Until Then (Cape Harbor #2) - Heidi McLaughlin Page 0,98
of each, please.”
Rennie went to tell him she didn’t like people ordering for her, when she finally read the menu. They only served two flavors: lavender and lavender with honey.
“Lavender ice cream?” She wasn’t really asking Graham or the young woman behind the counter, but both of them laughed and said yes. “I really feel like I’m in an alternate universe here.”
Graham paid and took their two dishes over to the small white wrought iron table-and-chair set. “Dig in.” He pushed the cup of ice cream toward her.
Her first bite was small, enough to whet her palate. She let the ice cream rest on her tongue before she swallowed. “Okay, it’s good, but . . .” She couldn’t find the right word.
“Floral tasting, like you’re eating flowers?”
She pointed her spoon at him. “Yes, that’s it. I do like it, though. Can I try yours?”
Graham pushed his spoon into his cream-colored ice cream and scooped some out. He held his spoon near Rennie’s mouth. She kept her eyes on him as she wrapped her lips around the plasticware until the ice cream touched her taste buds. “Mmm.”
“You like?” Graham asked.
“So good. Definitely my preference of the two.”
Without hesitation, Graham swapped their cups. The act seemed so innocent yet stuck out profoundly for her. She didn’t have to ask; he just did it, because that was how good of a man he was.
“We can share,” she told him and pushed her cup to the middle of the table. She was all set to start eating, when Graham held his spoon out again. This time, both flavors sat there. “Seriously?” She leaned forward and took the offering. She smiled and covered her mouth. “You know what would be even better?”
“Chocolate,” he said.
She pointed her spoon at him and nodded. “Yes. You know me so well.”
Graham didn’t reply, but he winked. And sometimes a wink meant more than anything.
TWENTY-FOUR
After they stopped for ice cream, Graham and Rennie strolled the streets, going into boutiques, where Graham became the catchall for their bags while Rennie shopped. They laughed at the whimsical names for the coffee shops and delis, such as the Bait Shop, which promised the best fish and chips for miles. Considering the town they were in was only one square mile, Graham and Rennie found the claim humorous. Graham told Rennie everything he knew about Friday Harbor and San Juan Island, which mostly boiled down to “When we come back this summer.” He really wanted to take her to see the lavender fields. To him, they rivaled Skagit Valley’s tulip festival.
By the time they arrived back on the boat, they were both exhausted. Rennie took her books down to her room and hollered over her shoulder that she was going to take a nap. The idea of a nap sounded like a good idea to Graham. He waited for her door to shut before he decided what to do, but she left it open—his thoughts started to run rampant. He was back to playing the what-if game.
All throughout the day, they’d flirted with each other, and it felt good. For the first time in forever, Graham felt a deeper connection with her. They were a cohesive unit, always aware of where the other person was, thoughtful, and flirtatious, and she made him feel desirable by the way she would lean into him, stroke his arm, and always look at him with parted lips, which was a tell for her. Rennie didn’t have to be a casual hookup; they could build a strong relationship. Of course, she had said she wanted financial independence and didn’t want children—but if he was being honest with himself, having children was an idea his mother planted and not one he had ever really considered. Otherwise, he could be the right man for Rennie. He loved the idea of her working in the bar with him, and he could easily return the favor if she needed the work.
Work.
For the past few days he had forgotten about the possibility of someone suing him. He had a sudden urge to know more and made his way down the small flight of stairs and into Rennie’s room. He knocked once, even though the door was open, and found her lying on her side, flipping through a book.
“Hey,” she said as he entered. Graham sat on the bed and mirrored her position.
“Can we talk work for a minute? I know you’re on vacation, but I’m curious about a couple of things.”