Page 13 of Summer Ever After
So am I.
I’m the crazy fake choking lady.
I want to crawl into a hole and die.
Beau’s eyes flick behind me. “Walker, you saved her life.”
Walker?
My breaths stall once again.
I know onlyoneWalker.
But there’s no way he’d be in Sunset Harbor, right?
RIGHT?
His hands drop from my sides, and I slowly turn around.
Forget about heart flutters. A freaking earthquake shakes my entire body.
It’s been nine years since I’ve seen Capri’s older brother, Walker. It’s pathetic that that information is dialed up in my brain, but it is. Technically, I see him on TV all the time, so I shouldn’t be this awestruck. But Walker Collins was made to be admired, and I hate how much I’m admiring him right now.
He stands inches above me in a t-shirt and shorts. Dark curls wisp out the sides and back of his hat.
Dang, those dark curls.
They’ve been rendering me speechless for as long as I can remember.
The school-girl crush from my teen years roars to life. It’s like I’m sixteen-year-old Sandra Dee, sitting on a swing, singing “Hopelessly Devoted to You.” That’s the kind of hold Walker had over me when I was younger.
His brows lower in confusion as recognition settles in. “Jane?” There may also be a slight smile mixed in with his confusion, but I’m not paying any attention to that.
“Walker! Hey!” I throw my hand up in a wave. “Long time no see.”
“Seriously, it has been a long time. I’m shocked to see you.” Beau extends his arm to him. “What are you doing in Sunset Harbor?”
“I’m just in town to save Jane’s life. But now that she’s breathing again, I guess I’ll be on my way.” His gaze darts to me as he shakes Beau’s hand. There was a time in my life when I would’ve charted the different shades of blue in Walker’s eyes. Maybe I did. I’d have to check my diary circa seventh grade.
I laugh, trying to play off my embarrassment. “Sorry about the whole choking thing. I’m sure thrusting me is the last thing you wanted to do during dinner.”
Walker’s lips pull into an amused smile, and it’sthatsmile that makes me realize just how bad my last sentence sounded.
A blush burns my cheek. “I meant Heimlich Maneuver motions.” I’m refusing to say the wordthrustagain. “Where you hit my stomach with your fist.” I even demonstrate, just in case he’s stupid.
“Relax, Jane. I know what you meant.” There’s a smirk on his face, the teasing kind he used to give me when we wereyounger. I could never tell if he was making fun of me or flirting with me. I still can’t.
Beau looks back and forth between us. “If the Heimlich didn’t work, I had the Life Vac ready to go. A lot of people waste time trying to dislodge food items themselves before they try the Life Vac, but I always reach for that first while someone else does the Heimlich. You really can’t waste a minute. I cannot tell you how many lives have been saved because of this apparatus.”
“Thanks for being prepared.” If I had really been choking, I would appreciate his fast thinking, but not so much in this situation.
Beau’s work cell goes off, pausing the conversation as he reads the text. “It looks like there’s an emergency at the retirement home.” His eyes lift to me. “Jane, can I take a raincheck for our date?”
“Yeah, of course. You should go.” It was a disaster of a date anyway. I don’t think we can recover from the choking escapade.
I know I won’t ever get it out of my mind.
“Okay, we’ll talk soon.” Beau leans in like he debates kissing me on the cheek but decides to pat my shoulder instead. Probably a smart choice. But as he walks away, an unsettled feeling fills my stomach.
