Lakeside Romance (10 page)

“So if the outreach program is a success and you're offered a full-time position and this position opens up with Proclaim Missions, how will you choose?”

“Prayer. Plus, other factors will come into play—my brother and his family are here, I'm getting to know the teens...you know, those kinds of things.”

You.

But, of course, she couldn't say that.

“You mentioned your brother and Zoe, but not much about your parents.” He leaned back in his chair, focusing his attention on her as if he were genuinely interested in learning more about her.

“My parents live outside of Pittsburgh. My dad is a workaholic. Last year he had a mild heart attack and needed a stent. The day he was released from the cardiac hospital, he went back to his office. He continues to choose work over family. My mom does a lot of volunteer work and sits on various committees.” She paused a moment and lifted her face to the evening sun. She chose her next words carefully, not wanting to see another look of pity in Alec's eyes. “I'm sure they love us in their own way, but appearances mean everything to them. Dad wanted Caleb to take over the family business, but he wanted to be a cop. Mom thinks I need to be married and raising babies. I want a husband who makes marriage and family a priority, not an afterthought.”

“I can appreciate that. My parents had a great marriage, even with Dad's long deployments and changes in duty stations. When he was home, my favorite memory was watching them after dinner. They'd clean up the kitchen together, always listening to the radio. When a favorite song came on, Dad would take Mom into his arms and dance with her. I think that's what kept her going during those long months when he was away.” His voice trailed off as if he had gotten caught up in the memory.

“That's beautiful. How long were they married?”

Alec blinked several times, refocusing on her. “Almost seventeen years. I was fifteen and Chloe was twelve when Dad was killed by friendly fire. We moved to Shelby Lake to live with Gran and Granddad so we could finish school.”

“Does your mom still live here?”

“No, she's a nurse and married Bert, a doctor she met at Shelby Lake Memorial. They travel to developing countries to help pregnant women get prenatal care.”

“Wow, that's pretty impressive. You've dealt with a lot of loss in your family. How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

Sarah lifted a shoulder. “You know—live. Get out of bed every day.”

Alec released a hollow laugh. “If you ask my family, I've only been going through the motions of living since Christy died. Other people are relying on me. I need to be there for them, to help care for them, to keep them safe.”

She likened him to a chesty bulldog, teeth bared, watching over his family. “That's a pretty heavy burden to carry.”

Alec pushed back his chair and crossed the patio to the lawn. “Every time my dad left for a new deployment, he'd say it was my job to be the man of the house while he was away.”

“That's a lot of responsibility to heap on a kid.”

“Yeah, well, I'm not a kid anymore. It's up to me to make sure the family stays safe.”

“You're the family watchdog, and I admire that about you, Alec. But you can't protect everyone.” She stood, walked over to him, pressing a hand to his arm. “Who cares for you?”

His eyes grazed her face, then settled on her hand. “I'm fine.”

The way he refused to meet her eyes contradicted his words.

“Are you? Really? Even if your family says you're going through the motions of living?”

“I had it all, Sarah—a nice house, a career, a beautiful wife, a baby on the way. But in one night, I lost everything because of the choices I made.” He jerked his hands in the air, pain contorting his face. “By protecting one family, I lost my wife and baby.”

“Since you couldn't save your own house, you walked away from your career as a firefighter.”

“What choice did I have?” The anguish in his voice knifed her chest. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, but a hug wouldn't erase away his painful past.

A surge of tears warmed her eyes. She hated to see him hurting, his pain cementing him off from true happiness. “We have to make choices every day. We have to lean into God and trust Him to help us put one foot in front of the other. When life breaks our hearts, trusting God may be all we have.”

He scoffed and shook his head. “Easy for you to say. Have you lost someone you loved?”

“When Adam broke our engagement, I was crushed, but when I learned he married someone else three months later, I was devastated. I may not have lost him tragically the way you lost Christy, but my heart was broken. I'm still mourning the aftereffects of that lost relationship...the loss of having my life mapped out. But I know God is with me every step of the way.”

“How do you know that?”

“Faith.”

“It can't be as simple as that.”

“It's as simple as making a choice.”

Alec headed back to the table and reached for their empty plates. “I'm going to clear some of these dishes.”

