Page 67 of Secrets at Seaside
“I’m heading over now. I needed to grab my keys, and when I saw you banging your head on the table, I got worried.”
“Aw, thank you. I’m fine. I think.”
“Well, take your time and decide what you want to do. I’m sure Duke will understand either way. You sure you’re okay if I take off to meet the guys?”
“Of course.” She kissed him goodbye, feeling relieved and a little conflicted about the job. She and Tony wouldn’t know anyone in Australia, but the job really sounded like everything she’d ever wanted in a career. The best next step she could hope for.
She looked around the table and her heart won out. She definitely wanted to live at the Cape. She was sure of that much. She just wished there were a way to have both the job and the Cape. Then again, she counted herself lucky. She was with Tony, and that was more than she could have hoped for. It was time to pull up her big-girl panties again and hope Duke didn’t hate her for changing her mind.
Chapter Twenty-Two
AMY SAT IN her car Sunday morning in front of the Bookstore Restaurant, trying to get her hands to stop trembling. She’d changed her clothes three times before leaving her cottage, finally deciding on a simple floral summer dress. Duke had seen her in her bathing suit, shorts, and dressed up. They’d known each other for a few years. She shouldn’t be this nervous. They may not be super-close friends, like she was with Jamie, Caden, Pete, or Kurt, but they were still friends, and that meant a great deal to Amy. He was a smart, rational man. Surely he’d understand her decision.
Wouldn’t he?
He spent so much time looking after his siblings that Amy was sure at least a part of him would understand. The question was, would it be a big enough part of him to save their friendship? She gave herself a little pep talk, then headed inside, hoping for the best.
Duke was sitting on the front patio at a table for two. He waved Amy over. Even without his suit Duke had a regal air about him. He had all the hallmarks of classic good looks: broad shoulders, square jaw, intelligent eyes on the small side but offering a welcome and warm gaze. He rose to greet Amy, and she noticed that his gray T-shirt and jeans were nicely pressed. His dirty-blond hair was slightly askew, giving him a casual edge.
His embrace engulfed Amy’s small frame.
“Good to see you again, Amy.” He pulled out a chair for her and waited for her to settle into it before sitting down. Always the gentleman.
“It’s nice to see you, too, Duke. Did you and Blue like the property?” Her pulse was racing so fast she was afraid she might blurt out,I can’t take the job!She was doing all she could to try to distract herself with other topics.
“Yes, very much. I think it has a lot of promise, although knowing my brother, he’ll keep it for himself instead of renovating it for a business. He had that look in his eyes.” Duke flagged over the waiter. “Amy, would you like something to eat? Some coffee?”
“Just ice water, please.”I’m too nervous to eat.
Duke asked the young man for a cup of black coffee, then turned back to Amy. His eyes dropped to her engagement ring, sparkling like a beacon on her left hand, and his lips curved up in a smile.
“Ah, I see congratulations are in order.”
Amy felt her cheeks flush. She dropped her eyes to her ring, and a smile pressed at her lips. “Yes, thank you. Tony and I are getting married.”
Duke nodded and lifted her hand to inspect the ring. “It’s a beautiful ring. Tony’s a lucky guy. And that explains the possessive vibe I got from him at the wedding.”
“Possessive vibe?” Amy flashed back to the wedding, when Tony had seen them talking right before he’d told Amy to take the job. She swallowed the uneasy feeling the memory brought with it. Tony’d tried so hard to fight their attraction—she was so glad that it was bigger than he was.
“Sorry about that. It was a confusing time for both of us. There’s a lot of history there.”
“Amy, you don’t have to apologize. I’m happy for both of you. Tony’s a stand-up guy. I’ve got nothing but respect for him. And he’ll love Australia.”
A pang of guilt tightened her throat. Amy was relieved when the waiter brought her ice water.
“Thank you.” She was afraid to pick up the glass because her hands were shaking again over the Australia comment and what she had to tell him.
“So when’s the big day?” Duke asked.
She breathed a sigh of relief. This was a conversation she could handle much better than the wholeI’m not taking the jobtalk looming over her. “Soon. We’re thinking of having a small wedding here on the beach with the girls and then we’d each have a bigger family wedding at another time. You and Blue will come, won’t you?” She couldn’t believe she was actually talking about getting married to Tony and it was really happening. She’d dreamed about it for so long, and here she was, inviting Duke and his brother to their wedding.
Our wedding!
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Duke sipped his coffee. “I’d like to gift each of you a honeymoon suite for a week at whichever Ryder Resort you’d like.”
Amy’s jaw dropped. “Duke, you don’t have to do that.”
“It’s your wedding, Amy. Hopefully this day will come only once in your life—same for Bella, Leanna, and Jenna. It’s my pleasure to do this.”
