Page 5 of Hargrave Artistry
“I heard good things about the art scene.”
She laughed.
“Want me to keep going?” he asked.
She smiled up at him. “I guess that depends on how coffee goes.”
Coffee went exceedingly well as they chatted for nearly an hour about random nonsense ranging from their favorite seasons and sports to a heated debate over the best action movies.
The encounter—she refused to think of it as a date—filled her with a glorious, simple happiness. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d felt so bubbly and intrigued about anyone.
Everyone accused her of being flighty and carefree. Not without good reason. She’d been the wild child from day one. The eccentric daughter who’d added both a marriage and divorce to her college schedule.
And she had all the usual issues of her peers. Maybe a few extra considering the hard journey of her mother’s cancer and her own unpredictable career. At thirty-two, she was still figuring out some serious stuff and choosing what she wanted more of in her life.
What people thought she did paled in comparison to the reality. Being creative required energy—emotional and physical. Moments like this one, where she didn’t have expectations about the outcome and could simply enjoy herself, were priceless.
Balling up her napkin, she dropped it onto the plate she’d nearly licked clean. The strudel wasthatgood. “Thanks for breakfast,” she said. Because of course Trent had paid. With cash. Was he afraid she’d learn too much from his last name? Maybe hewasan axe murderer who knew how to not leave a trail.
“My pleasure,” he said. “I hate to run, but?—”
“No worries,” she assured him as they both stood. “I’ve got places to be.”
He held the door for her. “Back to the dock?”
Was that concern she heard in his voice? “No. The Hideaway. Our B&B,” she explained.
He held out a business card and, for a moment, she just stared at it. “Was this whole thing some kind of elaborate sales pitch?” she wondered.
“No, Natalie.”
An actual shiver of delight slid across her nape when he said her name. “Then what?” she prompted.
“It seemed too forward to just ask to put my number in your phone.”
“Forward or normal?” she teased.
“You tell me.” A smile flirted on his lips. “You aren’t handing me your phone.”
They scooted down the sidewalk toward the bike rack, making room for other bakery customers flowing in and out. Finally, she took his card. She couldn’t just leave it hanging there between them. And then, following her normal impulse, she gave him a hug. “This was a great morning, Trent. Totally unexpected in the best way. Thanks again. Take care and enjoy your visit.”
Without looking at the card, she tucked it into her pocket. She would study it carefully as soon as he wasn’t watching.
“Hey, Natalie?”
Already asking her for a second date. She turned back quickly. “Yeah?”
“Make sure that card doesn’t wind up in a sculpture somewhere.”
She grinned, unrepentant. “I promise.”
And with that, she hopped on her bike and peddled away. Back to the house first. With any luck at all, Veronica would still be there and she could tell her sister everything about coffee with the handsome stranger before they both had to get to work.
At the front door, her phone started buzzing in her pocket. She had a little flutter of hope that it might be Trent, until she realized he didn’t have her number. She would need to rectify that. She was absolutely open to a short-term fling. In fact, that was her preference after her ridiculous excuse for a marriage.
“Hello,” she answered without checking the Caller ID.
“Hey, Natalie. It’s Jess. You are my point of contact this week, right?”
