Page 18 of Dreaming at Seaside
“Is that why she wasn’t at the flea market?”
“Yeah. She got the order early this morning.”
“I wish I had known. We could have helped her.”
“She knows. I offered, too, but two of her employees are coming in for the evening, and Kurt’s on a deadline. She said they’d make it next time.” Jamie headed for his cottage. “I’m gonna get the steaks and see how Gram’s doing.”
An hour later, the smell of sizzling steaks filled the evening air. Vera and Jamie sat with Amy and Jenna, chatting about their afternoons. There was a fire in the fire pit and citronella candles at the center of each table. Jenna had made a fresh bean salad, and Leanna had left them two loaves of homemade bread with two jars of strawberry-apricot and apricot-lime jam and a jar of her newest flavor, watermelon jam. Amy had made chocolate chip brownies for dessert, and Bella had already snuck one while no one was looking.
Bella joined Tony by the grill. He had hair the color of sand after a rain, interspersed with streaks of sun-kissed blond, and he wore it long and shaggy on top, shorter in the back. Not only was Tony a world-class surfer, but he was also a popular motivational speaker. Despite his fame, he wasn’t full of pomp and circumstance. He was easy to talk to and a good friend to all of them.
Bella inhaled deeply. “That smells amazing.”
“What can I say? My meat is sweet.” Tony lifted his thick brows and flashed a mischievous smile.
Bella poked him in the ribs. “Pig.”
“You left yourself wide open for that one. Where’s your date?” He looked at his watch. “Dinner’s going to be ready in a few minutes.”
“He’s not my date, and I’m sure he’ll be here soon.” Bella wasn’t about to admit that she was wondering the same thing.
“Okay, well, I hear not-your-date has a son. That’s new for you.” He grabbed a plate and loaded it up with steak.
“New? He’s not my date, so there’s nothing new to consider.”Except maybe that my nerves have been tingling with anticipation for the past two hours. She caught Amy stealing a glance at Tony and thought what she was feeling must be similar to what Amy felt when she waited for Tony to arrive—even though the man acted completely oblivious to her crush.
“Hey, Ames,” Tony yelled. “Can you grab the mayo from my place? I forgot it.”
“Sure.” Amy looked adorable in her white halter dress and sandals.
Tony’s eyes followed her across the lawn.
“Not-your-Amy looks pretty cute tonight, doesn’t she?” Bella teased. She was sure that one day Tony would see Amy for the adorably sweet, smart, fun woman that she was and would be unable to resist her. A little nudge in that direction every now and then wasn’t a bad thing.
“She always looks cute.” Tony handed her the plate of steak and piled chicken onto another one. He leaned in close and whispered, “Your not-my-date is here.”
She turned to greet Caden, and the sight of him in his dark linen pants, white, short-sleeve button-down shirt, and provocative smile weakened her knees.
Not-my-date is smoking hot.
CADEN CAUGHT HIMSELF sizing up the man standing beside Bella as he and Evan crossed the lawn. He lowered a hand to her hip and kissed her cheek, silently staking claim to her.
“You look gorgeous.”
The heat in her eyes flared between them, and he realized that there was no need to stake claim to Bella. One look at her eyes, and he was sure the world could see how she felt about him as clearly as he could. He held a hand out to the muscular dude in the board shorts.
“Hi. I’m Caden Grant, and this is my son, Evan.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Tony Black, or if it’s easier to remember, the guy in the blue cottage.” He nodded to the blue cottage behind him. “Here. Let me take that.” He reached for the dish of pasta salad that Caden carried in his other hand. “Come on, Evan. I’ll introduce you around.” Tony and Evan headed toward the others.
“I’m glad you made it,” Bella said.
“Sorry we’re a little late. Evan got home later than he expected.” Evan hadn’t called to tell him he was going to be late, and though Caden wrote it off as Evan wanting to seem cool in front of his new friends, he had given Evan a long talk about the importance of checking in. Evan took it well, and by the time they left for the barbeque, he seemed in good spirits again.
“That’s okay. Come on. I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
Caden touched her arm. “Can we just talk for one minute first?”
“Sure. What’s up?” She said it so flippantly that he realized she must have been just as nervous as he was.
