Love Redone in Hidden Harbor (Island County Book 2) (6 page)

“No. His visit is only for the weekend. Thank God.” I patted Nick’s hand on my shoulder and grinned. “He’s planning his wedding.” My voice went up an octave.

“Oh, dear,” Tori let out a deep breath. “Well, at least he didn’t ask you to do the flowers.”

I rolled my eyes and groaned.

“What am I missing?” Mason asked, watching me slam the shot.

“Cole and Natalie went together forever, and then they broke up in college. If I remember, it was kind of sudden.” Tori gave the short version. “I was certain they would be that one couple from high school who outlasted everyone and would marry and live happily ever after. But please tell me that you aren’t doing his flowers.”

“I’m not doing his flowers,” I chuckled, glancing at Mason. “Well, maybe I am.”

“In fact, that’s why we’re here,” Nick informed Tori. “She’s finalizing the details.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Tori’s eyes widened. “That level of cruelty is just… I don’t have words.”

Good thing she didn’t see the email Cole sent over.

“Ooh.” Mason rubbed his fingers along his jawline. “That’s not good.”

“He didn’t know I owned the floral shop.” I suddenly felt the urge to protect Cole, which Tori picked up on as she narrowed her gaze on me.

“The fiancée got so excited that she ran into some people from Cole’s childhood that she insisted on a mini-reunion,” Nick continued. “So they’ll be here any second.”

“Yikes. So Cole hasn’t mentioned your history.” Tori continued to eye me, and I shook my head.

“Guess not.”

“You might need another one of those.” Tori pointed at my empty shot glass.

“You think?”

“I know.” She tapped on the bar and ordered another one for me. “So have you met the other woman?”

“Not the other woman. The
only
woman,” I corrected. “And yeah, I met her. She seems…”

“Completely opposite of Natalie,” Nick interrupted.

I shot him a dubious look.

“I meant it as a compliment.” Nick grimaced. “I’ll take another one too.”

The bartender smiled and nodded, filling up a shot glass with the clear liquid.

“Do you need backup?” Tori asked, glancing at Mason who nodded.

“I wouldn’t turn it down. Cynthia—that’s the fiancée—wants to meet Cole’s old friends and would love it.”

“Not sure about Cole, though,” Nick joked. “This has the potential to go so wrong on so many levels. My sense is that Cole’s a little leery. But wants to see Natalie.”

If only Nick had seen the email.

Now, I only needed to make it through the dinner without complication.

“Nah.” I flapped my hand freely in the air, feeling the heat of the second shot slip down my throat. “Two and through by the way. I need to be able to remember what they say.”

“Speak of the devil,” Tori whispered, eyeing the front door of the restaurant where Cynthia and Cole stood talking to the hostess. “He certainly is easy on the eyes.”

“Yes. Thanks for pointing that out. I hadn’t even noticed,” I teased, standing up.

“I’ve seen hotter,” Mason joked.

“I’m glad you think she’s not all that,” I relayed.

“I wasn’t talking about his fiancée.” Mason grinned. “But same goes for her. And remember, I work in construction and always carry a shovel in the truck.”

Tori poked his side, and we started laughing.

“There should be no need for shovels, trunks, or long rides to the desert. I might have taken you up on that offer a while ago, but I’ve grown. I’ve matured.”

“Since when?” Tori laughed.

“Since this morning when I locked myself in the flower cooler.”

I loved my friends. Now, onto the mission ahead: avoid Cole’s gaze, laugh, and touch, and find out how to quickly marry these two lovebirds with very little collateral damage.

“I better go let the hostess know there will six of us, not four.” I hugged Tori and hopped off the stool. “I owe you guys. Big time.”

“Not at all. I have a feeling tonight will be super entertaining and cheaper than a movie.” Tori smirked and gave a sideways glance in Cole and Cynthia’s direction.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Mason seconded, wrapping his arm around Tori’s waist.

“You okay to go by yourself?” Nick whispered and I nodded.

