Page 11 of Fake Dating in Half Moon Bay

She nodded. It wasn’t up to her who paid for their meals. She was the chef and kitchen manager, nothing more. Pride surged through her. She was making her way back up.

“Your family seems nice. I talked to your mom a bit at the opening. She’s sweet.”

“Ha.” His laugh was wry. “Mom’s got a backbone of steel if you cross her.” His grin turned soft and loving. “She’s a great person, except for trying to get me married off all the time. Other than that, I don’t know how she puts up with the four of us.

“Yeah, I heard about the argument between Derrick and Jacob the day the inn opened. It sounds like it was something else.” She scrubbed a particularly stubborn spot to keep from turning to gaze at him. “Tell me about them.”

“You’ve got to watch out for my brothers. Jacob’s a workaholic. Tyson’s got issues over his aborted football career. Being a high school principal wasn’t on his to do list. Derrick … well he’s just Derrick. Mad at the world and itching for a fight.”

“And Zander? What’s his issue?” She couldn’t resist teasing him.

“Zander’s amazing in all respects,” he quipped. “No issues at all. He’s a talented veterinarian. His mother’s favorite son. Kind to strangers. Rescues fair maidens from wild creatures.”

She risked a glance at him at the last comment. His wink went straight to her heart. He was an irrepressible flirt. Just like her ex. Any attraction she might have been feeling, vanished at the comparison.

“And humble too, I see.”

“It isn’t vain if it’s true,” he countered.

It felt like he was aiming for something with all the self-praise, but she couldn’t put her finger on where he was headed. “Time will tell if Zander is all that and a bag of chips, or just a big old blowhard with an ego the size of Ontario.”

“I think you mean the size of Texas. We are in the United States.”

“Well, I’m from Canada and if the province fits ….” She rinsed the roaster and started loading the pots into the industrial dishwasher for sterilization. The dishwasher was one of the first changes she’d made when Jacob hired her. You couldn’t have food service without proper equipment.

“The US is far superior to Canada, you crazy Canuck.”

“In your dreams, Yankee Boy, in your dreams.”

They stared at each other, and she couldn’t help but laugh. He frowned for a second before joining in. “Honestly,” she said, trying to catch her breath, “we live in two amazing countries.”

They high fived and she marveled at how well they seemed to click. Not that it mattered, because she wasn’t interested in her boss’s brother. Even as her brain told her she wasn’t interested, her heart whispered that she might be. She was attracted and she barely knew him … a fact that didn’t bode well for her heart. How in the world was she going to keep her distance?

Chapter 6

Stars popped out of the night sky as Zander sat in his truck outside the inn. Stargazing was a regular part of his life. There was something peaceful and invigorating about watching the night sky come to life right in front of him. He could name dozens of constellations. As always, he was struck by Cassiopeia, the queen. It was one of his favorites because of its ease of recognition. The erratic W-shape was easy to spot. It was the first his father ever taught him. Tonight, for some reason, it reminded him of his brother’s chef.

Heather Olsen was a distraction he didn’t need. He had a mother and brothers to worry about. There were animals to care for, and a business to run. Unfortunately, there was something about Heather that turned him into an absolute flirt. Sure. He flirted with every woman in town. It was a defense mechanism of sorts. Women stayed away because he flirted too much. But flirting with Heather felt different, like there was something at stake. The sensation was unnerving. He shrugged off the thought as he drove home from the family dinner.

Though the evening was drawing to a close, he rolled slowly through town taking in the sights. Main Street with its quaintly named stores always made him smile. The Barnacle Bookshop, the Buried Treasures antique store, and the Old Bay Bait and Tackle Shop, which was right next to the Tide’s In Café, and one of his favorite shops was Not Washed Up Yet, a secondhand consignment shop for clothing. It was the nature of his job that he destroyed a lot of clothing, despite wearing coveralls and lab coats. It made sense to buy used clothing for work. There was a light on inside the shop, and he saw Ellery sorting donations.

He was tempted to stop and talk with her, to catch up. But they’d dated a few times and despite it ending amicably, he worried that she’d take a surprise visit the wrong way. She was a lovely woman but didn’t spark any romantic interest in his heart. Not like Heather.

Seeing her there, all alone, made his mind roll forward to a wife and family of his own. Someday, when his business was under control, when his brothers had their lives together, he’d have time for dating and marriage. Even once he married, he’d save room for his family’s needs.

As he drove past, the tower clock on the town hall warned him it was later than he thought. How had it gotten so late? The evening had flown by. He had thoroughly enjoyed himself, not just because he kissed Heather, though that was a factor, as was the anticipation of catching glimpses of her as she served dinner.

He should be exhausted but he felt like he’d consumed too much coffee. He was wired, in a good way. Like he couldn’t wait for whatever came next. He shook his head. He wasn’t a kid to be excited over nothing. What was his mind trying to tell him?

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled into the library lot and parked to answer it.

“Dr.Bellamie,” he greeted the caller.

Mrs.Miggins’ frightened voice burst over the line. “Dr.B. Help me. Peachie-Pie is sick. Really sick. I don’t know what’s wrong.” The septuagenarian was a lonely woman who doted too much on her pet. She’d managed to bypass his answering service and found his cell phone number.

“Can you bring Peaches to the clinic? I’m only five minutes away.”

“Yes. Thank you.” He could barely make out the words over her tears.

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