Page 233 of Banter & Blushes

“It did feel like home, yes.” She mindlessly pulled cups down to set on the counter. “I just, well, it was just…” she couldn’t seem to finish her sentence.

“It was amazing?” Joe asked for the third time.

Looking at her friend, she finally melted into the full feeling. “Joe,” her hand patted her friends’ across the counter, “it was amazing.”

Waiting for the coffee to perk let Elva soak in her happiness.

Miss Joe loved seeing her so content. “I knew the moment that man walked in here, he was for you.”

“I don’t know about all that, now,” she snapped out of her thoughts. “Who knows how he feels?”

“Oh,” Joe put a hand on each hip, “I know how he feels. The entire Landings knows how he feels,” she let out a laugh. “AND now most of Red Bird, too!”

CHAPTER 15

“Mind if I join you?” Elva heard Mitch’s voice just before she stepped onto the sandy path behind the restaurant.

Turning around she saw his smiling gray stubble face greet her under the brim of his baseball cap.

“I’d love that,” she waited for Dozer to catch up to her, “hey sweet boy!” She greeted him with a rub behind his ears. He closed his eyes soaking in her loving touch. “Who’s a good boy?” She asked as if he’d answer.

“I have been good today. Thanks for noticing.” Mitch answered, pretending she was speaking to him and not the dog as he reached her.

“Good boy to you, too then.” She wasn’t sure if he wanted to be scratched behind the ear, too, but she resisted the urge.

She could see his eyes squinting on the edges of his dark sunglasses before he pulled them off and tucked them on the brim of his hat. His green hazel eyes sparkled in the golden hour. “Thanks. I’m glad I caught you.”

“Me too. Did you need something for the station?” She asked, switching back to her committee member status.

“No, no, nothing about that. Just glad. That’s all.”

Her lips curled, “me too. You’re going to love the Landings’ sunset.”

“I do already,” he looked from her to the water in front of them. “Shall we, then?” His hand extended in front of him for her to lead the way down the narrow path. Tall native grasses flanked them on both sides of the dune behind thick once brown ropes, now gray with the wear of age.

Moving to her side once the path opened to the expanse of the shore they walked shoulder to shoulder. “El?” He started, not sure where he was going with it just yet.

Hearing him shorten her name gave her butterflies in her stomach, though she wasn’t sure why. Certainly she was well beyond any of those silly school girl feelings at this point in her life. Still, hearing his voice say her name in a special way made her feel warm inside. The sky was striped with vibrant purple and pink stripes before merging into a deep orange. “Isn’t this view just beautiful?” She looked out where the bay continued hoping to calm her own nerves.

“Breathtaking, actually.” His voice was lower and more intentional. “El?” He started again.

“I’m glad you - “ she turned toward him to find Mitch staring at her instead of the sunset. Their faces were closer than she thought they’d be. She felt pulled into him.

This time, his voice changed the subject. “I don’t know why but a song just started playing in my mind.”

“Really? But there isn’t any music,” she put her hands on her hips watching him watch her.

“I know.” He offered his hands to hers to join. “Dance with me.”

She wasn’t sure if that was a question or a direction. “Dance?” She looked around, wondering who would see them on the empty beach. Agreeing, her hands slid perfectly into his as his left arm bent to hold her hand close to his heart. “Which song?”

“Which song, what?”

Giggling she clarified, “which song is playing in your head?”

He smiled deciding how he wanted to answer, his large hands protecting hers. Then in a low whisper voice he started singing “can’t take my eyes off of you… you’re just too good to be true.”

“Mitch,” her face was smiling so wide her eyes were barely open as she swayed back and forth with him in the sand taking in the feeling of the melody only they could hear. After a few minutes of silent dancing she joined in for the fun part… “da-da da-da, da da da”

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