“Hello there, gentlemen,”the senator said.
“Herbert here insisted we come to dinner at the hotel. He hasn’t seen it since you bought it.”Camille graced the senator with a smile.“I wanted to go to Sarasota, but…well, we like to keep the senator happy, don’t we?”
Actually, Barry didn’t care if the senator was happy or not…Why had he insisted on bringing Camille to Del’s hotel?
“Glad to have you, Senator.”Delbert reached out and shook the man’s hand.“Enjoy your meal.”His voice was steady and cordial.
“Oh, I’m sure we will, won’t we, darling?”Camille actually batted her eyelashes at good old Herbert.
The senator led Camille away, and Barry raised an eyebrow.“That was surprising.”
“What, that she’s dating the senator?”Delbert turned from watching them walking away.
“No, that she’d come here.”He was aware that she’d probably come to flaunt her new man in front of Delbert, even though he was fairly certain Del didn’t care who Camille dated.
“She’s free to go where she wants. With who she wants.”Del shrugged, then frowned.“Though I admit I’d rather she’d pick about anywhere else in the world to dine than one of my hotels.”
Barry laughed.“But then she couldn’t show off her new guy.”
Del glanced in the direction of Camille and the senator.“Maybe he’ll have better luck with dating her than I did.”
Barry didn’t detect one hint of jealousy or regret in Del’s tone of voice. Maybe there was even a bit of relief showing on his face.
“I should go. I have a phone call to make. You enjoy your dinner with Donna.”
“I’m sure I will.”
Donna stoodin the entrance to the dining room at The Cabot Hotel. She’d been tempted to cancel with everything going on with the cafe’s opening, but Olivia had insisted that she still go.
She scanned the tables, looking for Barry.
“Hey, beautiful.”Barry’s voice came from behind her.
She turned to see his welcoming smile. Her heart did a silly school-girl flip. He leaned forward and kissed her quickly on the cheek.“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”She could still feel the warmth of his lips on her cheek after he pulled away. She looked around, wondering if anyone had seen the kiss. Not that she minded. The town was well aware by now that she was seeing him.
“I was afraid you’d cancel with the opening tomorrow.”
“Olivia insisted I come. She and Evelyn will probably be there until who knows how late.”
“I, for one, am glad she insisted.”He gave her another smile that sent her heart doing double beats in her chest.
He took her arm, and they got a table for two by the windows overlooking Moonbeam Bay. She tried not to stare at him. He looked especially handsome tonight in a blue button-down shirt that lit up his sky-blue eyes. She got lost in the tones of his voice while he regaled her of stories of the hotel and the finishing touches on the remodel while they ate their dinner. She so enjoyed spending time with him, talking with him.
“So, would you like to go sit out on the porch for a bit? Watch the sunset?”Barry offered as they finished their meal.
“That sounds lovely.”
They took their wine out to the porch and settled into a rocking loveseat facing the water. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned against him. The rocker slowly swayed back and forward.
“The last of the sunlight hitting the water? It sparkles like diamonds, doesn’t it?”She smiled up at him.
“It does,”he agreed.“Very pretty view here.”
The sun slowly sank lower, and the sparkles faded away. The moment was perfect. Just sitting here watching the beauty before them. They sat quietly watching the evening sky erupt in brilliant colors of the sunset.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”Barry’s voice interrupted the quiet, and he stopped the gentle rocking motion.
