Chapter Eight

I agreed to meet Declan on Saturday to house hunt and have lunch with him at Sweet Caroline’s. It probably wasn’t the smartest move. I knew how the tongues would wag, but it was only a matter of time before the rumor mill started now that he and I were back in the area. I was sure the odd coincidence was going to be seen by some as anything but coincidental.

I arrived early. Momma was driving me crazy with her talk of Declan. She couldn’t quit gushing about him. She would have had him over every night had I not talked her out of it. That wasn’t to say there wasn’t a part of me that looked forward to seeing him, but I was doing my best to tell that part it wasn’t a good idea. We had other things to worry about. Like me starting my new job on Monday. Daddy was persuasive. He even sent me an official offer. It was more than generous. I was going to be the CFO. It was a fancier title than I had ever held, though I wasn’t sure how much it counted since Daddy bestowed it upon me. Nepotism was alive and well at Dixon Construction. But at least it was a new position. I didn’t take it from anyone, though I’m sure it would be ruffling some feathers.

I was looking forward to going back to work. I had said goodbye to the financial planning firm I worked for in Philadelphia several weeks ago when I moved back to Indigo Bay. I owed so much to my coworkers and boss there. They had kept me going in the midst of my divorce saga and morning sickness. The women I worked with would bring me crackers every morning and cover for me when I was puking my guts out in the bathroom. It was a rough few months all around. I cried myself to sleep every night curled up in a ball on the couch. I couldn’t sleep in the lonely bed. I felt betrayed beyond anything I could have ever imagined.

But health and happiness were returning. Going back to work was a step in the right direction. And getting my own place.

I grabbed the couch at Sweet Caroline’s. My body appreciated it over the stiff chairs. I smiled as I watched Miss Caroline serve pie and advice. She was like Dear Abby, but better because you got real time answers. I listened to her talk to Florence Taylor, who obviously was desperate to get her boyfriend of ten years to pop the question.

“Honey, you need to go cold turkey. He has strung you out for far too long. We are all talking about it.”

Florence dabbed her eyes.

“You deserve better.” Miss Caroline placed a slice of her award-winning boysenberry pie on the table in front of her.

It was as if everyone around agreed with Miss Caroline. They were nodding and crossing their hearts for the poor soul.

I myself wanted to yell at her to run as far away as she could and never look back. Instead I smiled at Miss Caroline shaking her head and muttering, “Bless her heart.”

I caught Miss Caroline’s eyes. “Well, I’ll be. Look at you. I’ve been hoping I would see you in here. I hear I missed you last time you were in. It seems like yesterday you were in high school.” Miss Caroline focused on my baby bump. “And look at you darlin’, you’re glowing.”

I appreciated that she didn’t make mention of my ex-husband or act like it was anything but a good thing that I was pregnant. “I think it’s the humidity and heat.”

Miss Caroline gave me a wink. “I don’t think so. What can I get you, you sweet young thing?” She was one to talk—for a woman in her fifties, she still looked fantastic. Maybe my momma was right about sea air and humidity being the key to keeping youthful looking skin. And Miss Caroline had a style to her. Her short brown hair with red highlights looked good no matter the weather, and her willowy figure was to be envied.

I bit my lip. “I’m waiting for somebody.”

“It isn’t my son by chance, is it?”

I shook my head. “I haven’t seen Dallas since I got back into town. How is he?”

“Still single.” Her smile held mischief.

“Miss Caroline.”

“I can dream. You two were so cute together.”

I didn’t picture Dallas being too keen on dating me in my condition, and I was definitely not interested in him. He was the boy of every teenage girl’s dream and he knew it. I doubt that attitude of his had changed. I rested my hand on my abdomen. “I already have a man.”

“Sons are the best men to have.”

I nodded in agreement.

“But someone to curl up with at night isn’t a bad thing either.”

She had me smiling. And so did the man that walked our way.

Miss Caroline turned to see who caught my attention. She looked between the two of us as Declan neared. “Looks like you already have someone in mind.”

“We’re friends,” I got out before Declan could hear.

“You keep telling yourself that, honey. I’ll be back to take your order. Declan.” She gave him the once over as she walked away.

Declan tipped his head. “Miss Caroline.” He dropped down next to me once she was out of sight. “Why do I get the feeling she doesn’t like me?”

“Why wouldn’t she?” I refused to divulge any of the conversation that had just taken place.

“Don’t play coy, Miss Dixon, though it is becoming on you.”

I gave him a little nudge. “Dallas and I are ancient history.”

“Sometimes history repeats itself.”

“That never turns out well.”

His gaze intensified. “Are you sure?”

I bit my lip and nodded.

