Chapter Sixteen
Jax refused to be the typical cliché of a woman who didn’t know what to wear on a date. She already had on white capris, which
seemed suitable for any date-worthy venue. She changed her The Painted Lady work T-shirt for a pretty print blouse, touched up her makeup and declared herself ready.
“See? That was easy and I’m perfectly calm. It’s just a date. I’m fine.”
She was also talking to herself, so maybe less fine and more nervous than she wanted to let on, but no one had to know.
She called for Ramon. When he flew over to land on her hand, she smiled at him. “Are you ready for dinner?”
“I am. You’re late.”
“I’m not late. I’m exactly on time.” Give or take, she thought. “Just so you know, I’m going out to dinner, but I’ll be back
later to tuck you into bed.”
He gave her a little side-eye.
“What? I’m allowed to have a social life. Yes, this is our week together, but I sometimes go out to dinner with friends.”
He turned his back on her, then spoiled the effect of his faux pout by glancing back at her over his shoulder, as if to make sure she noticed.
“Yes, I see you’re expressing displeasure,” she told him. “I’m still going out.”
Once they were in his room, she prepared his dinner, then turned on the small TV mounted on the wall. She put on the Game
Show Network to keep him company, then checked her watch and headed back downstairs.
Despite the fact that it was nearly six thirty on a weekday, the bookstore was busy. People came by after work or before dinner.
Several young families browsed the children’s books. A few tourists were examining the collection of maps and “Things to do”
guides that she kept up front this time of year.
As always, looking around her store gave her a sense of pride. She’d grown up knowing this was where she belonged and that
feeling had never gone away.
“You look nice.”
She held in a shriek as she turned and saw Marcus standing behind her.
“Thank you,” she said, pressing a hand to her chest. “Are you doing the stealth thing on purpose?”
He grinned. “No. Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.”
She could see the big clock on the wall behind him. According to its very large hands, Marcus was six minutes early. A lack
of traffic or a bit of eagerness on his part? She found herself wanting to know which but not wanting to ask. Maybe it was
better to just tell herself he was excited about their date and wasn’t that what every woman wanted to hear?
“Let’s start over,” he said with a smile. “Hi, Jax.”
“Hi.” She took in the dark shirt and dark wash jeans—a change from his usual work uniform of khakis and a polo shirt with
the company logo.
Marcus cleaned up good, she thought happily, aware of how the dark blue shirt brought out the color of his eyes. She’d always known he was a good-looking guy but somehow just now he seemed a little extra handsome in a kind of “take my breath away” moment.
In an effort to distract herself and maybe to ensure she would keep breathing she said, “You never mentioned where we were
going for dinner. Any thoughts?”
His gaze immediately dropped to the floor before he raised his head and looked at her. “That’s an interesting question.”
“Because when you asked me to have dinner with you the concept was more existential than real?”
He grinned. “No, I knew we’d be eating.”
“Good because I didn’t have time for much lunch and I’m starved.”
“It’s more of a location concern,” he began. “Port Palmas is a small town.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Everyone knows everyone else’s business.”
True but why was he bringing that up? Shouldn’t they be talking about the merits of a café on the beach or that little Italian
place out by the . . .
“Well, crap,” she said before she could self-edit. “We’re going out to dinner. Someone we know will see us and blab. Or one
of your women will get upset and threaten me with a steak knife.”
He chuckled. “They’re not my women and no one is going to threaten you with anything, but if they do, I’ll stand between you
and danger.”
“Thank you because a woman scorned and all that.” She thought about the dilemma. “It’s not that I mind people knowing we’re
going out to dinner, it’s more . . .”
“That it’s a first date and we don’t know how it’s going to go and we’d like a little privacy and time before we have to deal
with answering questions.”
Whoa—Marcus was all with the insight. She liked it. “Exactly. So what should we do? Drive to Los Lobos?”
Which was an option but while she liked their northern neighbor well enough, it was kind of a hike and tonight was a work night for her.
“I was thinking we’d go to my place and I’d cook.” He held up both hands. “I want to be clear. I’m not making any moves and
I don’t have any expectations beyond dinner. Nothing’s going to happen that you don’t want to happen.”
Her first thought had been to question his ability to cook but now she was caught up in the weird ramble that had followed.
What on earth was he—
“You mean sex?” she blurted. “That is so not happening. No. We’re not doing that. No way.” She paused and thought maybe she’d put a little too much emphasis on the
point but didn’t know how to walk it back.
