Dangerous: A Seaside Cove Romance (8 page)

Claire sat on her couch, adjusting her dress for the hundredth time. Did she really agree to go on a blind date? She had forgot about Ben Tomlin in the month since Rachel set them up but... a first date on Valentine's Day?

Ben called a few evenings earlier, moments after Eli had blown her off in the classroom yet again. Hurt and confused, Claire accepted the date almost eagerly. She wanted to be more than an overscheduled mother for one evening. 

Claire glanced at the clock above the TV. Twenty minutes late. Forget a blind date, she was being stood up on Valentine's Day.

Claire touched her hair, checking her curly bun. It had taken thirty minutes to make it appear like she had thrown it together in one twist. With hair so stick straight, it was difficult to get it to do things like a messy curly updo. Rachel sent her the YouTube link, and she battled with her hair like a good girl. She only flipped her laptop screen off once. Okay, twice.

Claire pulled at her dress hem yet again. That was it - too short. She was changing. She stood, just as a car pulled into the driveway. Her stomach did a flip, then flopped itself back into position.

"I guess I'm not changing," she muttered, glancing at her reflection in the TV screen. Not bad; when she was standing.

Claire grabbed the door handle and waited for a knock. Twenty seconds, then thirty. No knock. She peered through the peephole and saw a very attractive man with short dark hair in a gray suit on her porch. He faced the door, talking.

Who is he talking to? 

Was he nervous? Talking himself into knocking? Claire grinned. That was sweet. She opened the door.

Ben startled and raised a finger in the
just a second
position. Claire's mouth dropped.

Okay.

"I don't give a shit," he said. "A deadline is a deadline. Stay in your office all weekend for all I care." Ben paused, and Claire noticed the bluetooth ear piece. "Would you like me to remind you about Tuscany?" Ben smiled. "Thank you. Call my secretary if you have any other questions."

Ben tapped his ear, staring at Claire. Unease settled into her as his eyes trailed over her body. A quick assessment, nothing slick about it.

"Claire. Sorry about that. Election is coming up; always on the clock. Do you mind taking a picture of me for Instagram?" He handed Claire his phone. He stepped around her to stand by the front door. "It's just your house looks so damn charming from the outside." He said "from the outside" while he peered in her still open front door. "I'll shut the door and stand right here."

Claire realized Ben meant for her to take a picture of him standing on her porch. She reached the bottom step and automatically started to call out, "Say cheese."

"Do you mind? It's just... the charm is lost unless you can see the entire cabin." Ben adjusted his tie and swiped an imaginary piece of dust off of his shoulder.

Claire stepped into her driveway, searching for the Candid Camera crew. She took a few pictures of Ben and then walked back to him. He scrolled through the photos in silence, selecting one.

"What's your Instagram name? I'll tag you," Ben said, smiling at her.

"I don't have Instagram," Claire mumbled.

Claire kept her hands folded in her lap, inspecting her chipped red nails each time they passed under a lamp. She had meant to throw a fresh coat on them. The polish was a few weeks old, from when she and Ella had a mommy and daughter spa date. Robby drove toy cars up and down their legs while they painted each other's toenails.

Claire sat awkwardly in Ben's car, not wanting to touch anything for fear of getting it dirty. She imagined herself as Pigpen, a cloud of dirt following her. She had been in clean vehicles before; ones without Cheerios in the carpet, crayon marks on the upholstery and half empty juice boxes to avoid. This one was cleaner than the average
I don't have small children
clean
.
It also smelled expensive. She was afraid if she touched anything, it would shatter.

The awkward silence, however, she wanted to shatter.

"This is a good song," Claire said. She had never heard it. Heavy metal was not music. She preferred the classics: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Good beats, meaningful lyrics with layers. Even if sometimes the layers were acid inspired, at least they did not scream at her.

"Yeah?" Ben looked over at her agreeably, turning the radio up. Why did she say that? Claire's fingers searched for a beat to tap along to, but it seemed impossible.

After the longest four minutes of her life, the song ended as Ben pulled into a parking spot.

"Damnit!" He punched the steering wheel once and Claire looked around the empty parking lot, her eyes wide. "I knew I should have had my secretary call for reservations."

