her napkin over her lap as Zach set her plate in front of her. “And it smells divine.”
He put his own plate down and slid into his chair. “These are all tried-and-true recipes. There shouldn’t be any unpleasant surprises, like the ones my early culinary efforts produced. I have blackberry cobbler for dessert—but I have a feeling chocolate is going to trump my offering.” He folded his hands. “Shall we say a blessing?”
“By all means.” She motioned for him to proceed.
After offering a brief prayer of thanks, he lifted his head to find Stephanie watching him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She picked up her fork. “Just wondering.”
“About what?”
“Your neighbor. She intrigues me.”
That made two of them.
“Why?”
“I don’t know. There’s an aura about her that awakens the motherly instinct in me—not that I’ve had much opportunity to be maternal in my life, so it’s possible I’m misreading the cue.” His aunt speared a piece of salmon. “What do you know about her?”
“Not much. On the few occasions we’ve talked, she’s told me very little about herself.”
“Curious. How long will she be here?”
“Also a tidbit she hasn’t passed on.”
“Well, whatever her story, I like her.”
“How can you tell after such a brief meeting?”
“How long did it take you to like her—or more?” A dimple appeared in his aunt’s cheek as she appraised him.
Dang, she had excellent intuitive abilities.
He concentrated on scooping up a forkful of potatoes as he composed his answer. “I noticed her the first day she came into the shop.”
“And I bet it didn’t take long for the spark of attraction to ignite.”
“Can I plead the Fifth?”
“You can—although the evidence is compelling. I may not have much personal experience with romance, but it’s easy to recognize. And in your case, it’s mutual.”
Also his conclusion—but how had his aunt picked up on it in a handful of minutes?
Whatever her technique, why deny his interest?
“You’re a perceptive woman.”
“Thank you. Reading people was an asset in my business—as I expect it was in your former career. I learned to spot and interpret subtle cues . . . and not-so-subtle cues, in the case of you two. Your body language spoke volumes.”
“I’m not going to dispute your conclusions—but I doubt there’s much future in them. For all I know, Kat could pack up and leave tomorrow.”
“Unless you give her a reason to extend her stay.”
“Hard to do when she goes out of her way to avoid me.”
“Not tonight.”
“But she didn’t linger. Besides, an extended stay doesn’t solve the long-term problem. Eventually she’ll go back to her real life, wherever that is. Getting involved with someone like that is a recipe for heartbreak.”
“Unless both people are willing to consider a few compromises.”
A muscle in his jaw clenched. “I’ve made too many of those already in my life.”
“Mmm.” She cut a green bean in half. “In that case, you could have an impasse.”
“That’s why it would be smarter to walk a wide circle around her.”
“Yet you invited her to dinner.”
“It was your idea.”
“I’ll concede I voiced it first.”
He shifted in his seat. “It was the polite thing to do.”
“Uh-huh.” Stephanie continued to eat, but her tone implied she wasn’t buying his explanation. “She strikes me as someone I’d enjoy getting to know. Would you mind if I paid her a visit while you’re at work?”
“Not at all.” If Kat wouldn’t open up to him, perhaps she’d find another female more simpatico. And he’d wager a month’s income from The Perfect Blend that his neighbor needed someone to talk to. “I think she likes to walk on the beach. If you plan to explore a bit, you could run into her while you’re down there.”
“I may try that approach first. A casual meeting would be less intimidating to someone who’s reluctant to talk about herself.”
Bumping into Kat on the beach hadn’t loosened her tongue in his case—but why mention that?
For the rest of the meal, Stephanie kept him entertained with amusing stories, humorous insights, and tales of her adventures all over the world, filling his usually quiet deck with witty banter and laughter.
As she finished her potatoes and set her fork down, she exhaled. “That was wonderful, Zach.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I have to warn you, though—my usual dinners tend to be simpler.”
“Perfect. If I ate like this every night, I’d lose my girlish figure. And speaking of usual routines, I don’t want you to change any of yours for me. I’m perfectly capable of entertaining myself.”
“Other than my hours at the shop, my schedule is flexible—and I