“Sure.”
“I used to hate the winter here so bad that I’m afraid I’ll go nuts having to do another one.”
Sierra laughed. “That’s my favorite time of year, even though business is a lot slower. It’s my rest-and-recharge season. I light the fire, make soup in the Crock-Pot and spend entire days in my pajamas. It’s delightful.”
“That sounds very relaxing.”
“It is.”
“Do you ever get bored?”
“Nah, there’s always someone inviting everyone to do something. People do dinner parties with friends they don’t have time to see in the summer. There’re birthday parties, nights at the Beachcomber, Christmas parties. I rarely spend more than a day completely alone before someone pops up to ask me to hang out. I absolutely love autumn, winter and spring here—much more than summer, when we’re straight-out seven days a week. That gets old real quick.”
“I’ll bet it does.”
“We’re very thankful for the people who come here to vacation and spend their money. They keep us in business. But some of them are a bit extra. We’ve all seen enough of them by Labor Day. Don’t quote me on that, though.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
As they approached her place, she wished the walk had been longer.
“Can I make a confession?” he asked as he eyed the studio.
“Of course.”
“I’ve never had a massage.”
“What? Never?”
“Nope.”
“Oh my God. You don’t know what you’re missing. You have to come in. I want to be your first.”
He laughed. “I might just take you up on that.”
“You should. It’s the most relaxing thing you can imagine.”
“I’m not so sure that having your hands all over me would be relaxing.”
Sierra nearly swallowed her tongue. What the hell did she say to that?
His low chuckle had her looking up at him to find him watching her with dark eyes filled with amusement and something else not as easily identified. “Sorry. I don’t mean to embarrass you.”
“I think you quite enjoy embarrassing me.”
“When are you going to have dinner with me?”
“When do you want me to have dinner with you?”
“How about tomorrow night? I’ll make a reservation at Stephanie’s. I hear that’s good, and I haven’t been there yet.”
She pulled the coat she’d never bothered to zip closed against the stiff breeze coming off the water. “It’s very good, but you don’t need a reservation anywhere this time of year.”
“I’d hate to leave anything to chance for such an important engagement.”
“You’re kinda making my head spin with all your pretty words.”
“Am I?”