Ben parked outside of a small restaurant on Main Street called The Opera House. A sign proclaiming, 'closed for construction' hung over the dark windows.

"This is my first date place. I don't have a backup." Ben glanced at her, letting his eyes travel down over her chest and to her bare knees. Claire tugged at the hem again.

"That's okay. I'm kinda tired anyway," she lied, but faked a yawn to prove her point.

"Don't be stupid. There are other places to eat," Ben said, pulling his eyes from her knees and putting the car in reverse. Claire suppressed an eye roll.
Don't be stupid. Thanks Rachel for a fantastic date. Is this payback for something I did when we were kids?

"It's Valentine's Day; maybe we should give up?"

"An old friend of mine works a real nice place in the mountains. It's no Opera House, but it's got a great view. No problem, we'll get a table. Bluffs Brewery. You been there?"

Claire's breath caught. She willed herself to act normal. "Yeah, a few times."

"It's good right? My buddy Eli runs the bar. I'll call my secretary and make sure they have a table ready for us."

He's friends with Eli? Seaside Cove is too small.

"I know Eli," Claire ventured when Ben got off the phone.

"Yeah?" Ben did not ask how, but talked about his move back to Seaside Cove last summer, how he had decided to run for mayor, and how he was thinking about setting roots. "I'm getting older. Not many bachelor mayors. Rachel tells me you're a veteran and a single mom, struggling on a small income. Did you know we have a high veteran population in Seaside Cove? Most of them are voters."

Ben winked at her and Claire stared back blankly. What was he implying? And did Rachel really tell him she was struggling on a single income?

Ben jerked the steering wheel to the left to climb up the mountain. Claire's stomach felt like it stayed on the main road for a moment before catching up to her. When they reached the top of the mountain, she would have to see Eli. What were the odds of him not being there? She did not need Eli's math skills to know the odds were not in her favor.

Claire thought about Eli in her living room almost a month ago, pressing her against the wall. Now, she would be at the brewery with another man.

It did not matter, there was nothing between them. Not even a friendship, according to Eli. He would not care.

So, why was she still so nervous?

They sat in almost silence, the only sound coming from the speakers; the screaming disguised as music. She could ignore the radio a little longer.

It was beautiful out that night, the sky was clear except for a single cloud, illuminated by the full moon and stars. Each curve in the road brought another spectacular view of the ocean over the cliffs. She could not imagine working at the brewery, seeing those views every day.

When they reached the restaurant, Ben pulled into a spot towards the back of the full lot. He reached over Claire and she tensed for a moment until she realized his hand was on the door handle. "I always open the door for my dates."

Claire smiled and muttered "thanks" before stepping outside. The crisp air wrapped around her skin and she pulled her shawl tighter. Ben already stood at the front of the car, scrolling through his cell phone. She walked up and stood beside him for a moment, suppressing a sigh.

Rachel, this has to be a joke. Right?
Claire thought about every mean thing she had ever done to Rachel growing up. Was anything worth this?

"One second, checking my messages." Ben typed at the screen. Claire stared at the highest windows above the brewery, dark and still. Eli's apartment.

"Thanks for waiting," Ben said, sliding his phone into his pants pocket. "I'm sorry I'm kinda all over the place. I'm working with a small staff for the election, and I want to make sure everything goes smoothly." He smiled, his first easy smile of the evening. If he smiled like that at Rachel, maybe that was why she set them up. Maybe it was not a cruel joke after all. Her sister had always been a sucker for a good looking man. 

He offered Claire his arm, and after only a moment's hesitation, she took it. They walked across the parking lot, the quiet country music growing louder. When they got to the porch, she noticed a large bucket at the base of the stairs.

Odd and out of place, she glanced down at it. It was almost filled to the top with water from a broken gutter. The ground was only slightly muddy around the bucket, saving her shoes and proving it was doing its job.

They stepped inside and she should have relaxed. Instead, as they climbed the stairs, Claire's muscles tensed, thinking of how different things bad been the last time she had been there.

"Claire!" Molly greeted them. Her smile was large and infectious, her dark auburn hair tied up in a knot on top of her head. She glowed with happiness, as always.

