Page 67 of The Good Luck Cafe
“What?” Tess sat more upright in her seat. “Who?”
Moira shrugged. “I have no idea. I was terrified for like thirty minutes, thinking someone was trying to break in. Finally, I got up the nerve to peek out the peephole, but I didn’t see anyone. Then I glanced out the window onto the street. No cars. I didn’t dare open the door until this morning. I found a rock on my doorstep.”
“Who would throw a rock at your door?” Tess asked.
Lucy frowned. “Actually, Miles told me that’s happened to several people here in town over the last couple of weeks. They think it’s just a bunch of kids. A harmless prank.”
“Well, that harmless prank cost me the rest of the night in sleep.” Moira yawned again.
Tess narrowed her eyes. “You let that keep you up all night?”
Moira shrugged, realizing suddenly that maybe that wasn’t a normal reaction. “It wouldn’t keep you up?” she asked.
Tess shrugged. “I mean, not really. Once I knew there was no threat, I would have gone back to sleep.”
“Well, I have a ferocious guard dog,” Lucy said, speaking of the elderly French bulldog that she’d inherited from her mom. “And my fiancé is a deputy sheriff. I wouldn’t lose much sleep either.”
“Maybe the dispatch is making you a little skittish,” Tess suggested.
“Yeah, all the scary stuff that happens in Somerset Lake,” Lucy said sarcastically.
Moira smiled it off. Maybe she was a little skittish and untrusting of people without reason. “Well, I hadn’t heard about this prank. Don’t kids have better things to do than toss rocks at a sleeping person’s door?”
“Apparently not. Not in Somerset Lake at least.” Tess sipped from her coffee. “We’re a small town. It’s hard for the teens to get their kicks. Don’t you remember when that kid was stealing Christmas decorations last year?”
Lucy raised a hand. “I remember very well because he stole mine.”
Tess tilted her head as she looked at Moira. “I’m sorry you lost sleep over something so silly. Now stop stalling and tell us about your date.”
Moira reflexively grinned. “It was…nice.” She lowered her head, feeling a rush of heat scorch her cheeks.
“You have been avoiding this guy for ages. We have had your back in helping you dodge him because you’ve seemed to have an unnatural repulsion for him. And now you’re blushing about him.” Lucy popped a piece of bagel into her mouth and chewed while continuing to talk. “You don’t get away with just saying it was nice. Details please.”
Moira sighed. “Fine. Well, he cooked me dinner, and we ate outside by the lake. Then we took a walk along the lake.”
“That is very romantic,” Tess said. “Did you two…?”
Moira cleared her throat. “Yes.”
“Wait, what?” Lucy looked between them, eyes rounding comically. “What are you saying yes to? What did you two do?”
Moira’s mouth dropped, and she shook her head, realizing what Lucy was thinking. “No! We just kissed. That’s it. I didn’t even go inside his home.”
Lucy squealed. “You kissed Gil?”
Moira’s eyes darted around the room to see who was overhearing. “Shh. There are people here. I don’t want this to end up on Reva’s blog.”
Tess snickered. “So you’re kissing the competitor? I can’t say I’m disappointed. I’m actually really happy for you.”
“Me too,” Lucy said. “Gil is a great guy. You two would make a cute couple.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It was just one date,” Moira said.
“Will there be another?” Tess asked.
Moira shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know. He didn’t ask for another date.”
“But he kissed you good night?” Tess clarified.
