had lain dormant for a long time. There was only so much a girl could do for herself, after all, and she had given up on ever experiencing physical intimacy with a man.
But maybe she had been too hasty. Maybe she could have that after all.
Or maybe I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. We haven’t even been out yet.
She picked up her phone again and opened her text conversation with Janette. I have a date tomorrow.
Wow, Janette texted back. You don’t mess around! Who’s the guy?
His name is Curt. I think he’s an aspiring actor.
Janette sent a rolling-eyes emoji, followed by a tongue face.
Just kidding, she added. Actors are cool. You have to swear to text me back as soon as the date’s over and let me know how it went.
It’s a deal, Annalise wrote. Now, stop talking to me and go make a baby.
Janette didn’t text back. Annalise smiled, hoping Janette would be announcing a pregnancy soon.
In the meantime, the best thing she could do to contribute was to provide Janette with a distraction. Janette had made that clear at dinner tonight. And the best way to do that was to go on this date tomorrow and come back with lots of hot gossip that they could dissect together.
Even if it doesn’t turn out to be true love, she thought, at least something constructive will have come of it. And it beats the hell out of sitting home alone.
Chapter 3
Annalise’s heart hammered as she pulled into the harbor parking lot and got out of her car. She went on dates infrequently enough that this felt like a special occasion, and she was determined to make the most of it.
Not wanting to overdress—it was only lunch, after all—she’d chosen her favorite sundress, which was pale yellow with a deep V-neck, a tiered skirt, and lace detailing. She’d paired it with tan wedges and was carrying a rattan purse. She wore oversized sunglasses with wide white rims. Her long blond waves tumbled free around her shoulders.
She looked good and she knew it. But would Curt think so?
She made her way into the restaurant, hoping Curt wouldn’t be too difficult to find. He had said he would be wearing a straw hat, but of course, this was a marina. She hadn’t considered it until she had woken up this morning, but there were bound to be dozens of people in straw hats. She had very nearly chosen a straw hat herself, before deciding that it might look foolish if she showed up wearing the very same thing she had known he would be wearing.
Gull’s Cafe mimicked a beachfront shack on the inside, but all the tables were out back on the dock that extended over the water. The only things inside were a bar, at which Annalise saw a few people, none of whom could be Curt, and a hostess station.
She approached the hostess, who looked up from the menus she’d been counting.
“Hi!” the woman said, flashing an ebullient smile. “How many today?”
“I’m actually meeting someone,” Annalise said. “I think he might be here already.”
“Oh,” the hostess said. “Would you like to go out back and take a look around?”
“That would be great,” Annalise said.
“And if you don’t see him, feel free to seat yourself,” the hostess said. “I’ll be along in about three minutes with a menu for you.”
“That sounds perfect,” Annalise said, her heart fluttering. In three minutes, she would either be sitting with Curt or else she would be sitting alone and waiting for him. She didn’t know which to hope for. Would it be easier to walk up to him if he was already there? Or would she rather face having to sit and wait for him to arrive?
Honestly, both options sounded excruciating.
Rip the bandage off, she told herself firmly, steeling herself. That’s what Janette would say.
She strode through the building and pushed open the door that led out onto the dock. Most of the tables were occupied, as they usually were. Gull’s Cafe was a popular spot. Overhead, seagulls circled and cawed, adding to the ambiance of the place. Below, Annalise could hear the waves washing against the pilings that held the pier up.
She turned in a slow circle, examining the people, trying to find someone who might be Curt.
There was a man in a straw fedora—but no, he was with a woman and two children. That couldn’t be Curt.
Another straw hat—but this one had a woman beneath it. Definitely not.
And then she saw him. Alone, at