Page 36 of The Love Shack

He switched seats, taking the one Lark had vacated so that he sat across from her. His knees bumped hers again, but the man did have very long legs. “What are you having?”

“BLT, light on the L, with french fries and cola.”

“Sounds perfect.” To Saul, he said, “I’ll take the same.”

“You’ve got it.” Saul dropped the order off, then started circulating the restaurant to offer drink refills or hand over checks.

Lawson sat back in his seat. “Thanks for letting me join you. My original plan was to cut out early and microwave something at home.” His gaze moved over her face. “This is better.”

She offered him a french fry, which he accepted. “As one of my volunteers was leaving today, she said she was coming by here to eat a BLT.”

He grinned. “So here you are.”

“Me and my susceptible mind.” It was nice to share these little parts of herself, things most people didn’t know since she kept to herself. “I had everything at home except the tomato. At first I was just planning a grocery run, but the rain wasn’t letting up. It had all the animals sleepy, including Hero and Cheese, and honestly, I was getting sleepy, too. I decided a little people-watching might wake me up.” She sipped her cola, then tipped it toward him in a mock toast. “Didn’t expect entertainment with the meal.”

“You mean Lark?”

“I mean you waltzing in from the rain carrying a mostly naked Kathleen.”

With a theatrical wince, he grumbled, “Don’t remind me.” Then lower, he added, “I didn’t know she’d lost her top. The way people carried on, you’d think she was real.”

“Real enough to them.” She nodded at the crowd of people taking photos with the mannequin, doting on her and still decorating her. She now wore someone’s sunglasses, and a kid hung a sand pail from her hand.

Lawson didn’t look, choosing to ignore Kathleen instead. “Someone keeps returning her to the well. If she’s not there when I get to work, she shows up before I leave.”

“Did Lark really rescue you?”

Sitting back in his seat with a smile, he said, “She’s a whirlwind, isn’t she? It’s hard not to like her when she’s so happy about everything.” He shook his head as if the woman amazed him. “When I first met her, yeah, she rescued me, but mostly from some flirting vacationers.” He gave it a moment’s thought. “And Kathleen, I guess.” He proceeded to explain how they’d met.

Huh. She hadn’t realized Lark was a stylist, but then, her hair was soaked from the rain and her makeup mostly washed away.

“Today,” Lawson continued, “she was mostly trying to rescue Kathleen since she was left out in the storm.”

“Still in front of your shop?” At his nod, she asked, “You didn’t want to bring her in?”

“Not particularly.” He stole another of her fries. “The comedians around here think it’s funny to turn her head so that she’s staring in at me.” He watched her a second, then murmured, “You’re trying so hard not to laugh. It’s okay, you know.” He popped the fry into his mouth. “I don’t mind. I know it’s ridiculous.”

Shedidsnicker, but only a little. Taking another bite of her sandwich helped to temper her humor. By the time she swallowed and took a drink, she was back to her mostly serious self. “It’s not ridiculous. I’m afraid of spiders. Doesn’t matter if it’s an itty-bitty spider, I still freak out if it gets near me. The really absurd part is that I don’t want them hurt. I just want them relocated. Try explaining that to someone who comes to the rescue.”

He smiled. “I like that you don’t want them hurt. It’s a very Berkley-like attitude.”

Rather than get off track talking about her bug phobias, Berkley asked, “So you and Lark haven’t known each other long?”

“We’ve only spoken a few times, but I like her. She’s...” He searched for a word and came up with “Natural. Authentic. Seems she has a thing for Oliver, but even around him, she’s still herself. It’s like she doesn’t know any other way to be, which is admirable.”

Very true. Genuine people were rare. Chad certainly hadn’t been genuine. He’d lied to her from the start. And his wife? She’d always seemed one way on TV, but in person, her personality was the total opposite.

“If you’re thinking of him, don’t.”

Startled, Berkley looked at him. How had he read her mind?

“Few people are as two-faced as him. He doesn’t deserve your thoughts.”

“You’re right, he doesn’t.” If only it was that easy. “Lark is certainly upbeat and outgoing.” Did that type of personality appeal to Lawson? Seemed so.

“Check out her and Oliver now. He doesn’t know what hit him.”

Berkley glanced around the restaurant and caught sight of Lark seated with the newcomer. Lark was busy chatting and the man appeared bemused. “He’s the new guy to town?”

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