I took in a deep breath and turned around. Everything was going to be fine. All I had to do was not stick my foot in my mouth, stay focused on Cynthia, and try not to trip on my way over to greet them both.

I slid my palms down my jeans to remove the dampness and took a deep breath in. I’d managed to go home and trade out my plaid flannel shirt for a red wool sweater, and now I was dying of suffocation.

But it probably had nothing to do with the sweater and more to do with Cole as his gaze landed on me. Cynthia had wrapped her arm around Cole’s waist and was busy talking with the hostess as I made my way over, but his eyes never left me.

“There’s actually going to be six of us tonight,” I told the hostess.

“Perfect.”

“Cynthia, nice to see you again,” I said, touching her shoulder and ignoring Cole.

Cynthia turned around and looked genuinely pleased to see me and why wouldn’t she? In her mind, I was nothing more than an old high school buddy who would tell her all the details she wanted to know about the love of her life.

Ugh.

“Likewise. I’m so glad you agreed to meet us. This will be so fun,” she chirped, unwrapping her arm from Cole’s waist.

“I actually ran into another blast from the past, and they’re going to join us,” I informed her. Cole stiffened slightly and I had to hide my smile. It gave me twisted pleasure to make him squirm. “Her husband’s with her.” I turned my attention to Cole and raised my brows. “It’s Tori Aickens. Do you remember her?”

I should never have turned to look at Cole. His eyes were brutally engaging as his gaze swept along my body before answering.

“I do. You two weren’t really in the same circle.”

I shrugged. “She moved back to the island this summer. It’s amazing what time can do. Anyway, it should be fun.”

The hostess grabbed six menus and marked something off on a sheet before motioning for us to follow her. Cynthia took two steps in front of me, leaving Cole behind. He raised his hand, guiding me forward with a gentle push on my back. The gesture was completely platonic, yet his touch shot a warm and familiar sensation through my body.

The hostess led us to a table that overlooked the water as Nick, Mason, and Tori joined us. Tori had a drink in each hand, and placed one in front of me, and I threw a grateful smile her way. An awkward silence bounced between us all, and I wondered if this was what we had to look forward to the rest of the evening.

“I still can’t believe Cole grew up here.” Cynthia shook her napkin out and placed it in her lap.

“Really?” I was curious to hear how she saw Cole. To me he’d always fit perfectly well in small-town living.

She nodded. “He loves takeout at ten o’clock at night and from what I can see, nothing stays open past nine.”

I prickled at her observation of the place I called home. Not to mention, she was wrong. Most places stayed open until ten o’clock.

“Well, what I can’t believe is that Natalie Jennings owns the one and only flower shop in town.”  My eyes flashed to Cole’s and my heart skipped a beat as he licked his lips. “I mean how in the world does a woman who’s allergic to everything under the sun, including flowers, wind up working in a profession that revolves around pollen.”

“Really? You have allergies and you’re working with flowers all day?” Cynthia seemed intrigued.

“Well, it’s not exactly like that. The flowers don’t seem to bother me at all. Pickles on the other hand…” my voice trailed off as I watched Cole’s smile deepen.

“Pickles what?” he prompted.

“Besides that she hates me, I’m allergic to her, but it’s better that she’s at the shop. I can just sweep the tile floors up and there’s no furniture for her to roll all over.”

“How could Pickles hate anyone?” Cynthia asked, in between ordering her drink. “She is the sweetest cat.”

Tori laughed and shook her head.

“Not even. Pickles is known as the island’s attack cat. Natty even had to get stitches from her.”

Cynthia looked horrified. “And you kept it?”

“Well, I can’t just get rid of her. It’s a small island. Once I got the stitches, word spread about her temperament. The doctor told the nurse, who told the receptionist, who told everyone else. I doubt I could pay someone to take her at this point. But she does love you.”

Cynthia smiled but shook her head “She did seem to like me, but no can do. I don’t do kids and I don’t do animals.”

