Page 50 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection
The activity inside Mack’s head, and the demeanor of his body, were in total opposition of each other. His brain raced in thought and question, while his gut flooded with emotion as he strolled the boardwalk.
Hell, he hoped he’d made the right decision. Having just briefed his team, after treating them to a very nice dinner at the beachside restaurant, The Green Flash, in Mission Bay, he ambled toward his hotel. A cool breeze tickled the back of his damp neck, causing him to chill.
He hadn’t realized he’d been sweating until the wind gusted up behind him. He reached up and rubbed the dampness away.
“Hell,”
he whispered.
“I hope this is the right move.”
The evening had been more nerve-wracking than he had anticipated.
Tired of being away from home, he was leaving earlier than planned, eager to get back to North Carolina. It would be a good test for his team.
And for him.
He had to learn to trust more than he had of late. Might as well start tonight. His guys were smart and capable. There was no reason for him not to.
And then, there was Lyssa.
Stopping mid-stride, he thrust his hands deep into his trouser pockets and glanced back toward the ocean. He’d been living his life solo, not reaching out, uneager to build relationships, and putting most people at arm’s length for a couple of years now. He supposed that was normal for anyone who had lost someone they loved tragically and without warning. Caroline had been his life, all he had.
But she was gone, her life snuffed out way too soon. She would always be a part of him, but he couldn’t continue to live in the past. It was time to push forward.
He was ready.
He’d start with his team. And after that? Well, perhaps he could venture out in other ways.
“Lyssa.”
Her name rolled off his tongue as he whispered it. He didn’t know her and, at the same time, he did. The thing he did know was that he wanted to know her better.
A lot better.
“Shit.”
Their last conversation had nagged at him all day, like there was some closure he needed to bring to it, but he wasn’t quite certain in what way.
Then it dawned on him.
A statement had been left without response. A reply unsaid and left adrift, that he needed Lyssa to hear.
It was late and he didn’t feel like conversation, but he couldn’t let this stir over night. He should probably call but decided against it. An email might be okay, but a text message would be short and to the point and likely she wouldn’t be able to miss it as easily.
So, he pulled out his phone and typed in the words he wanted to say.
****
I don’t have a wife, Lyssa. She died two years ago.
Unsure how she’d missed that text message the night before, Lyssa sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the words. No wife. He was a widower. And he wanted her to know that.
Unfortunately, that didn’t make what she had to do today any easier. In fact, she had convinced herself over the weekend that Mack Roberts was a client only, the pups’ daddy, and that was it—even though just the day before, she’d held a glimmer of ache inside her when she thought of him. A thrill had raced through her each time he’d texted or emailed. And a strange and fulfilling warmth had filled her when they had finally talked on the phone.
She had hoped she’d been wrong about the picture in the entryway, and that, maybe, the spine-fluttering she had felt whenever she thought of him was just a passing fancy.
No. Not true.
And now it was confirmed. There was no wife.
She wouldn’t wish losing a spouse on anyone, and obviously, since there was a picture still in his home, Mack’s wife was not forgotten. But Lyssa embraced an odd sensation of relief at her new-found knowledge…then, she thought about the upcoming lunch date and grimaced.
She was meeting up with the good Reverend in about two hours. She wasn’t sure she was up for it. What to do? What to do?
Standing, she closed the cell phone and slipped it into the side pocket in her purse. She moved to her dresser to finish her outfit with a pretty turquoise necklace. She went through all of the motions of getting dressed, including applying makeup, and straightening her pantyhose, and trying on three different pair of heels to match her outfit.
All the while, her thoughts meandered—of what she might expect at lunch today with Rock Peters, and of how all she truly wanted to do was sit down and have a genuine, face-to-face conversation with Mack Roberts.
That notion warmed her heart.
“He’ll be home tomorrow,”
she whispered, bending to adjust the strap of her left shoe.
She’d found the perfect pair, not too sexy, but a nice medium heel of turquoise, which matched her necklace, that contrasted nicely peeking out from beneath her wide-legged black pants.
Tomorrow. Mack would be back then to retrieve the pups. For any number of reasons, that made her at the same time apprehensive…and excited.
****
“All right, we’ve fried chicken, parmesan mashed potatoes with just a hint of rosemary, and a fresh cucumber and tomato salad with blue cheese crumbles. Sweet tea, of course. And I have a nice mango sorbet that I made yesterday for dessert. If you get through all that, I’ve got cinnamon coffee brewing.”
Lyssa studied Suzie’s face. There was some expression there she couldn’t put her finger on. Then she frowned.
“I recommend you eat light today, Lyssa.”
She played her gaze over the spread on Suzie’s bar.
“Looks like you have plenty. You make enough for you, Brad, and Petey, too?”
Turning, Suzie went to the sink.
“Oh, sure, there is plenty for leftovers.”
She rinsed out a dish and placed it in the strainer.
“But Lyssa, there is something else I need to tell you.”
Having just plucked a grape tomato out of the salad, Lyssa lifted her gaze to her friends’ as she popped the nugget into her mouth. “Oh?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, while working her hands over a kitchen towel.
“Lyssa, you have two lunch dates today. The second one came up rather, um, unexpectedly. But I didn’t think you would want to pass it up.”
Lyssa felt her right brow arch. What? “Two?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Can’t tell you.”
“Can’t?”
“More like won’t. Look, I promised.”
Finally, Suzie met her gaze.
“Hey! Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“With your eyes all scrunchy and everything.”
“If my eyes look at all scrunchy, it’s because I feel I’ve just been thrown a curve ball. What gives? When did this new date come about? I mean, I’m trying hard to be all mentally psyched for the good Reverend, and now…?”
Suzie took her hands and coaxed her to a barstool.
“I know, sweetie, but the whole purpose of this is for you to meet men. Plural. The opportunity for this date came up last night. He could be a little later than planned, he wasn’t exactly sure what time he could get here, so we have plenty of time to do the good Reverend justice and then get ready for Monday Suitor Number Two.”
Do the good Reverend. Not!
“I’m not doing anyone, Suzie. At least not yet.”
“I wouldn’t pass up the chance, my dear, if you got it.”
Lyssa gasped.
“What in the world are you saying, Suzie?”
Suzie tossed her a smug look and glanced at the kitchen clock.
“We have ten minutes. I need to plate the salad. Why don’t you go do a makeup check?”
Lyssa gasped her arm.
“Wait. What are you telling me? That I should go out and have sex with one of these dates?”
“Not saying anything of the kind.”
She patted Lyssa’s hand.
“I’m just saying if the opportunity presents itself, you may want to consider taking it. Having sex might ease the tension of this quest you are on to find a man. Just be safe, of course. And after all, let’s face it, you’re not getting any younger…”
That cut right through her.
“I am not an old maid!”
Suzie swatted in mid-air and headed toward the fridge.
“Of course, you’re not! But I do know you’ve said it has been a while and all I’m suggesting is, well, don’t let a good opportunity pass you by.”
What in the world…?
The doorbell chimed.
“Places!”
Suzie shuffled back toward the bar and salads.
“Chop! Go check your face, and I’ll meet you in the dining room.”
Lyssa was sure this was the strangest conversation she’d ever had. But never mind, the good Reverend was making his entrance and suddenly, she just wasn’t sure she was up for it.
She took off for the powder room to check her makeup, mumbling a new mantra.
“Eat light…eat light…have sex…have sex….”