Summers' Love, A Cute and Funny Cinderella Love Story (LPC Romantic Comedy Series) (12 page)

“Now
that
would be a great life,” he said. “I love being on the water like this, but I never have any time.”

“Really? I would think given what you do, you could go sailing anytime you want.”

“People have no idea what it takes to write a book. Or how many hours go into it. Some days I wish I had a normal job with a regular schedule. But if I did, I wouldn’t be able to afford the
Summers' Breeze
.” He paused and studied her face. “Or be out here with you.”

She brushed her bangs back and smiled. “Aw, that’s sweet.”

He checked his watch, took a glance at the horizon, and made a slow three-sixty turn. “Question. When do you have to be back?”

“Back where? Home?”

He nodded.

“I’m supposed to work tomorrow afternoon, why?”

“I’m thinking that with the wind out of the northwest like it is, we’ll have a broad reach all the way down to Cape Lookout.”

“Cape Lookout? That’s like eighty miles, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but with the wind blowing offshore like this, if we stay close to the coast it should be smooth sailing until we make the turn at the end of the shoals. It’s a little after twelve, right now. If we can maintain seven knots or better that would put us in the Bight a little before sunset.”

“I really wish I could, but I told them I’d work a double so I could get today off.”

“I can take care of that.”

“Really? How?”

“Don’t worry about the how. Just trust me.”

“I don’t know. I really need the hours. I’m already scheduled to be gone Tuesday through Thursday for the stun … ”

She hesitated. Kate wasn’t sure if she should mention the stun gun event in Charleston. He already thought she was an autograph hound. No telling how he’d react if she mentioned that she was up for consideration of a major award at a personal protection sales conference.

She was about to insist against the trip to the cape when her father’s words came to her again.
Don’t wait for life to happen, Kitten. Grab it before it’s gone.

For the first time in what seemed like forever, she had a chance to do something completely spontaneous. Something she could not have imagined doing, even three days ago. Sail to Cape Lookout on Stu Summers’ yacht. How could she say no to that?

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Kate squared her shoulders and set her gaze on the sparkling water of the Atlantic.

“Okay, then. You talked me into it. Cape Lookout it is.”

Chapter Fourteen

Stu closed the lid to the storage locker and began to assemble the rod.

“Are we fishing?” Kate asked.

“Trolling. Fishing would imply I expected to catch something.” He spun the reel, testing it. “We’re not far from the edge of the Gulf Stream. May as well wet a hook.”

After selecting a shiny spoon from the tackle box, Stu set the drag and let the line play out. He placed the rod in the rod holder mounted on the stern railing. Turning, he rested his hip against the railing and admired the way Kate stood at the helm. With hands at ten and two and feet slightly spread for balance, she drove the boat forward into the swells. Once more he noticed how lovely she was with her hair blown back by the wind and cheeks pink from the sun.

As the blue sky framed her features he found himself imagining what it might feel like to cradle her head on his shoulder. He closed his eyes and captured the image of her. The memory technique was a trick he’d learned from one of his research assistants. Freeze the frame in the mind’s eye and later, when you need to recall a character’s details, you replay the moment. Open, shut, capture. Open, shut, capture. Repeat until you can recall every detail, every dimple and pimple on a person’s face. Not that he ever needed it for
his
novels. Hattie took care of that. But now … now that the keys were under his fingertips … now that all the white space on the monitor had to be filled by
his
words …

When he opened his eyes she was smiling at him and he felt a slight shock at seeing her study him. He turned away and rested his elbow on the edge of the cockpit coaming, looking east at the miles of open ocean. He remained in that position for a long while, pondering his problem. No two ways about it: if he was going to save his career he had to find a love story in all this and write about it. But after the conversation with Hattie in the church library and her warning that she and God were watching, he felt less sure of himself. More vulnerable. More … exposed. “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at … ”

Hattie hadn’t finished. At that exact moment Kate appeared from around the corner to announce the last of the fold-up chairs had been returned to the storage room. But Hattie’s words continued to haunt him. The idea that God, or any other Santa Claus-like being constantly watched him, seemed too far fetched.

He tore his gaze away from the sparkling water and tried his hand again at making small talk. “So, this job of yours I am going to help you blow off, what is it exactly you do? Other than stalk famous authors for their autographs, I mean?” It was a question Stu had wanted to ask since meeting her in the bookstore. Actually, he had several but he decided to start with an easy one.

“I’m a sales associate for the LIDS Sports Group at the Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg. We sell sports gear.”

“You mean like balls and bats, that sort of stuff?”

“Ball caps for professional and collegiate teams, mostly. The stores themselves carry jerseys and banners, and lots of other merchandise, but I work in a kiosk on the lower level. I spend most of my time watching people and making a best guess as to their loyalties. Helps to be a good judge of character. It’s straight commission and not the sort of job that rewards passivity.”

“So you really
are
into branding?”

“Yes, in a way.”

“Must be grueling,” said Stu.

“I get told ‘no’ a lot. The rejections I don’t mind. It’s the rude idiots I can’t stand. I’m not saying I dress like a Hooter’s waitress, but because it’s straight commission I have to look, you know, pretty
hot
. Otherwise no one would pay attention to me.”

“I cannot imagine that would ever be a problem for you.” And he meant it. Just thinking about her dressed provocatively forced him to take a deep breath.