Startled, I glanced at Cole, who dropped his gaze to the table. We’d always planned on having a family with at least two-point-five kids. Was there anything about his past that had stayed the same? Not that it mattered.

“Ever or just now?” Tori asked.

“Ever. They give me the willies.”

“Cats or children?” Nick asked.

“Children.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, which seemed to make Cole uncomfortable.

“My worst fear about getting married on the island was that Cole would eventually want to come back to live on it. That would be my nightmare come to life. No offense.” She glanced around at all of us as we each found comfort in our drinks.

Nick was the first to set his beer down.

“None taken.” He placed his hand on my knee, and the move wasn’t missed by Cole.

Again, not that it mattered.

“Yeah. No offense taken. Island life isn’t for everyone and Cole certainly outgrew it by the time he hit college,” I offered. “So I’m sure your nightmare won’t ever come true.”

“It’s a nice place to visit.” Cynthia tried to soften her delivery. “I can see coming back for vacations, and it’s ideal for a destination wedding, but I need my Nordstrom at an arm’s length and having to take a ferry every time I wanted civilization…”

I swear I caught a shudder run down her spine.

What a peach.

“I do miss it,” Cole muttered, catching my gaze.

“I can’t imagine living anywhere else. There’s a real sense of community here. If one of us is hurting, we all try to help however we can and when one of us celebrates, we all rejoice. I tried the big city thing briefly and I felt like one of many. Wasn’t my thing.”

“You did?” Cole asked, bringing his gaze back to mine, and I felt that damn connection again.

I nodded. Less details the better.

“So how did your meeting go with the caterer?” I asked Cynthia.

Her hand slid to her forehead and she sighed. “If only picking the food was as easy as the flowers.”

“It will all work out,” Cole said, avoiding my gaze.

“I’m just so worried he doesn’t get my vision.” Cynthia swirled the wine in her glass.

“What caterer did you go to?” I asked.

Nick rested his arm on my chair, and I noticed Cole’s gaze harden, which seemed odd.

“Tony’s.”

“Oh, he does a marvelous job. There isn’t one item I’ve tasted from Tony’s that I don’t love.”

Cynthia twisted her lips into an unattractive pout. “I hope so.”

“I have to agree with Natty. Tony’s is the best catering place on the island, and I’ve had them all,” Nick assured her.

Cynthia turned her attention to Nick and her features softened as she flashed him a smile. “Well, then I guess I’ll push my worries aside. If the locals say he’s the best then he must be the best.”

The server came to take our orders and I began to feel more at ease. As long as I kept my eyes focused on Nick and Cynthia, my emotions stayed in check.

“I understand moving here when you’re settled, but isn’t it completely impossible to meet men on an island?” Cynthia asked me.

“Not completely,” Tori offered, squeezing Mason.

“So were you two high school sweethearts?” Cynthia turned her attention back to me and my heart hammered. I was certain if anyone looked at my chest they’d see my sweater pulsating.

So Cole had told her?

 

“Umm. Well…I mean.” I glanced at Cole, who looked somewhat amused, which was rather alarming. His eyes stayed steady on mine as I was left floundering for words. “I wouldn’t call it... I mean it was just a fling. Or not even that, really. I mean we were friends but I guess—”

“We aren’t officially dating,” Nick informed her, playfully punching my shoulder.

Oh, dear God. Cynthia meant Nick.

Nick! Of course, she meant Nick.

Not Cole.

“You look so cute together. I never would have guessed you’re in the friend zone.” Cynthia glanced down at her menu and a low, long breath escaped from my lips. I needed air.

“It’s not official, but he’s amusing,” I said, trying to regain control.

“Well, I’ve set up several friends and eighty percent of the time it’s worked. Wouldn’t you say?” she asked Cole. “I’m a total LA matchmaker, and my prediction is you two are a match made in heaven.”

Nick cleared his throat and reached for a piece of bread.

“LA? Is that where you’re living?” I asked, ignoring her observation.

“It is. Coming from the Midwest, I love it. The weather is divine.”