Page 36 of Moonlit Harbor Nights

“I have been eating there now and again. But it’s not fair to imply that I’m choosing The Lighthouse Grill over the McCormick brewery. I can’t go to McCormicks to get food, since they don’t have the kind of food menu that the pub does.”

“Not for long,” Judd piped up, sounding slightly indignant. “My sons and I are expanding our business, as smartbusinessmen do. We’re adding a full kitchen to the brewery, and we have some great ideas for what’s going to be on the menu.”

Alan gave Judd a smile, and just as he was looking away, Terrence thought he saw Alan wink at the brewery owner as well. He glanced back at Alan, but he had no way of knowing if the wink had really happened or if he simply thought he saw it—short of asking Alan about it, and he wasn’t about to do that.

“Well, I’m sure your restaurant will be nice.” Terrence gave Judd a tepid smile. “I’m looking forward to getting to inspect it.” It hadn’t been a threat, but he couldn’t help enjoying the way Judd looked slightly nervous.

“I’m sure you’ll find everything in order.” Judd’s tone was as condescending as ever, but Terrence wondered if he had set off some alarm bells in the business owner’s head. It was possible that Judd hadn’t been thinking too much about all of the health codes his new restaurant would have to meet.

Alan glanced at his watch. “I should get going here. Nice to see you, Terrence.”

Terrence nodded politely as the other two men walked through the front doors and disappeared. He stood quietly for a moment, watching the doors even after the men had gone.

I can’t shake this unsettled feeling,he thought, frowning a little.Something is off. Something more than the fact that I just don’t particularly like either of them. I don’t like Judd because he’s bullied my friends, and I don’t like Alan… well, I don’t have any reason to dislike him besides the fact Vivian seems to be so fond of him.

He chewed on his lip a little, trying to convince himself to stop feeling as though something was wrong. After all, restaurant loyalty wasn’t everyone’s main focus in life. Just because Alan was friends with Judd and his sons, it didn’t mean that he didn’t care about Vivian and the wellbeing of The Lighthouse Grill.

Alan had no part in the feud between the McCormicks and the Owens, right?

Terrence shook himself, telling himself firmly that he shouldn’t jump to silly suspicions. He wondered if he was simply feeling jealous, since Alan seemed to be as interested in Vivian as he was. Was he just making up reasons to dislike the other man, hoping that there was something that would prevent Vivian from wanting to date him?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Dean drummed his fingers against his kitchen table, staring down at his phone. After a few seconds had passed, he let out a long sigh.

He had texted Noelle a few times already that day, but all of her responses had been short and not as friendly as usual. He had called her a couple of times as well, but she hadn’t picked up either time, nor had she returned his phone calls.

Her guard is up,he thought, standing up and walking over to his coffee maker.I wish I knew what she was thinking. Then again, maybe she doesn’t even know what she’s really thinking right now.

He poured himself a third cup of coffee, then went over to the refrigerator and added a generous amount of milk to the mug. He walked back over to his kitchen table where his phone was resting, hoping that Noelle had finally responded to his last text, or that she was finally calling him back. His phone screen was blank, however, and when he checked his messages he saw that he didn’t have any new ones from Noelle.

He sat back down with his cup of coffee, mulling over his thoughts and trying not to feel too worried. He tried to convince himself that she was just having an unusually busy day at work,or that she had other important phone calls she needed to make on her breaks.

He swallowed, remembering that not that long ago, she’d called him three or four times a day whenever she was working and he wasn’t. She’d told him that she just liked to hear his voice, even if it was only for a few minutes.

He bit his lip, trying to steady himself. He didn’t want to lose her. He needed to show her how much she meant to him. He needed to talk with her about everything that had happened and be honest with her. He needed to share his heart with her.

Feeling a surge of resolve, he stood back up again. He took his mug of coffee over to the refrigerator and set it inside, deciding to finish it later. He hurriedly put on his coat and hat and boots and slipped out the back door.

A light snow was falling, and the delicate little flakes brushed against his cheeks as he started to walk toward the physical therapy clinic.

If Noelle wasn’t answering his phone calls, then he needed to go talk with her in person. He didn’t want to wait and let her think that he just didn’t care all that much about their relationship or how she felt. He’d already let too much time slip past since she’d gotten upset about their cancelled date.

His resolve strengthened as he neared the clinic. Not only did he feel it was important to talk to Noelle, but he was also itching to speak with her. He missed her. He wanted to see her face, and he hoped he would be lucky enough to get to hug her after their conversation.

He arrived at the physical therapy clinic after a few minutes and stepped inside. It was warm and smelled fragrantly of the essential oils that Noelle had picked out for the lobby’s diffuser. The receptionist behind the front desk smiled at him, but her expression was also one of surprise, and she immediately checked her calendar. Since Dean was a regular patient there,she was probably worried that he had an appointment that she’d forgotten to mark down.

“It’s okay, Amy,” he told her with a smile. “I don’t have an appointment. I just really need to talk to Noelle.”

She gave him an understanding look. “She’s got a patient in about four minutes, but if it’s really important I can switch that client to Chip. He works with both of them, and Chip is open right now because he had a cancellation.”

“Would you? I’ll pay her rate for the session,” Dean said. “This is important.”

“Gotcha, gotcha.” Amy smiled. “Let me just message Chip real quick here, and I’ll buzz Noelle and ask her to come into the lobby.”

“Thanks, Amy. I appreciate it.”

Amy went to work, and Dean stood in the lobby with his hands in his pockets. He pretended to look around at the Valentine’s Day decorations with interest, but what he was really doing was trying to steal glances at Noelle’s office door. It was shut. What if she refused to come out to the lobby when she realized that it was Dean who was waiting for her? His heart thumped with apprehension.

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