over at Simon, she saw that he was still wearing his ball cap and glasses. “And this is Simon. He’s new to Bluestar.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lisa. Right this way.” Lisa led them to a booth off to the side of the restaurant. “Did you hear about the upcoming storm?”
Jenna nodded. “I hope it’s not bad.”
“Me too.” Once they were seated, Lisa handed each of them a menu. She smiled at Simon. “Are you going to be on the island long?”
Simon hesitated just long enough for Jenna to notice. “At least until the end of the year.”
“By then you’ll be in love with the island just like the rest of us. Wait until you see it lit up for the holidays. It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Lisa’s gaze moved to Jenna. “Do you know what you want to drink?”
“Iced tea for me,” Jenna said.
“The same for me.” Simon opened the menu.
“Before I forget, we’re running a fundraiser for the restoration of the South Pointe Lighthouse. It’s a five-gallon cookie jar. Each entry is five dollars. You just need to guess how many gumballs are in it to win a private dinner at sea for two.”
Jenna had heard about the dinner cruises. They were said to be very romantic. Too bad she didn’t have anyone to share it with.
She scooted around to stare up at the counter where the clear glass jar stood with brightly colored gumballs. “So, how many gumballs do you think are in there?”
Simon shook his head. “I don’t know.”
She turned to look at him and saw he was focused on the menu—with his sunglasses on. “Aren’t you going to take those off?”
“What?”
“Those sunglasses. It’s not that bright in here.”
He glanced around, as though to see if anyone was staring at him. Then he slid the glasses from his face.
She looked at his hat. She didn’t say anything, but he got the unspoken message. Once more he glanced around to see if anyone was looking in their direction. Was he worried that someone had overheard her? Maybe she had overstepped, but she just wanted him to relax.
He took off his cap and put it on the seat next to him. “So, what’s good here?”
“It might be easier to ask what isn’t any good here?”
He leaned back in his seat, looking a little more relaxed. “Okay. What isn’t any good?”
“Well,” she whispered, “I would skip the meatloaf. It can be dry. Other than that everything is delicious.”
“Thanks. I’ll remember that.”
After they ordered a chicken burger and sweet potato fries for her and a fish sandwich with fries for him, Jenna’s attention was drawn back to the jar of gumballs. “How many gumballs are you going to guess are in there?”
“I’m not.”
Her brows scrunched together. “Not what?”
“Going to enter the contest.”
“Why not? It’s for a good cause. And it’s a really nice prize.”
He shook his head. “I’m not entering.”
“But you have to.” When he arched a brow, she continued.
“I mean you don’t have to. It’s just when there’s a need on the island, everyone pulls together to fill that need.
Like last year a friend of mine was in the hospital, and the town pulled together to make sure that her and her family were taken care of.
Now the lighthouse may not be a friend, but it is an iconic landmark of the island.
It has been here longer than me, and hopefully, it’ll be around long after me.
In fact, I’ll probably make a few guesses. ”
“In that case,” he said, “I’m going to guess two thousand three hundred and fifty-one gumballs.”
“Seriously?” She still didn’t have any idea what to guess.
“No. Well, maybe. I’ll have to think about it.”
As they continued to debate the number of gumballs, their food was delivered. Jenna enjoyed lunch, but she didn’t taste what she was eating. Instead, her focus was on the handsome man across the table from her.
She noticed that he would talk, but he never revealed much about himself. Every time she asked him a question, he would give a brief answer that didn’t say much, and then he would turn the conversation around to her.
When lunch ended, it was time to make her best guess about the gumballs—or her best three guesses.
Simon got into the spirit and entered three guesses too.
She knew the chances of either of them winning were slim to none, but that wasn’t the point.
They were helping the community—that was the point.
Once they were out on the sidewalk, she turned to him. “Now what would you like to do?”
He had his cap and sunglasses back on so she wasn’t able to see his eyes. “I really need to get home. I have some stuff I need to take care of.”
She nodded. “Do you mind if we make a quick stop on the way home?”
He shrugged. “Sure.”
She smiled. “Good. It won’t take long. I promise.”
She liked the thought of them spending a little more time together. Simon had so many layers that she felt as though she’d barely pulled back his outer layer.
And then there was that almost-kiss on the beach. It was always there at the edge of her thoughts, teasing and taunting her. What if he had kissed her? Would they still be spending time together? Or would he have regretted his action and stayed clear of her?