Page 24 of Sunset Tides
She shouldn’t have told him about her glorious scheme to keep him out of the island’s restaurants. It was some of her finest work.
That was her problem. Well, one of her many problems. Lucy didn’t have a poker face, and he looked so pathetic in that empty office. As soon as she felt guilt creeping in about what she’d done, she blabbed.
“We can meet at the fish and chip shop next door,” she offered. “How’s five?”
“That works. Just out of curiosity, did you happen to tell them to vent their fryer exhaust directly into my office?”
“Nope. They’re doing that all on their own.”
“Terrific.”
“See you later.” Lucy turned and walked out. She had no interest in becoming friends with this guy. He was sleazy. Up to no good. She could just feel it in her bones.
It was just like how she knew Claire was sick. She trusted her intuition, even if everyone else thought she was being ridiculous.
Aunt Becca didn’t think she was ridiculous! But then again, everyone thought Aunt Becca was ridiculous too, or at best, eccentric…
Whatever.
They could think whatever they wanted to think of her. Lucy knew what she was about. She would keep her friends close, and keep Rob closer.
She went back to the farm and spent the day researching auctions, but didn’t get terribly far. There wasn’t a wealth of information on how to keep people from showing up and legally stealing their farm equipment.
Most of her ideas to keep auction attendees away were frowned upon, if not fully illegal. For example, she wasn’t allowed to threaten people, she couldn’t lie about the quality of the equipment – well, she could try, but who would believe her? And shedefinitelywasn’t supposed to advertise a different date for the auction so people missed it.
After hours of scheming, Lucy had nothing. When it was time to meet with Rob again, she felt like the wind had been taken out of her sails.
He, on the other hand, was as chipper as ever. “What’s good here?”
“I don’t know, actually,” she said. “We don’t have to eat here. I thought it was a good place to meet.”
“Did you suggest meeting so I didn’t have an excuse to ask for your phone number?”
Rude. Of course she hadn’t wanted to give him her phone number. She wanted as little to do with him as possible while still having complete control over the situation. “No,” she lied, “that wasn’t it.”
“Because rest assured,” he said, looking up at the menu on the wall, “you’re not my type.”
Lucy threw a hand to her chest. “Oh Rob, you have to stop breaking my heart like this.”
He looked back at her, smiling. “I just mean I don’t pursue women through work, so you don’t have to worry about any unwanted advances. It’s unprofessional.”
Right. She was probably too smart for him. Or too annoying. She’d gotten that feedback from more than one guy.
Lucy knew she just scared them. “Correct. Very unprofessional.”
A man in an apron came to the counter, sweat pooling on the tip of his nose, just about to drop off. “What can I get you?”
Lucy glanced at the menu, then back at him. He really must’ve been slaving over that fryer. “I’d like the fried cod, please.”
“You want the fries and drink combo?”
“Definitely.”
He looked at Rob. “How about you?”
“I’ll take the salmon burger with a side salad.”
The man punched their orders into the register, and Lucy was disappointed the sweat drop had fallen off of his nose without her seeing where it went.
