Dancing on a Moonbeam (Bedford Falls Book 1) (17 page)

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Hmm," she said again.

He glanced over to find her studying him like she was trying to decipher if he was lying. But he wasn't. He didn't believe in blocks. In this case, he just needed to get his head out of his ass. As he parked the car across the street from the Tiptop Café, he turned to face Eleanor. "Are you going to tell me what you mean, or is silently psychoanalyzing me your approach?"

She stared him in the eye. "I don't believe in being silent about anything anymore."

He watched her get out of the car, following belatedly. It took him several steps to catch up to her. "You know you'll have to tell me what you were silent about before, right?"

She pursed her lips as she walked into the café. "I'm not sure that's part of our deal."

He took her elbow to stop her, so she looked at him. "No, but it's part of what makes you
you
, and I want to know."

Her brow furrowed like she didn't understand. "You and I need boundaries."

"A boundary isn't going to stop this."
 

"This?"
 

He leaned a little closer, letting her see the desire in his face. He felt a surge of triumph when her lovely face flushed, mirroring his feelings. "This," he said firmly.

She swallowed. "Oh."

"You two want cappuccinos?" a bright voice called out.
 

They both looked up.

At the counter, the proprietor, Clara, stood watching them, a figure in golden radiance, from her smile to her hair.
 

"Hey Clara," Eleanor said, disengaging from him to walk to the counter.

Clara shot him a grin, as if she could see that he was put out by having their intimate bubble burst. "One whole milk cappuccino and one nonfat. Muffin?" she asked Max.

"Yes."
 

"You two sit down. I'll bring it over to you." Clara winked at him and turned to begin making their coffee.

Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Let's grab the table by the window."

He waited until they were seated to say, "So what was that look for in the car?"

"What look?" She batted her eyes as though she had no clue what he was talking about.

"The look you gave me, like you thought I was lying about writer's block. You said you don't believe in being silent, so tell me."

She shrugged. "Obviously there's a reason you haven't made much headway on your music."

Yeah, and half the reason was sitting across from him. The other half was a little man in Los Angeles high on a power trip. "I'm annoyed because the music is what the director said he wanted, but the film's producer, who doesn't know shit about anything, decided it wasn't good enough."

Eleanor nodded in sympathy. "So you're sulking."

"I'm not sulking," he said, frowning.

"Then just write what the producer wants."

Like it was so simple. Maybe it was time to change the subject. "I guess you'd know about writer's block, being surrounded by writers."

She frowned. "You mean my dad?"

"And Lily." At her blank look, he added, "Your daughter."

Her frown deepened. "I know who Lily is, but she's not a writer."

"She should be. She's passionate about words."

Eleanor gripped his arm, leaning across the table. "What are you talking about?"

He glanced at her hand, wanting to put his on top of hers. "Saying she loves words is an understatement. Maybe you should ask her about it."

"Maybe," Eleanor said, looking a little stricken and hurt.

Not liking that he made her feel that way, he tried to joke. "Lily's so militant about words that her perspective on music is skewed. You kind of messed up as a parent there," he teased with a smile.

She flashed him a rueful grin. "If that's the worst way I've screwed up, then I count myself lucky." Her grin faded. "I have a feeling it's not though. This morning she left the house looking like she was going to a strip club."

"She's just acting out."      

"Her dad's a jerk, and I can't get through to her because I'm public enemy number one." She narrowed her eyes at him. "You're serious that she likes words?"

"I know passion when I see it, and that kid has a passion for writing."

"Okay." She took a deep breath and nodded. Then she tipped her head and studied him. "Why didn't you tell me you didn't call the building department to file the complaint?"

He winced. "How'd you find out?"

"Lily told me."

Since the cat was already out of the bag, he told her the truth. "My friend did it. Liam thought he was helping me. I would have stopped him if I’d known."

She nodded and said, "Okay."

When the other shoe didn't drop, he asked, "That's it?"

"Yes. We're past that now. Besides, your friend was just looking out for you. I'm going to choose to be flattered that Oscar-winner Liam McCullough called the authorities on me."

"Here you go," Clara said, giving them their respective beverages. She set the plated muffin directly in front of him. "Enjoy."

He ignored the knowing look Clara gave him and pushed the muffin to the middle of the table. "Have some. They're delicious."

She shook her head, picking up her cup. "I don't eat muffins."

"Normally, that'd make sense, but these aren't just muffins. These are a piece of heaven." He broke off a bit and held it out. "Try some."

She shook her head. "I—"

"Hi, Eleanor." A woman in jeans and a pink sweater walked through the archway from the metaphysical store toward them. She smiled at Eleanor and then at him, studying him. Her gaze was calm and peaceful if inquisitive. Instead of a specific song, she was more like the pure ringing of a Tibetan bowl.
 

"Luna, this is Max." Eleanor pointed to the archway. "Luna owns Crystal Clear, next door."

The woman smiled at him before returning her gaze to Eleanor. "I've been thinking about you. Come visit. We'll have tea, and I have something to give you."

Eleanor blinked in surprise. "Okay."

Smiling, Luna returned her gaze to him. "You're always welcome too, Max," she said gently.

