Chapter 16
16
“Is there a reason why you’re suggesting we need to do something, just because we kissed in public, Saint?”
Saint could tell by Zara’s expression she hadn’t fully grasped the magnitude of what he’d said or what they’d done. Her statement confirmed it. When they’d reached the cottage, she’d suggested coffee and he’d agreed. Now she was sitting on the sofa and he’d eased into the wingback chair across from her.
It was getting late, not quite ten o’clock. When they’d left, the party was still in full swing. Because Jaye and Velvet had reserved all twenty guest rooms at Shelby by the Sea for their guests, Saint had a feeling the party would be going on way past midnight.
Now to address Zara’s question. “Yes, there is a reason. Our open display of affection will cause tongues to wag.”
Zara rolled her eyes. “Like I care. I’m a grown-ass woman and although I’d preferred keeping our affair private, I don’t answer to anyone other than myself, and how I live my life—and with whom—is nobody’s business.”
“Kissing the way we did is a whole new ball game and has nothing to do with anyone getting into our business. Now it’s a question of respect. I refuse to let anyone sully your good name just because of what we did.”
She rolled her eyes again. “We kissed, Saint, not stripped naked and made love in front of everyone. No harm done. And as far as anyone sullying my good name, then let them. I don’t live in the cove, so it doesn’t matter what people think of me.”
“But I do live here, and I care what they think of you, Zara. I also care about what they think of me.”
She held his gaze as if considering his words. “You’re right, Saint. You’re well-liked in the cove and the last thing I want is anyone thinking you’re no longer a nice guy.”
“It’s not that they’d think I’m no longer a nice guy, Zara. They will assume my values have changed. Like I told you, I’ve never just dated a woman for the hell of it. For me to openly kiss one the way I did tonight, they would assume she meant something to me.”
She placed her coffee cup on the table and met his gaze. “Okay, Mr. Problem Solver, what do you suggest we do for damage control?”
He set his coffee cup down as well and leaned forward with his elbows resting on his thighs to make sure he had her absolute attention. “I suggest we fake an affair.”
Fake an affair? He had to be kidding. “You’re joking, right?”
“No, I’m not joking, and the more I think about it, the more I like the idea.”
“Why?” She couldn’t wait to hear his answer because she thought the idea was ridiculous.
He smiled. “For starters, it will baffle those who saw us together tonight. Especially those busybodies who have been trying to keep tabs on me since I returned.”
“What kind of tabs?”
After taking a sip of his coffee, he said, “Trying to figure out which of the women who’ve been trying to wear down my resistance will succeed. I understand there are some who have compiled a list. You weren’t on the list yet. After tonight it will appear you’re the one I’ve chosen. Most are wondering when, where and how, since other than that one time we ate breakfast together at the Witherspoon Café, we haven’t been seen together.”
She knew that was true. They spent most of their time here in the cottage, mainly in the bedroom. Few people knew they were hookup partners. She hadn’t told anyone other than those she considered as close friends. Vaughn didn’t even know. She couldn’t help but wonder what he thought about her and Saint’s open display of affection. He wouldn’t say anything to her about it, but still, he had to be wondering about what was going on between them. If he’d suspected anything before, he definitely knew it now.
When she remained silent, he continued, “Hooking up with you was working fine for me. Although we weren’t sneaking around, we were keeping things private and between us, and we had every right to do so.”
Zara met Saint’s gaze and sighed deeply. “It’s no longer private and between us, is it?”
“No. I think we both knew dancing together would raise a few brows. Sexual chemistry between two people who’d never had contact before is not unheard-of. However, the way we danced, with clear familiarity, topped off by that kiss, was a strong indication we’re sleeping together.”
She took a minute as she absorbed what he’d said. He had tried to keep things under control with that dance and had even tried keeping a decent amount of space between them. But her body had wanted a connection with his even with their clothes on. He’d whispered for her to behave but she’d been naughty anyway.
That physical contact hadn’t been enough. Desire for more had rocked through her veins. She’d been the one to rise up on her toes and plant a kiss on his lips. Of course, he’d kissed her back.
“Tonight was all my fault,” she said, disgusted with herself because even with this turn of events, she still didn’t regret kissing him.
“It wasn’t your fault. I was a willing participant.”
“But I’m the one who initiated the kiss and kept intentionally pressing my body against yours. I got us in this mess, and I’ll do what’s needed to get us out. But I’m only going to be here for six weeks, Saint. I’m leaving the day after the Fourth of July. What happens when I return to Boston?”
He shrugged. “For a while people might assume we’ll engage in a long-distance affair. When they discover that’s not the case, they’ll figure things didn’t work out between us and that we ended things.”
