Chapter 8
Eight
Monday afternoon, Liv heard the door chimes and checked the clock on her computer screen.
She had an appointment with Misty and Evan Walker, who wanted their twin daughters’ graduation party catered.
Even though their appointment wasn’t for another fifteen minutes, she expected to see them when she turned around.
After all, some people simply preferred to arrive early.
Instead, she found Emma standing there holding an enormous arrangement of flowers.
“Hey, stranger,” Emma greeted her, placing the vase smack-dab in the center of the conference table.
Although they’d discussed getting together over the weekend, it hadn’t happened.
“I have a special delivery for you.” Emma pulled out a chair and made herself comfortable.
“For me?”
“Unless you know another Liv Middleton who works at Ocean View Catering.”
She could only think of one person who could’ve sent them.
This is going to be fun.
Coming around the desk, Liv prepared herself for the interrogation she was about to get.
Why couldn’t they have more than one florist in town?
“Mom took the order this morning.”
Liv opened the card nestled among the flowers.
I wanted you to know I’m thinking about you. Matt
“Are they from who I think they are?” Emma asked, leaning forward.
There was no point in lying. Emma knew the only person who ever sent her flowers was Owen on her birthday. He sent flowers to their mom and their sister as well. But today wasn’t Liv’s birthday.
“Yes, they’re from Matt.”
“I knew it. I knew he wasn’t hanging out with you because he didn’t know anyone else in town.” Emma bounced in her seat as she rubbed her hands together. “Details. I want details. All. The details. Don’t leave anything out.”
Liv shrugged and checked her watch. Why couldn’t clients arrive early when you needed them to? “We’ve just been spending time together, Emma. There isn’t anything to tell.”
“Come on, Liv. You can share more than that. It’s not like I’m asking you to tell me if he’s good in bed.
Although, with a body like that, he must be,” Emma said, picking up a folder and fanning herself with it.
“I could watch that scene in One Last Heist when he gets out of the shower all day long.”
You and me both.
“Emma, we—”
The door chimed, and the Walkers entered.
Saved by the bell.
Emma stood and pushed in her chair before turning to the couple. “I can’t believe Shea and Tatum graduated this year. I remember babysitting them.”
Emma’s parents lived next door to the Walkers, and from about the age of sixteen, she’d spent almost every Friday night watching the two girls until she graduated from high school.
“Trust me. Neither can we,” Misty replied.
“Liv, I’ll stop back later,” Emma said before heading out the door.
She’d known this appointment would only be a short respite from sharing enough with Emma to satisfy her curiosity.
Liv moved the vase to her desk and grabbed her notebook and laptop.
“Those are gorgeous. Whoever sent them has great taste.” Misty gestured toward the flowers.
She heard the unasked question in her former high school history teacher’s voice. Misty wanted to know who’d sent them, because it wasn’t a secret that Liv was single and had been for a long time. A downside of living in a small town was that everyone usually knew everyone else’s business.
“I agree.” Liv liked Misty but wasn’t going to share anything personal with her. “When you called, you said you were thinking of having sandwich platters and an assortment of salads for the party. Is that still the plan?”
Misty nodded. “We also want a dessert buffet.”
She handed Misty the binder that listed all the sandwich and salad options they offered. “I’ll grab the dessert information for you.”
Forty minutes later, Liv had a signed contract, deposit, and completed menu in hand. “If you think of anything you want to add or change, call me.”
“What is the latest we can make changes?” Misty asked.
The party was scheduled for the last Friday in July. Since they would only be responsible for delivering the food, she didn’t need to schedule her usual serving crew. “The sooner the better, but no later than July 15.”
Misty wrote the date on her copy of the contract and then added it to the folder Liv had given her, which contained copies of all the details they’d agreed upon. “Sounds great. Thank you.”
Liv watched the couple leave and then gathered up her things. She didn’t make it back to her desk before the door opened again.
When she glanced over her shoulder, she wasn’t surprised to see Emma walking inside. “Were you watching for them to leave?”
“No, but I was adjusting the window display and looked up just as they walked out.”
“Convenient.”
Emma tried to maintain a neutral expression but failed. “What can I say? I’m curious. A superhot rock star slash actor who, according to the media, is also a super-nice guy, is sending my best friend flowers and inviting her over to his house for pizza.”
