Page 15 of The Summer I Stayed
You’re going to do great!
Caroline
So excited for you, sweetie!
Me
I’ll call later for moredetails. Girls?
Edna returns with my orders in a to-go bag. “Here you go, Maggie.”
I thank her, leaving a generous tip on the counter. “I’ll see you at the Summer Festival meeting later?”
Her eyes crinkle. “Looking forward to it, dear.”
The diner bell jingles as I exit, the heat and humidity hitting me with full force. I navigate my way through town, back to my lake house. Jake is hammering away at the porch, and Maverick is in the same place he was when I left.
“Lunchtime!” I cheerily say as I skip to the porch, a blanket and the brown paper bag in my hands.
“I’ll eat later,” Jake mumbles with a nail between his lips.
I prop my hand on my hip. “Your sandwich will get cold. Come on, roast beef with extra pickles.”
He pauses, looking over his shoulder at me. “How’d you know?”
“Edna, of course.” I shrug, grinning.
He considers this for a moment before sighing in defeat and setting aside his tools.
I spread the blanket I keep in the car under a nearby tree, the shade providing some respite from the warm summer sun. I place our sandwiches and pies on it before sitting down and patting the empty spot next to me invitingly. Jake hesitates a moment more before joining me.
Maverick, upon seeing Jake settle down, ambles over to us and flops down, resting his head on my lap. I laugh as his tail wags in contentment.
“Thanks for this,” Jake says, taking a bite of his sandwich.
I offer him a warm smile. “It’s the least I could do.”
He nods in agreement then we fall into a comfortable silence as we eat our lunch. I stare out at the lake, watching Jake out of the corner of my eye. I noticed he was a handsome man upon first meeting. I mean, not right away because of the raccoons, but once the chaos drifted away it was impossible not to.
My eyes rove over his facial features, taking in the way his brows furrow slightly as he watches the water ripple with the wind. His eyes are an intense shade of blue that reminds me of the deepest parts of the lake.
His gruff demeanor is intriguing and much different than Steven. He was friendly with everyone he met and had a way with words. He was a lawyer so of course he did. He was business suits and client meetings, except for the trips we made here to Blue Alder Cove. On those trips, he’d sport a Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops.
I suddenly picture Jake in a button-up shirt with flowers all over it and almost choke on my sandwich.
Jake raises a brow at me. “Are you okay?”
I nod and clear my throat. “Yes, just went down the wrong way.”
He grunts in response and returns his focus to his sandwich.
Glancing at him again, I find myself drawn to the way he carries himself. He’s a man of few words, but his actions speak volumes.
Like the way he took care of those raccoons, how he patiently corrects my mistakes, or the way he interacts with Maverick. There’s a gentle side to him that he hides behind this rough exterior.
Jake is the epitome of flannel shirt and worn-out jeans. So different from Steven yet…there’s a charm about Jake that’s starting to grow on me.
I shake the thought away.What am I thinking?
