“Because…”She sighed.“Because I wanthimto ask me out. But I don’t think he will because we already discussed not dating. We’re just being…friendly.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”Heather scowled.“Ask him. The next time you see him. Promise me.”
“Maybe.”She refused to commit.“I really should go now. Aunt Evelyn needs me at the cafe. We have so much to do before tomorrow.”
“Here, I’ll walk out with you. I’m glad we at least got a little time together.”Heather took her last swallow and rose.
They headed down the wharf, passing just a few people in the early morning hours. Other coffee drinkers, most likely.
Heather grabbed her elbow.“Don’t look now, but the twins are approaching.”
Olivia looked left and right for a way to escape, but they were too far from any of the cut-throughs to the back walkways.“Just what I don’t need.”
The twins bustled up to them.“Hello, Parker girls. How are you doing on this lovely morning?”
“Just fine. In a bit of a hurry though.”Maybe she could cut them off at the pass.
“And how is that handsome Austin doing? He’s a mighty fine catch, you know,”one of the twins said. Would she ever be able to tell them apart?
“I haven’tcaughthim. We’re not even dating,”she insisted.
“You went to dinner. That’s a date.”Both twins nodded vigorously.
Why was she even bothering to argue with them?“We’ve got to run. Have the cafe grand opening tomorrow.”
“We’re so excited about Parker’s Cafe opening.”
“Sea Glass Cafe,”she corrected them.
“Right. We’ll be there.”
“For sure.”The twins seemed to finish each other’s thoughts.
“Uh, great. I guess I’ll see you there.”She grasped Heather’s elbow to hurry her along.
Heather laughed as they got a short distance from the Jenkins sisters.“You’ll never convince them you’re not dating Austin, so go ahead and ask him out.”
“I only have time to worry about the cafe now,”she insisted. Although she was a bit tempted to ask him out. Maybe. Because both Heather and Emily had said she should date him. She shook her head, cleared her thoughts.
The cafe. The opening. Nothing else mattered right now. Certainly not her dating life.
Chapter 17
Barry stood with Delbert in the lobby of The Cabot, waiting for Donna to show up for their dinner date.
“You’ve done a great job with helping get The Cabot remodeled and up and running,”Delbert said.“Everything is moving along smoothly now.”
“It seems to be. I have to admit, this was one of my favorite jobs.”
“Glad to hear that.”Delbert gave him a warm smile.“I admit, I’ll miss having you around all the time.”
Yes, there was that. The job was almost finished now, and it would be time to move on…
He had liked working for Del. The job had its challenges and mix-ups, but overall things had gone well. The Cabot was a remarkable, charming hotel now, restored to her former glory with necessary updates.
“Good evening, Delbert.”
They both turned at the sound of Camille’s voice. She stood grasping the arm of Senator Miller, who looked a bit shocked. As if stunned to have such a beautiful woman on his arm.
