8. Ward
8
Ward
I f Penny’s expression was any indication, Ward would be wise to turn and follow Bob Runyard right out the door. But he would not be deterred this time. He wasn’t accustomed to making enemies, especially female enemies—his dad had taught him by example how a man was supposed to treat a woman—but that’s how things felt with the spiky Ms. Anderson.
It was really starting to bother him.
What had he done to put her off so badly? She was the one who’d tromped through his work zone like an oblivious child. Yes, she’d apologized, but she’d acted like his reaction was completely out of line, like it was all his fault for being there in the first place.
He knew he hadn’t been as gracious as he could have been. His father, had he been present at the scene, would not have been proud, he had no doubt. Ms. Hazel Poleman had not been proud, either, and she’d made it very clear to him that he needed to make things right.
Well, he’d apologized, too, for being such a bear to her.
Hadn’t he?
He’d even bought her a coffee when he’d caught up with her that first day.
Granted, she’d thought it was from Juno. But he’d brought it to her with every intention of making peace with her.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked, pretending not to see the pleading look she shot Juno’s way. He didn’t wait for her response, but just slid onto the empty stool beside her and began studying the menu as if he had no clue what he wanted.
Ward ordered the same thing every time he came in, and he wasn’t fooling Juno one bit. “Are you suddenly having a hankering for something other than my pork green chili sandwich? Feeling adventurous today?”
The teasing note in her voice chafed, and he hoped Penny didn’t pick up on it. He was really bad at playing it cool, apparently. When had that happened?
Ward had been kind of a big deal out in the coastal towns of southern California. As captain and commander of his own fleet, his own crew, and his own life, he’d worn that casual air of self-confidence that often came with being a little too young to feel so in control. He had seen and tasted the oft-times elusive fruit of his hard work, though, and he’d quicky acclimated to it.
Now, however, with his future feeling more and more up in the air, he found his confidence slipping away from him, too.
No, he wanted to tell Juno, he was not feeling adventurous today, and he obviously wasn’t doing a very good job of pretending that he was. “Nah. I’ll take the usual.”
“Good man,” Juno said, setting a napkin in front of him and placing a glass of icy water on it.
He cleared his throat and added, “And I’ve got the lady’s drink, too.”
“Excuse me?” Penny swiveled around so aggressively, that she had to grab the edge of the counter to keep from slipping off her stool. For the second time… and both near-tumbles were in response to him trying to be friendly. Was that a good thing? “Um, no, I’ve got my own drink, thank you very much.”
So it was a bad thing.
Ward cocked his head and gave her as gentlemanly a smile as he could manage. Man, she looked pretty today. She had on another one of those flowy sundresses she seemed to favor, and her cheeks were pink from the sunshine. It was probably offense that made her big green eyes shoot off sparks that way, but there was something else in her glare that made him think she wasn’t quite so immune to him as she’d like him to believe. Maybe he was going about this the wrong way.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “That was presumptuous of me. And rude,” he added for good measure.
He’d caught her off guard, it seemed, as she opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again, apparently at a loss for a good comeback. Which surprised him. He’d assumed she would be only too happy to agree with him.
“In fact,” he continued before she could come up with something to say. “It’s not the first time, either. Me being rude, I mean. I’d like to start over. I’d like us to start over,” he clarified. He held out his hand toward her. “Hi. I’m Ward St. James. I’m your neighbor—Hazel Poleman’s neighbor—out on Shoreline Drive. Welcome to Autumn Lake.”
Penny must have been raised right, because although he could see that she was warring with herself, she smiled politely and—hesitantly, to be sure—put her hand in his. “Um, hi.”
He waited for her to say more, but when she didn’t, he nodded and shook her hand gently. “Okay. Hi. I think I can work with that.” Then before he could stop himself, he said it again. “Hi.” Urgh.
From the other side of the counter, Juno made a sound that might have been a laugh, but Ward kept his eyes on Penny. Was it his imagination, or had her cheeks reddened a little more?
“So, how long are you in town?” His jaw was starting to cramp from the effort to keep smiling.
Penny tugged her hand free before he realized he was still shaking it.
He made a self-deprecating grimace. “Oh. Right. That went on a little too long, didn’t it? Sorry.” He needed to stop apologizing now. He picked up his glass and took a swig of his water before returning his attention to her. “So…” Ward dragged the word out, hoping it would prompt her into sharing something about herself. Come on , he silently pleaded. I’m really trying, here.
