Chapter 4 #2
“It’s not for everyone,” Julie agreed. “I don’t think this is, either. When you’re used to walking out your door and finding everything you need within reach, it’s hard to imagine what it’d be like to be out here all alone all the time.”
They were approaching MacMillan Pier, which Will had access to since he had a commercial vessel.
He took the steering wheel over, missing the closeness they’d had while she’d guided the boat, and pulled it gently into its spot.
“I think you’ll find getting out much easier here.
” He held out a hand to help her over the hull and onto the dock.
“Have you ever been to Provincetown before?”
“I haven’t, but I love it already! All these cute little stores and homes, and everything’s decorated for the holidays. I guess they were working hard with all their garland, too,” she said with a smirk.
“Sorry you got roped into that.”
She looked up into his eyes for a moment. “I didn’t mind a bit.”
“Neither did I.” He felt the intensity growing between them for a moment, but it was quickly tempered as she turned back to their surroundings.
“Oh, just look at that!” She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the window of a toy store.
A little train ran on a track around the base of a small Christmas tree.
A toy plane being flown by Santa was hung from above.
“We might have to stop here on the way back. I haven’t bought anything for Vivian or Elijah yet. ”
“We should check up here at the Holiday Market, too,” he suggested.
They walked on, but he noted that she didn’t let go of his hand.
He sure as hell wasn’t going to do anything to shake her off.
“This area is usually bustling in the summer. It’s a bit calmed down now, but I think I like it better this way. ”
“It’s wonderful.” She had the thrilled look of a woman walking in a winter wonderland as they made their way past a beachfront restaurant that’d been transformed into a cozy café with fire pits and throw blankets.
Will guided her under a small archway to the vendor area.
They’d already been walking slowly to take it all in, but now their steps barely crept along as she stopped to examine the wares at each crafter’s booth.
She marveled over whales hand-carved from driftwood and customized blown glass ornaments.
“I don’t even know how to choose,” she said as they moved on to a booth selling candles. “This isn’t like any craft fair I’ve been to before. Smell this one.”
Floral and vanilla notes greeted his nose, giving him a heady rush. “I like that one a lot. In fact, I think I might just have to buy it.”
“Really?” She took the candle back from him and smelled it again. “It’s not the kind of scent I’d think a guy would want.”
“Maybe not, but it smells like you.” He watched her, rewarded by the look of amazement and flattery she gave him.
They moved on through the market, the bag with the candle bumping his leg.
Will didn’t know why it had to be her. She was nothing like him.
She wasn’t even a shifter, yet there he was, taking her on a romantic boat ride and buying candles.
Julie had gotten under his skin and burrowed all the way down to his bear.
“Are you hungry?” Will asked when they’d looked at all the booths. “There’s a pizza parlor around the corner I used to go to all the time. I wouldn’t mind stopping in.”
“I haven’t had a good slice in a while.” Her hand was once again in his as they crossed the street.
The little place hadn’t changed much. There were still old traffic signs on the walls, mixed with outdated movie posters. The walls had been repainted, but they still had the same old menu up above the counter. “Are you a pineapple-on-pizza person?” he asked.
“I like mine completely loaded with all the olives, peppers, onions, and meats in the world, but not pineapple!” She shook her head emphatically.
“You’re missing out,” he teased.
They ordered individual slices, and he liked seeing that she wasn’t afraid to get hers just as loaded as she’d claimed.
The soda was perfectly fizzy, the music was just loud enough to make their conversation private, and he had the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen sitting across from him at this little table. There was nothing better.
Then he looked over her shoulder. “Ah, shit.”
“What’s wrong?” She glanced down at his pizza.
“Maybe nothing.” He hoped that would be the case, but when his eyes darted across the room again, he knew his instincts had been right.
The Malones were seated just on the other side of the little restaurant, still staring at him.
Will’s bear was on edge, knowing this could only mean trouble.
His stomach dropped when Tony, the oldest, stood and made his way over, his brothers trailing behind.
They fanned out on either side of Tony as they reached Will’s table. “Well, if it isn’t Will Brigham.” Tony punched his fist into his other hand, his head cocked back so that he looked straight down his crooked nose. “I’m surprised you have the balls to show your face around here.”
Will forced his body to stay calm. He couldn’t let them know they were getting to him, and his rapid heartbeat wasn’t making that easy. “Hey, Tony. Good to see you, too.”
“I can’t say the same.” Tony’s face was curled into a sneer as he looked from Will to Julie and back again. “Why are you here, anyway? Not getting enough excitement out on the water? Looking for a fight?”
Julie was frozen, her shoulders hunched around her ears and her mouth a straight line of fear.
Calmly, Will set down what remained of his pizza and looked up at Tony.
There was nothing he wanted more than to come shooting out of his chair and break Tony’s nose the rest of the way.
His bear was on red alert status. These assholes had made Julie uncomfortable, and that was enough to earn them a solid decking as far as Will was concerned.
He already knew he wasn’t Julie’s type. What was he going to do? Underscore it for her?
“We’re just here to eat, Tony. That’s it. We’ll be done soon.”
Clearly, this wasn’t what a jerk like Tony expected. He glanced at both of them again uncertainly. “I don’t want to see you back here.” He turned and walked away.
“What was that all about?” Julie whispered. “Should I call the police?”
“No. Don’t worry about it. Let’s just go ahead and eat.” He forced himself to take a bite, even though everything within him said this was no time to be stuffing his face.
Julie frowned down at her plate. “I think I’m full, actually.”
He could tell her it was fine, but he couldn’t change the way she felt.
“All right. Let’s go.” They cleaned up and left, and Will noticed they were walking much more quickly than they had on their leisurely stroll up Commercial Street.
She wasn’t holding his hand, and the delight of the holidays had left her eyes.
“Did you want to stop in at that toy store?” he asked.
“Um, no. That’s okay. I’m not really sure what I want to get for them yet.” She shook her head and charged onward toward the dock.
Will pulled in a lungful of crisp air and blew it out again.
This little trip had been a great idea in theory, and it’d gone well for a while.
He hadn’t thought about the Malones in a long time, and the bastards had skillfully ruined his date.
They boarded the boat and headed back for the Brigham clanhouse, but the chemistry that he’d been sensing between them had fizzled out.
That little peek into his past had closed her off to him.