"Hi, Molly," Claire said, returning Molly's hug.

"Please tell me you're here to set him straight. I swear Eli has been such a-" Molly stopped, noticing Ben standing beside Claire in the lobby. "Mr. Tomlin, right?"

"Ben." Ben extended his hand. The corner of his mouth raised, as if he was in on a private joke. "Eli has been such a what?"

"Sorry, just Eli will be happy that we have more, um- Betty!" Molly waved at a waitress walking through the lobby. "Can you please take Mr. Tomlin and Claire to the balcony table we just set up? Happy Valentine's Day."

Betty, the pretty blonde Claire met the night she filled in, approached them, eying Ben. Betty winked at Claire before grabbing two menus from the hostess stand. She walked into the dining room.

Ben extended his hand in the air and nodded at Claire, indicating she should go first. Claire followed the waitress, wanting so much to glance at the bar as they passed and see Eli. She let her eyes stray over to the bar.

Eli made a mixed drink and talked to Jack. He wore a white t-shirt with the brewery logo, and it stretched across his muscles. She turned away before anyone noticed her looking at him, even as she did, Jack caught her eye. He stopped laughing and elbowed Eli.

I've been made!

She should have made eye contact with Eli. Smiled. Nodded curtly. Friendly. But everything in her body fought her, as they climbed the stairs to the balcony. Soon they would be out of Eli's sight.

"Here we are," Betty said. Their seats were at a beautiful table set in front of the large picture window. A small white candle in the center of the black tablecloth with a red rose lying on either side. A perfect touch for the holiday, not overdone.

They were on full display from the bar. She glanced around the room, all the other tables were full. Ben and Betty stared at her, waiting for her to sit. She was being ridiculous. She sat.

Betty relayed the specials, but Claire could not concentrate.
Get it over with.
Her eyes darted to the bar, her body freezing as she locked eyes with Eli. He stared at her with a look so pointed and angry, he could set fire to the room.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Eli asked.

Tomlin had something up his sleeve. He had been into the brewery twice since he discovered Eli there. This time, Ben brought a date. A short curvy woman. Eli broke the toothpick in his hand. He reached for another, stabbing a few cherries and tossing them in the Hawaiian Sunrise.

"He?" Jack poured two glasses of beer and handed them to the waiting waitress. "It wasn't a
he
I pointed at."

Eli grabbed an empty glass and glared at Ben as he walked up the stairs. "Why are they getting that table? Don't tell me they set it out for him and whatever dumb chick he's-"

Eli almost dropped the glass in his hand. Claire stood at the top of the stairs. Ben's date.

Molly appeared at the counter. "Crap, I'm too late. I wanted to tell you before you saw them. That's the guy Rachel set her up with."

Eli saw Ben smirk at him before sitting down at the table across from Claire.

"I'm going to kill Rachel." Eli set the glass down, feeling as though it could shatter in his hand. No. He would kill Ben. If he had the chance. What game was he playing? How had he found out about Claire? "It can't be a coincidence. He's using Claire to get to me."

"I didn't think there was anything between you and Claire?" Molly asked, glancing between Eli and Jack. Jack shrugged. "Rachel gave him Claire's number before she even started school -- before you guys met."

Eli let that sink in. But, he still did not want Ben anywhere near Claire. Claire laid her menu down and he saw her glance down a him. She looked like a Bond girl in that tight black dress. Why did she have to look so sexy?

She dressed like that for her date with Ben. Eli's mind went dark. He saw his hands on Ben's chest, picking him up and pushing him out of the window, his body landing on the rocks below.

Her face disappeared behind the menu. Betty leaned on the counter, snapping her fingers in Eli's face, and he crashed back to reality.

"A whiskey neat and an iced tea. Her date said spike the iced tea," Betty said, giggling. "He's hot."

"He's an asshole." Eli filled the order. Rachel set them up weeks ago, right? They must have hit it off if they were on a date on Valentine's. Had Ben shown her his real side? Did she like the darkness?

"Really? He seems sweet," Betty said, twirling a strand of hair by her ear.

Eli grunted.