They strolled along and chatted, their steps in sync.Casually chatted. Like casual friends. Everything was going to be just fine.
When they got to the wharf, Jillian and Jackie came bustling up to them. Well, maybe notperfectlyfine.
“Good evening, ladies,” Rob welcomed them with a friendly smile.
“Well, Rob and Evelyn. I didn’t know you two were dating. Did you know that, Jackie?” Jillian asked.
“No, no… we’re not dating. Just going to dinner at Jimmy’s,” she quickly assured them.
“Really. You Parker women are always insisting that going to dinner isn’t dating. Livy said that about Austin and look at them now.” Jackie grinned knowingly and nudged her sister. “They’re engaged.”
“No—it’s just dinner,” she insisted again, then glanced over at Rob, who looked amused. “Just dinner,” she repeated.
“Whatever you say, dear.” Jillian shared a conspiratorial glance with her twin. “Have a good time at…dinner.”
“Thank you, we will.” Rob winked at them and they both beamed in return.
“Don’t encourage them,” Evelyn said as they continued down the wharf. “They’ll be spreading rumors all over town. You said this was only dinner.”
“And it is,” Rob said, his eyes twinkling.
She looked ahead of them and saw her mother and Ted headed toward them. Her mother waved. Was everyone in Moonbeam at the wharf tonight?
“Hello, Mother,” she said as they got closer.
“Hello, Evelyn.” Her mother eyed Rob. “And this is?”
“Rob, this is my mother, Patricia Beale. And this is Ted Cabot.”
“Nice to meet you.” Rob gave them a friendly smile.
“I didn’t know you were dating someone, Evelyn.” Her mother’s voice held a slight accusation at being surprised. Like she hadn’t been included on the inside track.
“Oh.” She pointed back and forth between herself and Rob. “We’re not dating. We’re just going for dinner.” Couldn’t people eat a simple meal together without the whole town jumping to conclusions?
Her mother ran her gaze up and down Rob, obviously sizing him up. Just great.
She was way more nervous about them meeting Rob than he seemed about meeting them.Why was she nervous? She was just having dinner with him!
“Yes, we’re headed to Jimmy’s for dinner,” Rob said.
Please don’t ask them to join us.She sent her pleading thought winging toward him. Smashing toward him.Please don’t.
“Ah, we had an early dinner at Portside Grill,” Ted said.
Relief swept through her. They’d already eaten. Perfect. She was certain she wasn’t up to a dinner with the four of them.
“And guess who we saw there? Darren. He was positivelyrudeto me.” Her mother frowned.
“I’m sorry, Mother.” Though why she was apologizing for Darren anymore was beyond her. An automatic reflex, she guessed.
“And that woman was with him. The man has no shame.”
“Mom, we’re divorced. He can date who he pleases.” And live with whoever he pleases, for that matter. Even the woman he left her for.
“Still, it’s just… wrong. And she’s like half his age.” Her mother shook her head.
“We really should get going.” She interrupted her mother’s tirade about Darren. He was the last person she wanted to think about tonight.
