Page 82 of Summer on Sunshine Bay

James put his arm around her. “Come on, you’re not to blame for Lila being stressed.”

Eva raised an eyebrow, and he laughed. “Okay, not entirely to blame. But as far as I can tell, Lila has no idea you’ve been trying to sabotage her wedding. She’s commented a couple of times about how supportive you’ve been.”

“Lila must’ve said something for Lexi to look at me as if I was to blame.”

“I’m sure Lila did tell the doctor she’s stressed, and maybe Lexi just assumed it had something to do with you because of your stance on marriage. But Lila’s got a lot on her plate with starting her own business, and she—”

“As much as I appreciate you defending me, James, Lila is just like you. She’s excited about her consulting business. For her it’s more energizing than stressful.”

“True, and while I’m loath to admit it to you, it’s probably the wedding that’s stressing her out.”

“I don’t know how it can be. There’s nothing for her to do. Jennifer has everything under control.” Eva moved her head back and forth, thinking. “You’re right, it’s not me. It’s David and Windemere. It’s caused a lot of tension between them.”

“Agreed, and it doesn’t help that Lila’s worried about La Dolce Vita.”

“Or that we are.” Eva sighed. “I told you I’m to blame.”

“No, it’s not all on you.” He tweaked her ponytail. “That said, I’m holding you to your promise. No more trying to sabotage the wedding.”

“I won’t, just don’t tell my mother. Gia felt the same as I did after the appointment. I didn’t talk about it with Sage and Willow, but I’m sure they don’t want to do anything to upset Lila either.”

James ducked his head to look her in the eyes. “Our daughter isn’t the only one who’s stressed, is she?”

Feeling a little emotional, Eva wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest. “It’s bad enough that we’re struggling to keep La Dolce Vita afloat, but when you add Lila getting married—to the man who’s managing Windemere, no less—and then finding out how she felt growing up, it’s been a lot. And now Bruno leaving?”

James leaned back. “You need a break. You need to get away from the restaurant and forget about everything else for a while. You need to have some fun, Rosetti.”

“Do you have something in mind, Sinclair?”

“I do. I thought we’d go clamming at Blueberry Beach and then back to my place to eat.”

“What about Lila?” After the night Eva had shared with James, the idea of spending more time alone with him made her nervous. She couldn’t risk falling in love with him, and she was already worried she was halfway there.

“I saw her at the pier before I headed to the bait and tackle shop for clamming gear. David called her, and I’m pretty sure they’ll want to celebrate on their own. We can do something with them this week.” He glanced at his watch. “Tide goes out in a couple hours, so if there’s anything you need me to pick up, I can go get it while you get changed. Fried clams and chips or linguine and clams?”

He’d obviously given their night a lot of thought, and she didn’t want to disappoint him. Besides, he was right. She could use a break, and she hadn’t been clamming in ages.

“Who’s cooking, you or me?” she teased.

He waggled his eyebrows. “We’re cooking together.”

The last time they’d cooked together, they’d ended up naked and making love on the kitchen table, counter, and floor.

“If we leave in the next fifteen minutes, we can pick blueberries for dessert. Unless you have something else in mind,” he said, drawing her back into his arms and kissing her soft and slow.

“You obviously have something else in mind,” she murmured against his lips.

“I do, but we can start with blueberries and go from there.” He nipped her earlobe. “I’ll get the whipped cream.”

***

James looked over from where he was picking blueberries and showed Eva his basket. “Is this enough?”

They’d been picking for almost an hour, and he had only a cupful to show for his efforts. “Yes, because unlike you, I don’t eat seventy percent of the blueberries I pick.” She showed him her basket. She’d nearly filled it.

“Show-off,” he said, and smiled.

She laughed. “Your pearly whites are blue.”

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