“Here. Try this,” Juno said, setting a bright red drink, complete with a skewer of mango and strawberry pieces and a yellow paper umbrella, in front of Penny. “Maybe it’ll loosen your tongue a little.”
Penny’s eyes widened, then she muttered under her breath, but not so quietly that she couldn’t be heard, “Wow. Really? Whose side are you on?”
Ward frowned. There were sides?
Juno planted her hands on her hips and glared at them both. “What is it with you two?” she asked. “If you’re going to sit at my bar, you need to kiss and make up. Or take it outside.”
Suddenly, all around them, conversation quieted as people at the crowded counter started to take notice of what was quickly becoming potential fodder for gossip.
“I’m sorry.” Not caring that he was apologizing again, Ward shot Juno a look that he hoped translated to “chill out.”
“It’s okay,” Penny said quickly, quietly, but he could practically feel the mortification radiating off her. “Juno’s right. I’m sorry, too.” She lifted her chin, even though her cheeks were now blazing red, and said, “I’m here for the summer. For the next two months. Nice to officially meet you, Ward.”
“Thank you.” Juno was nothing if not direct. “You two need to figure out how to be friends. I think you’d like each other, and that’s a whole lot better than whatever this is. Was.” To Penny, she said, “And girlie, I’m letting him buy you that drink. He owes you for booting you off Miss Hazel’s property.”
Ward balked. “I did not boot her off the property.”
Penny once again swiveled on her stool with a challenge in her eyes. “Um… yes, Ward St. James, you did. You said I wasn’t supposed to be there, you told me to leave, and then you picked up my bags and loaded them in my car because I wasn’t moving fast enough.”
Ward closed his eyes briefly and shook his head, hating the way it sounded coming out of her mouth. That wasn’t exactly how it had all gone down, but close enough; he’d give her that.
“Hoo-boy,” Juno exclaimed under her breath, shaking her head sympathetically. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, Mr. St. James, if you’re going to make up for that blunder. Our Penny here is one of Miss Hazel’s favorite people.”
“So I’ve been told,” Ward acknowledged. To Penny, he said, “But then, I’m one of her favorite people, too, so that’s something we have in common, at least.”
“Can’t argue there,” Juno quipped.
“Um, don’t you have customers to tend to?” Ward asked her wryly. From the corner of his eye, he saw a smile tug at Penny’s lips.
Juno completely ignored the hint to get lost. “I know how you can start making it up to Miss Penelope, here, Ward,” she said, as she refilled his water glass for him. “What time do you wrap things up this afternoon? You going to be around these parts?”
Penny stiffened beside him and started frantically waving both hands in the air in front of her. “No, Juno. It’s okay. Don’t—”
“Is this the favor you mentioned?” Ward’s gaze moved back and forth between Juno and Penny, who was once again turning bright pink, a color that he was beginning to really like.
“It’s fine, sugar. It’s a small town. We look out for each other.”
“What’s up?” Ward asked, now more curious than ever.
Juno raised her eyebrows at Penny, indicating that she should answer for herself. Then she moved down the bar toward the other end and started chatting with another customer.
Ward was never so glad to see his friend’s back as he was at that moment. Penny remained silent; her gaze fixed on the contents of the glass in front of her. She dipped the skewer of fruit in and out of the iced tea, obviously feeling ill at ease. “Look,” he said. “I didn’t mean to cause all of this…” He broke off, not sure how to describe what had just happened.
“She’s right, though, isn’t she?” Penny said quietly. “I don’t know about you, but this—” She broke off long enough to wave the fruit skewer back and forth between them. “I’m not usually petty or mean. Forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” he began, then stopped when she narrowed her eyes at him.
“Don’t patronize me, Ward. I know I’ve been out of line. I was embarrassed when I messed up your tent—”
Taken aback, Ward interrupted her with a guffaw. “My tent?”
She rolled her eyes. “Sorry. Whatever you call your plastic curtain thing. I was embarrassed for ripping it down, and when I tried to apologize, you were mean to me, so I was mean back. I should have taken the higher ground.”
Ward’s brows shot up. “The higher ground? After you destroyed my—”
Penny giggled. “Gotcha.”
“Oof,” he declared, clutching his heart dramatically. “Too soon. Too soon.” It occurred to him that he might just enjoy getting to know this woman. Alex was right. Ball of fire, yes, indeed.
