Page 48 of Win Some Love Some
Nora sucked in her breath, while I rolled my eyes.
“What’s the matter, Nick? Don’t you believe in love?” Mal asked with a smirk.
“Sure,” I said, then shifted in my chair. Why were we talking about this with Nora right there? We were keeping her from her job. “Of course. If you have time for that kind of stuff.”
“Don’t mind Nick, Mal. He is allergic to feelings.”
“I’m not allergic,” I grumbled. “Just busy. Speaking of busy, don’t you have water glasses to fill or something?”
“I do,” she said, and I watched as she bounced - there was no other way to describe it - off to another table.
That’s how Nora used to walk. That’s how she approached everything. With an energy that was unmatched by anyone I knew.
If she was back to bouncing, then she was healing.
The asshole con man hurt her by humiliating her, but he didn’t touch her heart.
Nora just needed time home, with her parents, her siblings.
Me.
Suddenly, there was a squeal and a thump and Nora practically ran past our table, a huge smile on her face like she’d just seen Santa Claus. I turned to see if maybe her parents had stepped in for dinner. But all I saw was Nora flinging herself into the arms of a tall guy who lifted her up off her feet. Around us, all the servers rolled their eyes and turned away to protect their plates and tables.
“Oh, look who is back in town,” Mal said casually. “It’s Peter.”
“Peter?” I asked, like I’d never once heard of a man named Peter in all of Calico Cove.
“You know, Peter. Peter Tanner. He’s Ed Tanner’s younger nephew. From a half-sister, I believe. Peter used to spend summers here when he was a teenager and would babysit for Bobby and Mari’s kids when they were younger. You remember. Handsome kid, who sometimes worked the counter at the Common Grounds.”
“I don’t ever buy fancy coffee drinks. I make it at home. Black.”
Why the hell did I sound defensive?
Peter Tanner. Sherriff Bobby Tanner’s younger cousin. Who spent summers here.
He knew Nora. Knew her well, if the way they were chatting and laughing at the front of the restaurant was any indication.
That figured. Nora loved fancy coffee drinks and knew everyone in town.
“You know he’s a best-selling author now? Police thrillers. Can you imagine that? Before he’s thirty years old?”
Now that Mal had mentioned it, it all came back to me. A few months ago, Sheriff Bobby had said how his cousin had hit the NYT list. Asked me if I had remembered him. I hadn’t really.
I also hadn’t realized he’d been tight with Nora. Although at the time, Nora was still in France running around with her con man boyfriend, so I’d been distracted.
“I can’t,” I said. I couldn’t imagine hitting the NYT list and I couldn’t imagine Nora being friends with the tall, smiling, handsome, successful author who was holding onto her shoulders and smiling down at her face like she was the best thing to ever happen to him.
“Nick,” Mal said, pulling my attention back to him. “You all right?”
“Fine,” I said, and drank the last of my water. Nora should be focusing on her water job and not Peter, the tall successful author.
“I heard Wyatt Locke is considering moving to Calico Cove and is looking for some property so he can build,” Mal said.
“What about it?” I was watching Mr. Author Man squeeze Nora’s hands. There was a lot of squeezing happening over there.
“You know I have a stranglehold on most of the property surrounding the Cove. I hate the thought of corporate developers coming into our town and ruining its charm. But I’d be willing to part with some land for a private investor. If you think Wyatt would make an excellent addition to our community.”
“Why are you asking me about Wyatt Locke?” I asked.
