Page 77 of The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay (Blitzen Bay)

“That’s not what I said,” I say, smiling at her retreating back.

“That’s what I heard!”

I watch her as she grabs Darrel’s plate, delivers it to his table, and walks back over to me. She looks down at my plate and sees the untouched blueberries. I shake my head and put a big spoonful into my mouth. They’re not too bad.

“Very nice.” She sits down again. “So what questions? Ask away—”

“How long were you and Steve together?”

“Two years. We started dating right before my junior year,” she says without a hint of sadness in her voice.

“Did you date someone before him?” I eat another helping of the blueberries. She smiles.

“No one serious in college before him, but I had a serious high school boyfriend.”

“So you’re like a serial monogamist.”

She shrugs. “Yeah, I guess. I’ve never been very good at juggling things. How about you?”

“How about me, what?”

“More monogamist or play the field? Did you have a girlfriend in high school?”

I stroke my beard. “Several.”

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, I kind of had you pictured as a player.”

“I’m not a player.” I shake my head. “It’s just, you know, finding women has never been a problem. Finding the right woman on the other hand . . .”

“Hmm,” she says, squinting her eyes. “Who do I think would be the right woman for Nash Young?”

I smile as I finish up the blueberries. “You know my mom told me the other day that I’m a caretaker, so I need someone to take care of, but I told her women don’t need me or any guy to take care of them.”

“It’s the difference between need and want,” she says. “We don’t need it, but want it? I guess it depends on the woman.”

“Okay,” I say slowly. “How about you? Is that something you want?”

“The other night before Dad left, he told me to find a man who would always have my back. That kind of care—yeah, I want that a lot. I don’t need someone to take care of me financially or even physically, you know? But someone to back me up, to be there for me emotionally, I want that. It’s not easy to find a guy who understands the difference.”

“You’re not looking in the right place—”

“Really?” She locks her eyes with mine and smiles. “Am I looking in the right place now?”

I smile and nod slowly. “Well, I guess that’s up to you, but I definitely have your back and you already know my chest is made for hugging, so . . .”

“I have a feeling you’d have a problem with me taking care of myself financially and physically.”

“Not at all. In fact, if you want to keep me as your trophy boyfriend, I would be very okay with that. And I’ve already started getting you ready to kick people’s butts, so go crazy.”

“Yet every time anyone tries to confront me, you throw me behind you and when I try to pay for something, you steal my credit card. I think you need to take care of people that way.”

“Need and want,” I say, laughing. “Do I want to take care of you in every way possible? Yes. So much. But I don’t need to. I’m okay with boundaries.”

She shakes her head and laughs. “See, those blueberries have already helped your brain function. You’re thinking very quickly on your feet.”

“Thank God I have you to look after me.” I drain the last of my coffee. “What time does your shift end? Do you want to hang out after?”

“You know, I really need to chill today, but I still want to go to Sam’s tonight. Are you going to pick me up?”

I try not to show my disappointment. I’m getting used to being around her all day. “Yeah, of course. Around five-thirty?”

“Perfect.” She stands up and points at my empty bowl. “Good work with the blueberries. You feel younger, don’t you?”

“At least ten years,” I say, laughing as I watch her walk away.

For the first time since she got here, I realize that this is temporary. She’s leaving tomorrow. A wave of desperation runs through my body.

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