Page 7 of Summer with the Single Dad

The warm breeze lifted stray strands of hair off her neck and warmed her soul as she stepped out of her cabin onto the wooden deck, complete with a barbecue, a couple of comfy-looking Adirondack chairs, and a hammock. She’d definitely be using that hammock over the next seven weeks. She had a stack of books on her nightstand and was determined to read every single one.

A smile curled her lips as she walked past the other cabins toward the pub.

But as soon as she realized she was smiling, she frowned again.

If Mr. O’Malley wasn’t alive to feel joy, she didn’t deserve to feel joy either.

The scent of barbecue and smoke wafting up into the air drew her attention to the other cabins. Children waiting for their supper, laughed and played on the small front lawns of a few bungalows. Men and women waved at her and said “Hello.” She greeted them and waved back, only to frown again as soon as she faced forward.

Joy was a luxury of life she didn’t deserve. Not after her colossal mistake.

The pub came into view, the sounds of laughter and music caused unease to flicker in her belly. She hated eating alone in public. But this trip was about finding herself again. About figuring out what she wanted—what she deserved out of life. So she needed to step outside of her comfort zone, pull up her scrub pants and go sit at the bar by herself and order dinner.

The parking lot was packed but most places had at least one seat open at the bar for loser loners.

“Justine!” came a squeaky child’s voice.

She spun around to find the younger, blonde little girl she met earlier. One of Bennett’s daughters. Five seconds of searching her short-term memory had her saying, “Hi, Aya.”

Aya beamed. “We’re going to get sorbet from the restaurant freezer.”

Justine’s gaze lifted to Bennett for a moment and heat flooded her chest, worming its way up her face. She ignored the frenzy of butterflies in her belly and focused back on the charming little girl. “Well, that sounds like a real treat. For any special occasion?”

Aya shrugged and glanced at her dad for an answer. “Dunno. Dad just said we should get ice cream. Is there a special occasion, Daddy?”

Bennett peeled his blue eyes away from Justine and smiled down at his daughter, running his big hand over the back of her head. “No, sweetie. I just thought it’d be nice for dessert.”

“We’re having turkey tacos for dinner,” Aya went on. “Uncle Jagger is up at the house making them.” Her face scrunched up in displeasure and she focused back on Bennett. “I don’t have to eat the tomatoes, do I? I hate tomatoes.”

“You need to pick a vegetable. So we’ll see what Uncle Jagger puts on the table.”

Aya rolled her brown eyes. “I hope it’s cucumbers, or peppers, or something. I hate tomatoes.”

Bennett cleared his throat and lifted a brow at her.

She rolled her eyes again. “Sorry. I dislike tomatoes. They feel funny on my tongue.”

“If it makes you feel better,” Justine said with a small chuckle, “I’m not a huge fan of tomatoes either. It’s the texture for me too.”

Aya’s eyes glowed with excitement and she pulled on Bennett’s hand. “See, Dad? Justine doesn’t like tomatoes either. It’s not just me.” Her nose wrinkled. “Did Mama like tomatoes?”

Bennett cleared his throat again, and a sexy flush filled his cheeks beneath his thick brown scruff. “She did, yes.”

“Hmm,” Aya mused. “I wonder who I get my dislike of tomatoes from then?”

“We should get going,” Bennett said, encouraging his daughter to start walking again, only it wasn’t to the front door like Justine, it was to the rear of the building. Probably a staff door.

“Bye, Justine!” Aya called, giving Justine an enormous wave with one hand while holding onto her father’s hand with her other. “Have a good dinner.”

“Thanks, Aya. You enjoy your tomato-free turkey tacos and sorbet.”

That just made the little girl light up even more.

They disappeared a moment later around the corner and as soon as they were out of sight, Justine’s heart hurt.

Maybe eating alone in a public place wasn’t such a good idea.

Maybe she just needed to order her meal and take her food back to her cabin, or go eat on the beach.

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