"She seemed nice," Max said, watching the woman walk serenely through the open archway into her store next door.

"She's relatively new to town." Eleanor's brow furrowed. "I wonder why she wants me to visit."

"Maybe she wants to be friends." He understood that, because he wanted to get to know Eleanor better too, even if it was for a short while before he went back to Los Angeles.
 

Chapter 5

Luna's invitation puzzled her, so Eleanor called her to take her up on her offer of tea.

To be honest, she was hopeful too. Maybe Luna would become more than an acquaintance. Once she'd asked Charles for a divorce, her circle of friends had fallen away. Not a surprise—the only people they'd associated with were his friends. Besides Robbie and her aunt Debra, her only other close friend was her sister Eliza, and Eliza had moved to Paris.

Going into town gave her the opportunity to drop off flyers to advertise for her dance studio too. She printed off a bunch, checked to make sure the work crew was settled into work, and headed to her aunt's bookstore.
 

Debra looked up with a smile from her perch behind the counter. Her hair was clipped back, and she had reading glasses situated on her nose as she worked on what was probably one of her freelance editing projects. She set the pages down and got up. "This is a lovely surprise."

"I wanted to drop off some flyers." She gave her aunt a quick hug. "Do you mind setting them out for people?"

"Of course not." Debra nodded as she looked over the ad. "Nicely done. When does your studio open?"

"In two weeks. We're finally on track." She exhaled a deep breath and asked the question that'd been bothering her. "You don't think I'm making a mistake, do you?"

"Are you having doubts?" Debra tilted her head to study her.

She thought about Barbara's visit and winced. "Barbara stopped by the other day. She was less than enthusiastic about me opening a dance studio."

Eyes narrowing, Debra stood at attention. "Why would Barbara care? She's no longer your mother-in-law."

"I know. She was worried about the Fehr reputation."

Debra arched her brow. "Her brother-in-law Allen Fehr went to jail for fraud. What kind of threat could your studio possibly hold?"

Eleanor shrugged. "That's what you'd think, right?"

"Bring me more." Her aunt slapped the batch of flyers on the counter. "I'll make sure these are passed out by tomorrow."

Grinning, she hugged her aunt. Debra had always had deep protective instincts. "You're the best."

Clara strolled into the bookstore, a cup in her hand. She held it out to Debra as she kissed Eleanor's cheek. "You looked cozy with Max yesterday," Clara said.

"Max?" her aunt said, turning to give her a questioning look.
 

She felt her cheeks get warm. Edging away from the two women, she said, "Well, I have a date with Luna. Thanks, Debra."

"Elea—"

She rushed out, aware that she'd have to answer to her aunt sooner as opposed to later. Hopefully by then she'd know what to say.
 

Walking through the café, she entered the crystal store. She hadn't been in there often, but each time she'd walked in, she had felt an overwhelming sense of calm, as if she could breathe. There was the faint whiff of something smoky in the air, and gentle music played from the little speakers in the corners of the room.

Luna was behind the counter. She glanced up as Eleanor entered, a smile lighting her face.

"I'm so happy you took me up on my invitation," Luna said, coming around to give her a hug. Then she held Eleanor at arm's length and studied her. "Tea, and something sweet. Let me turn the sign."

Eleanor watched her lock the door and flip the store sign to Closed. "If another time when you aren't open is better—"

"No way," Luna cut her off with a wave of her hand and a smile. "Some things are more important than others, and friendship is one of them. Come to the back. I have tea steeping."

She followed Luna, taking in the store as she walked through it. She'd been in it once or twice after it'd opened a year ago, simply in idle curiosity. She'd never really been into New Age things or incense, which Luna seemed to specialize in.
 

In the back, there was a cozy kitchenette, with a café table and two chairs. She sat down on the chair Luna pointed her to and watched the woman gather their refreshments.

Bedford Falls was a small town with a big mouth: gossip ran rampant. It was doubly so when there was a newcomer, especially one like Luna. Not that being New Age-y was what inspired the gossip; it was that the woman was gorgeous.

She had thick, wavy blond hair that hung past the middle of her back. She had lush curves that she didn't flaunt, wearing modest, simple clothing when she was in the store. She had blue eyes and, most tantalizingly, didn't wear a wedding ring.
 

No one knew where she was from or why she'd decided to come here. Her Aunt Debra had told her that Luna just said, "I saw the town and fell in love."

"This is golden tisane," Luna said, carrying over a silver tray with two delicate china cups and a small plate of dark chocolate-dipped madeleines. "It's an herbal blend that includes cinnamon. I thought you'd like the spice."

She smiled her thanks and picked up the cup. She didn't normally have anything other than plain black tea, but it would have been rude to turn it down. "I was surprised when you invited me over."

Luna nodded. "I've been meaning to invite you for a while now, but I haven't seen you around."

Because Eleanor had gone out less while the divorce was in progress. "I've been busy," she murmured.

"Things happen when they're supposed to," Luna said, lifting her cup. "I'd never have imagined living somewhere like Bedford Falls, but I needed some space from my husband, and once I stumbled here, I couldn't go back."