She agreed with his logic. “What will a fake affair entail?”
“The same thing we’re doing now. However, you can join me for breakfast or lunch on occasion, and I’ll take you out to dinner, movies and even dancing.”
Zara thought about all he’d said. She didn’t live in Catalina Cove, but he did. What repercussions would her behavior tonight have on him? Just the other day, Sierra had told her how people in the cove liked and respected Saint and considered him a nice guy. She’d also said he wasn’t one to lead a woman on and wouldn’t become involved with one casually. But he was involved with her. She’d made that pretty clear tonight.
In a few weeks, she would be leaving for Boston, returning only on occasion to visit Vaughn, Sierra and Teryn. Would it be so bad for people to think something romantic was going on between them? Who would it hurt? He’d said it would work in his favor, but it would also benefit her as well.
She liked spending time with him. Although she was in town to pack up her things at Zara’s Haven, she had envisioned spending time with him here at the cottage, in private. They would still have opportunities for that; however, by pretending an affair, their time together wouldn’t be limited—they’d be free to go anywhere they wanted.
She would admit that she missed doing things that couples normally did. Mainly going out on dates to dinner and movies. She had no problem doing those things while she was here, and she wanted to do them with Saint.
“Okay.”
He lifted a brow. “Okay?”
“Yes, I’ll go along with your suggestion that we fake an affair.”
It was a six-block walk home from Shelby by the Sea, but Levi Canady didn’t mind. Like he’d told Saint, the ache in his leg was more profound tonight. He’d discovered the best way to overcome the pain was to walk it out. Besides, he liked walking, inhaling the scent of the sea, looking up in the sky and seeing the stars, appreciating how quiet the town was at night. Using his legs made him also appreciate life when he recalled there had been a time when he thought he would lose one of them.
He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as he increased his pace a little. There was no reason to keep Chip waiting. There were times he believed his dog could actually tell time and expected him to walk through the door at a certain hour. If he arrived late, Levi would find Chip pacing the floor, actually looking worried. Whoever said a dog was a man’s best friend knew exactly what they were talking about. Chip was certainly his.
One street away from his home, Levi turned the corner and heard a sound. He slowed his pace, remembering there was an alley between the two houses. He had walked this way many times and never thought much about it. Since Sawyer Grisham took over as sheriff, crime had become almost nonexistent. Although, he would have to say, there was never a time when there had been any real crime in Catalina Cove. And when rare incidents occurred, it was usually outsiders coming to the cove causing trouble. Like a couple years ago when Bryce Witherspoon had gotten kidnapped. Luckily, she’d been rescued unharmed.
He stopped walking when he heard the sound again and recognized a feminine voice calling out in a low tone. “Dad? Dad? Where are you?”
The former cop in him had him moving in that direction. That was when he saw a woman with a flashlight in her hand, scanning the area as if she was looking for something or someone. “May I help you?”
His words made her jump, and she threw her hand to her chest, nearly dropping the flashlight. “You scared me.”
“Sorry,” he said. Fortunately, he was able to make her out in the dark because of the full moon in the clear sky and a nearby streetlamp. He knew most of the people living in Catalina Cove and she didn’t look familiar. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was on my way home and heard a sound and decided to investigate. I couldn’t help it. It’s the ex-cop in me.”
“Oh. I was looking for my father. His cat got out and when I was in the kitchen Dad left to go looking for him.”
“Let me guess. Mr. Chelsey and his cat, Butterball.”
“Yes. You know them?”
Levi barely held back a laugh. “I think everyone living in Catalina Cove does. That means you’re his daughter, Margarita.”
“Yes, I’m Margarita Chelsey Lawson, although most people now just call me Margie. And you are?”
“Levi. Levi Canady. As a teen I would cut the Chelseys’ yard during the summers. I recall they had a daughter, but you were way younger than I was.” If he remembered correctly, she was eight to ten years younger. “I didn’t know you had returned to town.”
“I moved back last month when I retired from my job as a nurse in Dallas. Dad turns eighty-four this year and I wanted to be here to take care of him.” She glanced around. “Now, if I can only find him.”
“Mr. Chelsey usually doesn’t go far in his search for Butterball. I’ll help you look.”
“I hate to cause you any bother.”
“You won’t. I have my dog, Chip, waiting at home for me, but if he needs to go out before I get there, I had one of those doggy doors installed, so he can go in and out whenever he needs to.”
“Well, if you’re sure you don’t mind helping me look.”
He smiled at her. “No, I don’t mind. I’ll be glad to help.”