Marcus being Marcus only laughed. “You’re saying that’s a no?” he asked, his voice teasing.
She relaxed. “Thanks for not getting mad. I didn’t mean to be quite so firm on the point.”
“Always tell me what you’re thinking, Jax. I want to know and it turns out I’m a bad mind reader.”
“You’re asking a lot,” she said as they started for the front door of the store. “My mind can be a scary place.”
“I think I can handle it.”
He held open the passenger door of his truck. She slid onto the seat. When he was next to her, she said, “I have no idea where
you live. Somehow I don’t see you as a ‘condo by the beach’ kind of guy, but maybe I’m wrong.”
He backed out of the parking space, then headed down the road. “I’m not. I live a few miles outside of town.”
“I look forward to seeing your place.”
They talked about the construction project as they drove east through Port Palmas. In less than ten minutes they’d left the
residential areas behind and were on a two-lane road lined with trees.
“How much land do you have?” she asked.
“About five acres.”
“That’s a lot.”
“It’s mostly wooded. The area around the house is cleared, but the rest of it is left wild.”
“You could raise goats. That would be fun.”
He glanced at her. “Why would I want goats?”
“Because the baby ones are so cute. Have you seen baby goats? They’re adorable. Apparently there are places where you can
do yoga with baby goats. I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“Yoga with goats? Why?”
“Duh. The cuteness factor.”
“Until they pee on you.”
She wanted to say that baby goats would never do that, but bodily functions being what they were, she knew they could and
probably would.
“That would be a problem. I’m sure the classes have a way of dealing with that.”
They turned down a long driveway. About a minute later, she saw a sprawling ranch-style house with a circular drive and a
garage off to the side. The style was eclectic, as if each of the wings had been added in a different era without much thought
to blending in, yet the overall effect was one of sturdiness and welcome. This was a house to be comfortable in, she thought.
One that would weather any storm.
“Great house,” she said when he’d parked out front. “A little big for just you.”
“I agree.”
They went inside. The sun was only now starting to set so light spilled into the house. Overhead were gorgeous wood beams
and while the floor plan wasn’t completely open, she could see into a big farmhouse kitchen and to the giant family room beyond.
She turned in a slow circle, taking it all in. The furniture was comfortable without being showy, the windows were large, the hardwood floors gave her a little ping of envy.
“It feels good,” she told him. “You must be happy here.”
“I am.”
He led the way into the kitchen and motioned for her to take a seat at the big island.
“How long have you lived here?”
“About six years.”
“So you bought it before you got married? That’s unusual.”
“I was looking for a forever home and when I saw this one, I knew it was right for me.” He shrugged. “My ex helped with some
of the renovations.”
She remembered him mentioning she’d been an influencer. “And did videos that she posted.”
“Asking or telling?”
“Am I wrong?”
“Nope.”
He walked over the large range with two ovens and turned on one, then pulled a casserole from the refrigerator. When she saw
the elbow macaroni smothered in cheese sauce, she grinned.
“You made mac and cheese!”
He glanced at her. “Lobster mac and cheese.”
Oh, wow. That was impressive and unexpected. “You’re a bit of a surprise,” she admitted.
“Good.”
He removed a veggie platter from the fridge and set it on the island, then walked to a cupboard and opened it. “Cocktails,
beer or wine?”
“I’m not driving. A cocktail. What can you make?”
“Just about anything but I’m going to make you an Aperol spritz.”
“How very European of you.”
She watched as he collected Aperol, prosecco and club soda, then combined them in a wineglass and added a garnish of sliced orange. After he passed her the drink, he opened a bottle of beer and poured it into a glass, then took a seat next to her at the island.
“Is the color off-putting?” she asked, her voice teasing.
He grinned. “A little. It would be different if we were in Italy.”
“Now that would be a serious first date. I’d like to go someday.”
They touched glasses.
“Ramon holding you back?” he asked.
“Some. It’s not easy to leave him. Plus the store. Maybe when the kids are older I’d be more comfortable trying. My stepdad
keeps telling me he’d be happy to run things for me so I can get away. At some point I’ll take him up on the offer.”
“He sounds like a good guy.”
“He’s the best.” She looked at him. “You know Ryleigh and I are the product of a sperm bank, right?” His blank look had her
smiling. “Apparently not.”
“Your mom really did that?”