She took a sip of her drink, not quite meeting his eyes now, almost like she was feeling a little shy after playing him like that. She opened her mouth to speak, shut it, then took another drink and tried again. “Look, I’m cooking dinner tonight for Hazel. We’re eating a little later than usual—around seven—because I’m getting together with friends here in a bit, and I won’t be home until after five. Would you maybe like to join us? Your parents, too, of course.”
Ward’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”
“I mean, if you’re busy, it’s fine. I know it’s super short notice. It—it was just a thought,” she stammered, clearly trying to backpedal in the face of what must seem to her like his reticence.
“Hmm.” He eyed her contemplatively, taking advantage of the opportunity to tease her right back. “What’s on the menu?”
“Really?” she asked, echoing him, but with a whole lot more snark in her tone, and an exaggerated eye roll. “I take back the invite. Hazel and I will dine like queens tonight. Alone.”
Ward burst out laughing and leaned sideways to nudge her shoulder with his. “You’re too quick for me.”
“I have to be quick,” she retorted, but she was grinning back at him. “I teach second graders and let me tell you something. Seven- and eight-year-olds are devious little manipulators. They’re just young enough to make you believe they’re too cute to be naughty, and just old enough to know how to use that cuteness to get away with all kinds of diabolical deeds.”
Ward cocked his head. “Like what?”
“What diabolical deeds?” Penny pondered a moment. “Okay. So one day, we were getting ready for our daily dance party—”
“Daily dance party?” He had to ask.
“Yes,” she said slowly, as though he needed extra time to understand. “Dancing is a great way to get the wigglies out of your system, Mr. St. James. It encourages bonding, even when everyone is doing their own dance moves, it reduces stress and improves self-esteem because it triggers a release of feel-good endorphins, and it gets everyone, teachers included, off their backsides. And it’s fun.”
Ward held up a hand. “You’re the expert. I was just asking.”
“Don’t you forget it, either.” Penny jabbed her fruit skewer at him. A piece of strawberry slipped off the end of it and landed on the counter, just barely missing his arm. “Oops!” she snorted, then used her napkin to scoop up the piece of fruit.
“I leave you two alone for two minutes, and now you’re throwing things at each other?” Juno was back, carrying a plate with Ward’s sandwich. His mouth started watering at the sight of it; he’d been enjoying himself so much that he’d forgotten how hungry he was.
“My fault,” Ward insisted. “I questioned her daily dance parties.”
Juno gave them both a blank stare, but then smiled. “Well, I’m glad to see you two getting along. Did she ask you for a ride yet?”
“Juno!” Penny glared daggers at her. “I don’t need a ride.”
“A ride?” Ward asked, ignoring her objection. “Where to?”
Juno set his plate in front of him and handed him a bottle of his favorite hot sauce. “Are you going to ask him, or shall I do it for you? He’s your neighbor, Penelope Eva Anderson. It’s not like he’d have to go way out of his way, or anything.”
“Yeah,” Ward chimed in. “Especially since we’re having supper together.”
“You’re what?” Juno’s eyes went wide with surprise, but he saw the satisfied glint in them.
Penny covered her face with both hands and shook her head. “Fine.” She lifted her head to shoot lasers through Juno, then turned to him. “Ward, I made the mistake of riding my bike into town. I almost died. I am afraid that if I ride my bike back to Hazel’s, I will definitely die, and then no one will get to eat my famous chicken curry tonight.”
“I see,” he said with exaggerated solemnity. “Wow. A near-death experience.”
“Yes. Very serious stuff.” She took a deep breath and pointed at Juno, who stood on the other side of the counter, her arms crossed, grinning like the Cheshire cat. “Juno here wants me to ask you if you’ll give me and my bike—Hazel’s bike—a ride home this afternoon so that I don’t die. She’d miss me too much.”
Ward couldn’t think of anything he’d like more. Except maybe to make the distance back to The Garden Gate Guesthouse about a hundred times longer.
Then again, the sooner he got her home, the sooner he could go round up his parents and head back over to spend the rest of the evening with her. And Hazel, of course.
“If you’ll tell me more about your daily dance parties, I’ll not only give you a ride home, Miss Penelope Anderson.” He paused momentarily, relishing in the sound of her name as it rolled off his tongue. “I’ll also come over for supper tonight. I’ll even bring my parents, too.”