“I wish you’d stop saying things like that. My face is red enough as it is. Anyway, I typically wear heels and a short skirt but draw the line at leaving my blouse undone past the second button. And even then guys try to sneak a peek at my … you know … chest.” Stu forced himself not to look. “You would not believe how many men think that grabbing my butt is one of the perks of listening to my sales pitch. It’s like I’m their personal squeeze toy. Anyway, that’s what I do five days a week. Weekends are the busiest. That’s why doing this,” she gestured towards the sails, “is such a huge deal.”

“Where’s your phone?”

Her brow furrowed. “Down below in my purse, why?”

He rose and edged toward her. “I’ll take the helm while you go get your phone.”

“Why?”

“Trust me, it’ll be okay.”

She shrugged and disappeared below. For a few moments he enjoyed the smells of the sea and feeling of control as he guided the sailboat south. When she returned he asked her to dial her boss.

“Why?” she asked again.

He shook his head and chuckled. “Women and trust issues … can you just
do
it?”

“Okay.” She tapped on her iPhone with manicured fingertips and then held the phone to her ear. “It’s ringing.”

Stu took the phone from her. “Hello, who am I speaking with? … Jill? Jill, I’m a friend of Kate’s.” Stu covered the speaker with his palm and said to Kate, “She says she didn’t know you
had
any male friends.”

Kate grabbed for the phone. “Give me that,” she whispered through clenched teeth.

He pivoted to keep her from grabbing the phone. “Thing is, Jill, we’re in sort of a bind here. Kate and I, we’re about ten miles off the coast of North Carolina and I don’t think there is any chance at all she’s going to make it to work tomorrow.”

Kate reached over his shoulder and tried again to snatch her phone. Momentarily releasing his grip on the wheel, he took her wrist and pulled her arm around his waist. Where it felt good. Too good …

“If she’s
not
at work tomorrow,” Stu heard Jill say, “she’s fired.”

“Now, Jill, why would you want to do a thing like that?”

“Because Mr. Friend-of-Kate’s I need someone dependable. First she called yesterday, and even though it was short notice, I let her have the day off. Now she wants to take off tomorrow. And this, after she’s already booked to be gone most of next week. That’s
not
dependable in my book.”

Stu rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes, I’m sure you
could
hire someone more dependable but …”

Kate pressed her fingers against his side and pinched. “
Oww!
” He took in a breath.

“Did you say
how
?” Jill-the-Boss asked.

“No, I said … never mind. A mermaid just tried to get my attention.”

“Who is this?” Jill said, the sound of frustration mounting in her voice. “Did Kate put you up to this?”

“Me? No. My name is Stu Summers.”

The conversation was met by an expected pause, the same one Stu usually got when he said his name.

“As in the author?”

“That’s right.” He smiled as he spoke over his shoulder to Kate. “I think your boss recognizes my name.”

She tried to wiggle her arm free from his waist. “I am so dead. Do you have any idea how long it took me to get that job?”

“Relax,” he said, pulling her arm back around him. “You’re not going to get fired. In fact, by the time I get finished, I bet you end up with a—”

“Hello?”

“Yes, I’m still here,” Stu answered.

“Mr. … um … Summers, just how do I know you are who you say you are? Dollars to donuts this is actually her brother the actor calling on Kate’s behalf.”

“Well, let’s see … hmmm. How can I prove I am who I say I am?”

Kate groaned behind him.

Stu pressed the phone to the front of his shirt and turned his face toward Kate. “She thinks I’m your brother. Any ideas?”

“You could quote something from one of your books.”

If only that were possible
. “Doubt that would do it. Anybody browsing Amazon could do the same thing.”

Stu put the phone back to his ear. “You’re going to just have to trust me, Jill. I know that’s asking a lot, but … Hey, hold it. I got an idea. In a second I’m going to hang up. But then I’ll call you right back.”

Stu killed the call. He extended his arm to hold the phone in front of them. To Kate he said, “Make it look like you’re having a good time.”

“I
am
having a good time. Or was before …”

“Then snuggle up close and smile.”

From behind, Kate wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her chin on his shoulder. Stu felt the softness of her breasts as they pressed through the fabric of her blouse and was momentarily distracted.

“You going to take our picture or what?”

He snapped a series of three shots, the last one with him kissing her on the cheek. Aiming the phone at the bow, he took pictures of the sailboat, sails, and the ocean. Then he tapped on the phone so as to call the last number dialed.

Jill answered on the third ring. “I got ‘em, but now
you
hold on.”

Stu heard the click-clicking of a computer keyboard under fingertips.

“Let me guess,” he said. “You’re looking up my image.”

“You got it, cowboy …” She paused. “Well, son of a gun … ”

“So are we cool? Can Kate have off tomorrow?”

“I’m posting to Facebook,” Jill said as though he’d not asked the question. He heard a few more clicks. “And Instagram …” Click, click. “
And
Twitter.” Click. Click.

Stu whispered to Kate, “We’re going viral.” Kate shook her head and covered her face. After the heavy sighing was done, he added, “Hope you’re okay with that.”

This time Kate pinched his arm hard enough to nearly draw blood.

“Jill? Jill you there?”

“Yes, Kate can have off but only on one condition.”

“Let me guess … you want Kate to return with an autographed book just for you.”

“You bet I do.”

“How about if I throw in a few extra autographed bookmarks? You can sell ‘em on ebay.”