Page 12 of June 7

"Where did you live before moving here?"

"Beaverton."

"I've been there." She set her plate on the table. "That's where all the outlet shopping malls are located, right?"

"Probably."

She laughed. Of course, he wasn't into fashion or shopping. She wasn't either, but Liz loved to go to the sales, and she rode along once when they both had the day off to keep her friend company. Beaverton was a couple of hours from Seaglass Cove.

Bane reached toward her. She froze, watching his hand go to her shirt. He pinched the material and then held up his thumb. There was a spot of ketchup on his skin.

Warmth flushed her face. She inhaled swiftly. For a second, she thought he was going to touch her.

"I need a bib." She grabbed a napkin off the tray and dabbed at the spot. "I've ruined more shirts because of food stains."

She looked up and caught him gazing at her breasts as she worked on the spot. The ocean breeze couldn't even cool off her face.

Staining her shirts was the punishment she received for having large breasts. How often had she wished food would fall to her lap instead of staining all her shirts?

Bane's lips parted. She swallowed, caught in the arousal she spotted in his gaze. Now was not the time to feel attracted to her new neighbor. They had nothing in common.

He seemed like a man-whore who left broken hearts in his wake.

She stood at the same time she heard a familiar voice call her name. Whirling toward the sliding door, she was surprised to see Liz.

"I hope you have an extra burger. I could smell the grill from the driveway." Liz's gaze dropped to Bane in the chair and turned sour. "What is he doing here?"

"I invited him over to have dinner with me." She brushed the front of her shirt off. "He lives on the other side of the duplex."

Liz glanced around the patio. "So, no extra burger."

She laughed, trying to soften Liz's judgment of Bane. "I'll go grab another one out of the freezer for you. You can sit down and keep Bane company. Maybe show him you're not so rude once you get to know someone."

Liz snarled. Daisy shook her head, knowing her friend well. Bane would soon learn Liz was not the moody person she liked to portray to everyone.

She went into the house. It wasn't unusual for Liz to stop by and eat. They hadn't talked all day, considering it was Liz's day off at the pool.

Retrieving the frozen hamburger patty from the freezer, she went back outside to find Bane gone and Liz staring out at the ocean.

"Did you chase him off?" She restarted the grill.

Liz kept her back to her. She used the tongs to put the patty on the barbecue and shut the lid.

"Liz?" She approached her friend and put her hand on her back. "Everything okay?"

Liz turned to her. "You know I caught your neighbor coming out of your bedroom last weekend."

She laughed at the idea. They'd only had dinner. How had that turned into something more scandalous?

"Bane has never been in my side of the duplex." She shrugged. "Why would he when he lives right next door?"

Liz grabbed her shoulders. "I know you don't want to talk about what you do every June 7th—"

"Stop." Daisy pulled away from her. "There's nothing to talk about."

She walked over to the grill and peeked under the hood. The burger wasn't getting done fast enough. She turned up the gas and made the flames higher.

"I came here to check on you because I haven't had time off to catch you alone." Liz grabbed Daisy's hand, not letting her walk away. "Like I check up on you every year."

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