Page 88 of Look on the Bright Side

“You hear me complaining? Sitting here on the Outer Cape with a pretty girl? I’m doing just fine. But yeah, I’m also starving.”

“Let me make you a sandwich.” She got up, opened the fridge and sighed. “Let me take you out for dinner. Or no! Hang on.” She sent a quick text to Joy, asking if she could use her kitchen and cook dinner for a friend.

Of course! Make yourself at home. Your mom and I are at Mahoney’s. Just sat down.

“Even better,” she said, smiling at Dante. “I’ll cook you dinner at Joy’s. She’s my landlady, and she’s out right now, but I know she’d love to meet you. My mom’s staying with her for a little while, so you might meet her, too.”

“The more the better. Older women love me.”

“I bet they do. My mom just kind of appeared here a couple weeks ago. I mean, she knew Joy, but all of a sudden, she’s living with her, and I’m not sure my father’s okay with it. I guess he has projects to work on, but I can’t ever remember them being apart.”

It was like something had been…dislodged, because Lark could not stop talking. She brought him over to Joy’s house and opened the fridge. Steaks (which she’d replace, of course), salad fixings, a nice loaf of French bread in the pantry.

“Will this be okay?” she asked.

“It’s fantastic,” he said. “Let me help. You want me to man the grill or make the salad?”

“Salad, please.”

It wasn’t awkward. It wasn’t weird. She didn’t feel like she was betraying Justin, or that Dante shouldn’t be here. It felt…natural. Like she was with a friend. And yes, he was a good-looking guy, and she’d blubbered all over him, and yes, she could admit that she felt a little something for him.

But knowing he’d been with her on the worst day of her life, and he’d been kind, and he’d done his best to help her…well, right now, she almost loved him. The man definitely deserved a steak.

•••

They were washing the dishes when the door opened, and Connery began his crazed song of love. Mom and Joy were laughing as they came in.

“Hello, hello!” Joy called.

“Oh! Your friend is male,” Mom said. “I didn’t expect that. Hi, I’m Ellie Smith, Lark’s mother.” She offered her hand, and Dante took it, and oh, holy heck. She had failed to mention just who Dante was. She should’ve warned them.

“And I’m Joy Deveaux, Lark’s friend and landlady,” Joy said, tilting her head. “You are a beautiful human!”

“Takes one to know one,” he said, taking her hand with a cheeky grin. “Very nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“Don’t you dare call me ma’am. I’m Joy.”

“This is Dante Santini,” Lark said. “Lorenzo’s brother. You know. My boyfriend?”

“Is that right? Lorenzo’s brother. Well, it’s lovely to meet you,” Mom said. She smiled at Lark and winked, and Lark relaxed. “Are you a doctor, too, Dante? I love your name, by the way.”

“I’ll tell my mom,” he said. “And no, I’m not a doctor. I’m one of Boston’s bravest.”

“Bravest what?” asked Joy.

“He’s a firefighter,” Lark said.

“Oh, my heart,” Joy murmured, fluttering her false eyelashes.

“I get that a lot,” he said, grinning. “Makes up for the crap hours and smoke inhalation. But I’m afraid I have to be on my way. Lark, let me know if you need help figuring out your car situation, okay? And thanks for dinner. Joy, thank you for letting us eat here. This is a beautiful house.”

“Oh, please come back anytime,” Joy said. “Really. I mean it. Anytime.”

“Mrs.Smith, great meeting you. I can see why Lark is so pretty.”

“And he’s an excellent flirt, too,” Mom said. “We like you, Dante.”

“Glad to hear it,” he said, flashing another killer smile. “Lark promised I could marry one of her sisters, so we’ll be family soon.”

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