Page 35 of Turbulent Fires

“You look stunning.”

I try not to fall for his charm. “Quit flirting.”

“Impossible,” he says. I roll my eyes.

My drink is placed before me, and I take a sip and sigh. It’s more delicious than the blogs described when I did research on the island. The scallops come out next, and I greedily consume five of them. Yep, they’rethatgood.

I want to try everything, but limit my order to grilled swordfish tacos, shrimp ceviche, and a citrus salad in the name of health. The waiter jokes with Wolf for a moment, confusing me. Does he have relationships with staff in restaurants all around the US?

“Do you make a habit of getting to know all restaurant employees?”

He laughs. “Well, I guess now’s the time to admit, I practically grew up on this island.”

I’m shocked. “Really. I grew up in Long Beach and never came here before. I find that a crime now.”

“Yep, my family has owned a house on the bluff since well before I was born.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” It’s hard to have a conversation when I keep stuffing my mouth as more food is brought out, but we somehow manage it. Everything tastes amazing.

“We haven’t talked about a lot of things. Maybe we should start,” he suggests.

“We’re having fun,” I remind him, instantly growing nervous as he makes any hint of deepening our relationship.

“You’re the first woman to ever make me nervous, Audrey Beach. I want to share with you even if it terrifies me at the same time.”

I pause as I gaze at him. It’s like we’re on the same page, both terrified of closeness without really knowing why. Maybe more people are afraid of being hurt than they’re willing to admit.

“Why me?” I ask in a rare moment of vulnerability.

He leans forward. “Because you didn’t fall for the act. You seem to see right through it all, and you’re still here.”

This is growing too deep for me, even if another part of me wants to go deeper. I change the subject to food. That’s always a safe topic. “This is spectacular. I might gain ten pounds in a few days if all of the food is this good.”

He pauses for a moment, most likely trying to decide if he’s going to let me off the hook or not. I hope he does. If this relationship is going to develop, there’s no reason for us to rush into anything.

He finally smiles. “I told you it’s excellent.” I give him a thankful smile.

We eat and banter like old friends. I laugh while he describes different shenanigans he’s pulled over the years on the island. My stomach hurts from laughing as he describes one time he was chased by a pelican he may or may not have provoked with French Fries. Since I’m on my second Buffalo Milk, I’m more relaxed.

“I’m sensing a theme here,” I tell him. “You seem to antagonize birds quite often.”

“Those things might look innocent, but I assure you they aren’t. They start it every single time. I’m simply a closer,” he says, doing a great job of looking like the victim. The man could be an actor if he wanted. I shake my head at him.

“What’s next on the official Audrey Beach itinerary?” he asks, finishing the last of his tacos.

“I want to drop off my bags then go to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden,” I tell him. “There are trails, and I can see all of the island foliage in one place.”

“Perfect. You’ll need a guide who knows the ins and outs of the island,” he says.

“I have maps and I’ve explored many places on my own before,” I assure him. He shakes his head.

“To truly be accepted here and get all of the information you could ever want, you have to be with a local. Otherwise, you’ll only get surface information, not the good stuff.”

He’s not wrong. It doesn’t take me long to cave. We leave the restaurant, check into my place, which he’s not thrilled about since he’s trying to talk me into staying with him, drop my bags, then return to Crescent Avenue to begin our exploration.

“It really does seem like this place is frozen in time,” I say.

“It’s part of the charm of the community. There are very few car permits allowed on the island. The wait list to have a regular vehicle is over thirty-five years now. The majority of people here walk, take bikes, or drive golf carts. I love it. It not only forces everyone to slow down but also reduces the noise pollution. There’s nothing better than taking a walk at two in the morning when it’s really quiet. The lights, nature sounds, and smells are incredible.”

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