Page 3 of Love & Lattes at The Mermaid Cafe
“I don’t date.” Lena places both hands on her side of the butcherblock counter, looking attractively untouchable.
“I’m not looking to date.” Nevertheless, the idea of a date with her appeals. “That said…I was wondering if you’d like to show me around town.” Nothing like a local to give you the real story about a place. My dad taught me that. And he’s the reason I’m here. I need a big deal to prove to the old man that I can take over the family real estate development business without it missing a step.
“Bad idea,” our audience weighs in. The old lady cradles what looks like a hand-thrown, brown mug with a three-dimensional, scowling face added on it.
“I can turn dates down by myself, Marina,” Lena says.
Marina harrumphs, taking a sip of whatever is in that mug.
“No, thank you, Cade,” Lena continues, smiling sweetly. “I have a No Date policy.”
Her statement takes me by surprise. Lena is the complete package—pretty, smart, sassy, and with her act together. Not to mention, I’ve been told I’m something of a catch.
“Trouble is trying to regroup.” Marina chuckles.
I don’t turn to acknowledge my heckler. “It wasn’t a date I had in mind. I’m considering buying property here.” That much wastrue. “Mermaid Bay has its charm and I want to know if it’s TV movie charm or real-real charm.”
“Trouble,” Marina repeats from the corner, flinging a long gray braid over her shoulder. “Those fancy shoes say big business. If I had to guess…real estate developer.”
Lena considers my face. Then my Italian loafers.
I nod, trying to look sincere.
Those who’ve dealt with my father would probably tell you it’s impossible for any Delaney to be sincere. But they’d be wrong. I sincerely believe that revitalizing a town or neighborhood is good for everyone long term.
“Why do you want to live here?” Lena asks, perhaps not buying Marina’s correct assessment that I’m in real estate. “Marina’s right. Those shoes of yours are out of place here.”
I don’t want to live in Mermaid Bay. I want to buy up commercial property and make Mermaid Bay a modern-day playground, bringing economic growth that would benefit everyone.
But that’s not the point, so I deflect. “Why should I choose Mermaid Bay?”
“He’s a candidate for the Mermaid Bay Legacy Tour.” Marina laughs disparagingly. “The man doesn’t have eyes.”
Oh, I have eyes, all right. And perfect hearing, along with a quick wit. And I can tell the old woman doesn’t like strangers.
“Cade, I can take you on the Mermaid Bay Legacy Tour tomorrow. Say nine-thirty or ten o’clock?” Lena smiles a little.
Ah, yes. The woman who’d made me coffee with a heart in the latte foam is still a believer in the good in her fellow man, stranger or not.
And if I didn’t admit to myself that Lena’s belief in me mattered for some reason, I’d be the jaded, heartless, wealthy man my father was.
The man I aspire to be.
Chapter Three
Lena
“I can’t believe you let yourself be conned by Trouble,” Marina tells me after Cade agreed to the Mermaid Bay Legacy Tour, finished his latte, and left. “He’s up to something.”
“I’ve seen his type before,” I say. Just not in such an attractive package. “I’ve got this. Besides, the Mermaid Bay Legacy Tour has scared away its share of bad eggs.” I couldn’t recall anyone making it past the second stop.
“He’s a different kind of trouble.” Marina came behind the coffee counter to refill her mug. She’s the grandmother of Keira, my best employee, and she likes the dregs in the coffee carafe at the end of the day. “He’s the kind that doesn’t know he’s trouble.”
“Don’t worry, Marina. This is me, remember?Three step-children. Two divorces. And one layoff.I’ve seen things.” Been broken. Glued my pieces back together. Been happy with theresult. “I agree with you. That man is up to no good.” Hot guys in Italian leather usually were. “But we don’t let troublemakers wander about Mermaid Bay unsupervised. What if he runs into Merry?” The woman who ran Merry Christmas Cheer and was gullible when it came to salesmen, hence her overstock of drum-banging Santas from two years ago.
And Mr. Handsome was definitely trying to sell something.
“I suppose you’re right, Marina. Can’t have Cade talking to the mayor.” Everyone knew the mayor could be bought. Hence the winery that had been planted on the bluff above the cove five years ago. “I can handle Cade,” I assure Marina.