He pulled on a curl. “I won’t argue with you, but sometimes it’s not a bad thing to revisit the past.”

“All I can focus on is the future.”

His lips curled into a smile. “The future it is. Speaking of which, congratulations. Your dad told me the good news.”

“When did you talk to him?”

“Yesterday. I met him on site. They broke ground on the Lawrence building.”

“Oh, yeah. I guess I will need to know these things and get the lingo down.”

“Just remember Redline. We’re the best.”

“We’ll have to see about that. I’ll be going over all our accounts and vendors.” I teased him.

“I guess I know who to suck up to now.”

“Is that what you call what you do?”

“It’s a great sales tactic.”

I laughed at him.

“At least I know I can still make you laugh.” He always had a knack for it.

“Well, I’m starving and we have lots to do.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He picked up a menu on the coffee table in front of us.

I already knew what I was ordering. “Where do you want to focus today? I’ve mapped out Charleston and Indigo Bay based on the price range you gave me.”

He kept his eyes on the menu. “What’s your opinion? Where do you think you’ll end up now that you’re working for your dad?”

“All that counts is your opinion. It’s your place.”

“Of course your opinion matters, that’s why I asked you to help me.”

“They both have advantages, but honestly, the Charleston area is probably a better investment.”

He set down his menu and turned so he was facing me. “You sound disappointed by that.”

“It’s silly, but there’s this red bungalow near the pier that I’ve kind of fallen in love with, but it’s more than I wanted to spend and it’s impractical.”

“Have you made an offer, tried to talk them down?”

“I haven’t even gone to look at it because I’m afraid if I do I’ll fall head over heels for it and it will cloud my judgment.”

He pressed his lips together and thought for a moment. “That house is our first stop today.”

“Declan, I’m trying to be sensible.”

“What happened to the girl that was always first to go off the high-dive or sneak out to swim in the ocean in the middle of the night with her boyfriend who shall go unnamed?”

I did my best not to smile or remember those hot summer nights I never wanted to end spent in his arms under a blanket of water. “She had to grow up.”

His eyes roved over me from my head all the way down my long legs and back up until his eyes engaged mine. “I can see that she grew up, but when I look into her eyes, I see the fearless girl I once knew.”

For an insane moment, I wanted to get lost in his eyes, in him. I wanted to pull him to me and do more than remember how it felt to be in his arms. I wanted to see if he still tasted like mint and honey. I needed and wanted to know if I was still desirable. But my son kicked and I remembered where my focus needed to be. And that I had been tossed aside. I couldn’t be that fearless girl anymore. Too many of my fears had come true. I put some distance between us. “I think I’ll stick to Charleston.” That made the most sense.

His shoulders dropped. “Charleston it is.”

~*~

We toured some new condos by the river, close to where he was already renting an apartment. Declan didn’t seem all that impressed or interested. In each place we toured, I pulled out the drawing Halle had made me of the nursery. I tried to envision the dude ranch themed baby’s room in each place, but I wasn’t feeling it.

“I think I want a yard. I’m tired of living in apartments.” Declan stated as we walked between units.

“Oh. You should have said something.”

“I just did.” He grinned.

“Well, there are a few historic homes for sale nearby, but they’re pricey and you never know what you’re getting into when you go that route. Or we could look more in the suburbs.”

“How about we go look at that bungalow?”

“No.”

“Come on. Maybe I want to buy it.”

“It’s way outside of your price range.”

“I’m a good negotiator.”

“I’ll give you the address and you can go later.”

“Mel, you know you want to.”

“You sound like you’re trying to dare me to sing karaoke with you.”

He laughed. “We made a good Sonny and Cher.”

“We were ridiculous and you sang off key.”

“That’s cold, Mel. And to make up for it, I insist we tour the house by the pier.”

“Are those some of your sales tactics? Blackmail?”

“I like to think of it as a bribe.”

I found myself smiling more when he was around. “That sounds so much better.”

“How’s this? We tour the house and I take you to dinner afterward.”

“You already paid for my lunch.”

“I didn’t realize there was a daily limit.”

I sighed. “I don’t want the heartbreak of loving the house and not being able to have it.”

He took my hand, making us both stand in place. “It’s okay to dream.”

“You don’t know what I’ve been through.”

“Tell me.”

“Declan.” I looked down at our clasped hands. Déjà vu ran through me and did it ever feel good. I pulled away.

He was reluctant to let go.

“We hardly know each other anymore.”

“I want to change that.” There was definite meaning behind those words and his smoldering look.

“You know all I have to offer is friendship, right?” I looked down at my growing midsection.

“I’ll take whatever you can give me.”

Why did I feel like I wanted to give him my heart?