When she put it that way, she’d be curious too if the tables were reversed.
Plus, maybe talking with Emma would help her sort out what was going on between her and Matt.
All the signs pointed to a developing relationship.
If he’d been someone she’d met through a dating app or someone who’d lived in town year-round, she wouldn’t question it. But this was Matt Sherbrooke.
The man had fans around the world. He’d dated women like Jasmine Locke, his love interest in One Last Heist, and Milan Novak, one of the most sought-after runway models in the world.
Why would he be interested in a woman who ran a catering business and occasionally waited tables at her family’s restaurant?
And even if he was, a relationship between them couldn’t last. Her life was in Orchard Harbor, a place he visited once or twice a year.
“So, what’s up between the two of you? Most men don’t send flowers to a woman because they’re bored.”
“This is actually the second time he’s given me flowers. Thursday night, when I cooked for him, he brought me some too.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
At least this was an easy question to answer. “I knew you’d be disappointed if you found out he went into the shop when you weren’t there.”
“Somehow I doubt that’s the only reason you didn’t tell me.” Emma took a sip from the iced coffee she’d brought with her. “But back to my original question. What’s up between you two? Are you and Matt officially a couple?”
Liv retrieved her water bottle from her desk and then sat. “You make it sound like we’re in middle school.”
“Come on, you know what I mean, Liv.”
Yeah, she did, but giving Emma a hard time was too much fun. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”
“How can you not be sure?”
“It’s not like we’re in sixth grade and he passed me a note asking me to be his girlfriend.”
“Fair enough. But there are usually signs. I’d say that right there is one.” Emma gestured toward the flowers. “Have you seen him since Thursday night?”
“Just Friday night. He spent the weekend with a cousin in Providence. He planned to come back today.”
“You saw him three days in a row. Sounds promising. Did you hear from him while he was in Providence?”
“I covered Maggie’s shift Saturday night, and he called about ten minutes before it started, so we didn’t talk for long. Yesterday we exchanged some text messages, but they weren’t earth-shattering.”
“Liv, how can you possibly wonder if he’s interested in being more than a friend?
Three months ago, if I’d told you Brian and I had gotten together three nights in a row, that he’d called while visiting his family, and then sent me flowers, what would you tell me if I told you I wasn’t sure what was going on between us? ”
Liv shrugged. “That the two of you were in a relationship, or at least headed in that direction.”
“Exactly, so why are you wondering about the status of you and Matt? It’s obvious to me, and if you ask Phoebe, she’ll agree.”
“Brian also lives twenty minutes away and spends his days writing computer code. Matt has fans around the world and dates supermodels. Not to mention, he lives more than a thousand miles away and only comes to town once or twice a year.”
“Just because he’s dated supermodels doesn’t mean he can’t be interested in you. As for him living so far away, he’s here now. Maybe he’ll decide to stay.”
“I guess.” He owned a beautiful home in town, so he obviously liked Orchard Harbor. But that didn’t mean he liked the area enough to call it home. “Speaking of Brian, how are you two doing?” At least for now, she was done talking about her and Matt.
“Great. Sunday, I went with him to his aunt and uncle’s fortieth wedding anniversary. I think I met just about his entire family. And his sister and sister-in-law were much friendlier this time.”
She was glad to hear things were going so well. Emma’s last boyfriend had turned out to be a two-timing jerk, and it had taken Emma a long time before she started dating again.
“And you’ll never guess who was at the party.”
Maybe it was because they’d spent so much time talking about Matt, but Eclipse’s bassist was the first person to come to mind. “Jordan Mead?”
“I wish. No, Fredrick.”
“As in Fredrick Waldman?”
Emma nodded. “Yep. He’s dating Brian’s cousin.” She made air quotes when she said “dating.” “Considering I saw him hitting on another woman at the party, I don’t know how long it will last.”
“Why am I not surprised he did that?” The man was more of a creep than she’d thought. “That reminds me, I didn’t tell you. I found out who’s buying the building.”
She’d shared that her family’s offer hadn’t been accepted right after she found out. However, she’d never told Emma they didn’t have to worry that Timberlane Development or another company like it would tear down the building and replace it with a hotel or condos.
“Matt.”