Page 7 of Summer Ever After
“So, I’m glad you asked me here tonight. I’ve been meaning to get together with you.” He leans back in his chair, giving me a chance to notice his broad shoulders.
Have you been working out, Beau?
My smile widens partly from his nice shoulders and partly from what he said. “You’ve been meaning to get together with me?”
“Yeah, I feel like we have the same goals. We want the same things.”
Oh my gosh. Beau Palmer already loves me.
“I couldn’t agree more.” I shrug innocently, as if I’m not already planning our beach wedding.
“We both love Sunset Harbor and want to stay here forever.”
“Exactly.” I can’t believe how smoothly this first date is going.
“And we want what’s best for the community.”
Community?
What does the community have to do with our lovestory? Unless he’s thinking the locals would love seeing two of their own get together.
“I have a proposal…” he continues.
We’ve been friends forever, but a wedding proposal now is a little fast, even for me. We skipped all the good parts of the relationship.
“…Like a proposal I want to put before the city council soon, and I'd love to be able to count on your support.”
Instead of knocking the wind out of my sails, it knocked over my fake wedding arch.
“The city council?” That’s not the kind of proposal I was expecting.
“Well, yeah. As the city administrator, you’re so influential around the island. Everyone loves you. A good word from you is worth its weight in gold, and we’re such good friends. I’d love your support with the city council.”
“Oh.”
I’m such an idiot.
To Beau, this “date” is a casual business meeting between twofriends.
He studies my chagrin. “Unless you don’t want to get involved. If you prefer to stay out of the dealings with the council, I’ll understand.”
“No, it’s not that. I just…” I scratch the back of my neck, feeling a little sheepish.
How do I explain to Beau that, last night at book club, I told my friends Cat and Holland I was going to fall in love this summer by using all the classic romance tropes we read about in our favorite books? And I plan on using these tropes with men who already live on the island.
When I verbalize the plan, it sounds completely ridiculous.
And immature.
And desperate.
And fake.
That’s why I’d rather not tell Beau about my summer plans and how they relate to him.
No, the Summer of Jane Hayes sounds better in my head—it makes more sense there—so that’s where the plan will stay.
Instead, I look at him with a guilty smile. “Well, I’m embarrassed to say this, but I kind of thought tonight was a date.”
