Page 16 of The Matchmaker and the Marine

“Buckle up.” She flashed him a wide smile. She pushed a button and the trunk lifted up, and then the hard top disconnected and folded into the trunk space. When the trunk went back down, she grinned.

His smile widened and he plopped his ball cap on his head, forgoing sunglasses as the brim shaded his eyes. “I had no idea this was a convertible.”

“Leave it to the Swedes to make a Volvo sedan not just luxurious but also with flair.” She secured a scarf around her hair and pushed her sunglasses into place “If we’re going on an adventure in this kind of weather, the only way to do it properly is with the top down.”

She backed out and cruised down the street, driving through downtown Chester. She could see Adam out of the corner of her eye. He looked relaxed and happy, just like she felt.

After she got through the town, he gave her directions to the restaurant. They were going to pretty much follow the coast until the road veered east, driving until they ran out of black top. Adam had taken his ball cap off and held it in his hand. With his short blonde hair, he didn’t have to worry about the wind whipping it into his face, but Melinda had to do a one-handed twist to get her hair out of her eyes. The sun was glorious on her bare arms. When was the last time I left work before the end of the day? she wondered.

“Do you often take off on a whim?” She had to speak louder than normal with the wind carrying her words away.

“No, but it’s a nice treat, don’t you think?”

Keeping her eyes on the road she nodded. “I’m glad you stopped over. It is too nice to be stuck inside all day.”

“Stick with me, Mel, and we can have all kinds of impromptu adventures.”

His comment was curious—was it in the context of friends or was he implying something more? A flush of color rose in his cheeks, giving his complexion a handsome ruddy look.

“So tell me, Adam, how do you like living in Chester? Do you find it a touch dull from other places you’ve lived?”

“I have been lucky to live in a lot of places.” He paused. “You know, every place has its own kind of beauty. Even when I was deployed. War is hell, but there were moments when I could appreciate the landscape and the people who lived there. But if you’re talking the United States, Camp Pendleton in San Diego, that was probably my favorite. I lived off base and the weather is spectacular.”

“I remember reading about Pendleton. I seem to recall it was supposed to be a temporary facility in the ’40s, but then it was turned into a permanent base.”

He nodded. “You are spot on.” He gave her a warm look. “After all the places I’ve lived, I’ve come to appreciate small-town life.”

Her breath caught. Was he implying he might have found his home in Chester? Why did she suddenly seem to want him to stay?

Mel said, “When I moved from Philadelphia to Chester, it was a bit of a culture shock for me. I lived in a development with a lot of neighbors, and here, not so much. There is more land per house here. I’ve been able to really expand my gardens and I like the fact there is a nice breeze from the ocean most of the time.”

Joking, he asked, “Even in the winter months?”

She did a one-shoulder shrug. “I’ll admit it gets cold here, but not any different than Philly.”

“I haven’t gotten through a winter here yet.”

“A hat, gloves and a down jacket will get you through the worst of it.” She laughed. “And book all inside jobs.”

He wagged his finger at her and chuckled. “Now that is a brilliant idea.”

Glimpses of the ocean on the right popped up from time to time as they drove in companionable silence. Adam pointed to a road sign. “Looks like our turn is just ahead.”

“That’s a good thing, I’m starving. I just realized I never ate breakfast.”

He gave her a sharp look. “Not good, Mel. You should eat a little something.”

She was surprised to see he was very serious—her breakfast habits were none of his concern. She couldn’t help keeping the defensive tone from her voice. “Normally I do, but today I jumped right into the pile of emails I had.”

He gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that. Sometimes I get a little pushy and overstep boundaries.”

She got the feeling he let the rest of his thought hang. “No big deal.” She slowed the car and turned on her blinker, taking a sharp right. Stones kicked up from the edge of the pavement. The posted speed limit kept her puttering down the narrow two-lane road.

“Do you know anyone who’s eaten here?”

Adam’s fingers tapped on the door. The look on his face was absolutely without a care in the world. “A couple of clients and I saw”—he pointed to a small weathered sign painted in bright blue letters— “that sign last week and just decided we needed to come.”

She saw the entrance to the dock and turned into the parking lot. Boats were tied along rows of wood and metal docks. The sound of a bell chimed in time with the rise and fall of the vessels.

---