Apparently she'd gone too far, and now he was shutting down. “I'll give you a hand.”

“No, you sit.”

“Don't be silly. I've done enough sitting. Besides, wasn't there a movie option included in this nondate?”

She carried the salad bowl into the kitchen, rummaged through his cupboards to find storage containers and helped stow leftovers in the fridge. With all the time they'd spent in his kitchen during cooking lessons, she moved around the room with a sense of confidence and familiarity, even though it was clearly his domain.

Once the final dish had been loaded into the dishwasher and the machine started, Alec refilled their glasses with tea and carried them into the living room, then set them on the apothecary table. He removed the DVD from the case and inserted it into the player. Settling at the opposite end of the couch, he reached for the remote and pressed Play.

Part of her wanted to scoot closer to him, but she had to remind herself that's not what “just friends” did. After all, this wasn't a date. Instead, she curled up in the other corner of the couch, tucking her feet underneath her, and rested her head on her arms. With a full stomach and a cozy spot, her energy drained out of her and into the couch cushion.

For nearly three hours, they watched the movie in silence with the exception of an occasional laugh and Alec's humming along with the songs.

She struggled to keep her attention on Eliza's plight.

She slid a sideways glance at Alec only to find him watching her. The moment their eyes connected, he returned his gaze to the TV. What was he thinking about? Had her words given him something to ponder? Or would he use them to construct a new barrier between them?

Swallowing a sigh, she forced her attention back to the TV. Once the credits rolled, she stretched and smiled, her eyes drowsy. “That was a great movie. Thanks for insisting I watch it.”

“Anytime.”

Smiling, she stood and yawned. “It's late. I should go.”

“I'll walk you upstairs.” He placed a hand at her back.

“Alec, I'm sure I can manage.”

“Humor me.” After opening his front door, he followed her upstairs to her apartment.

“Thank you for dinner and the movie. Since I was too full for popcorn, I won't hold that against you.”

He laughed, the rich sound draping around her like a soft blanket warmed from the dryer. “Next time.”

So there was to be a next time?

“You have a nice laugh. You need to use it more often.”

His head shot up, and he shot her a quizzical look as if her comment had taken him aback. Sure, he'd laughed before, but it wasn't something he did often. Maybe she could help him change that. Would he even want her to?

“Anyway, I should take some medicine and head to bed.” She laid a hand on his arm. “Thanks for everything, Alec.”

He leaned forward as she turned her head. His lips brushed hers in the gentlest, barest of kisses. But it was enough to send a shock through her. She jerked back, eyes widening. Had he planned to kiss her?

She'd been kissed before, but this accidental encounter caught her by surprise.

Apparently it'd been a shock to Alec, too, as he turned without a word and jogged down the stairs, slamming the outer door behind him.

Sarah stared at the empty staircase, a realization keeping her rooted in the open doorway. She was falling for Alec Seaver. And that brought her more discomfort than the way he'd left after their kiss.

Chapter Ten

W
as Sarah willing to risk falling for someone who didn't share her faith? Someone who was still in love with his late wife?

The question kept her awake late into the night.

Nothing but despair could come of that. And she'd had plenty of unhappiness getting over Adam, thank you very much. She couldn't risk her heart with a man who'd already made it clear he had no intention of surrendering his. So how could something so wrong feel so right?

Not that Alec wanted to encourage anything between them—he'd made it clear he wasn't looking for a relationship.

But then why had he pounded on her door first thing this morning, pulling her out of a delightful dream, and asked her to attend the Celebrate the Lake event that day with him? And why had she jumped so quickly at the opportunity?

Caleb had called first thing, asking if Daniel and Toby wanted to go fishing with him and his ten-year-old son, Griffin. Once she saw them off, she'd crawled into bed, considered her day and allowed herself to relive last night's accidental kiss like a fifteen-year-old.

As for Alec, he acted like nothing had happened when he knocked on her door this morning to ask her to the event. Maybe that's what he considered it—nothing.

She had to stop thinking about it, focus on the present and enjoy the gorgeous day.

Sunlight glittered across the water, raining diamonds across the rippled surface. The stately pines and majestic oaks fortifying the shores cast shadows across the tops of the white party tents set up on the manicured lawn next to Lakeside Lodge, a Tudor-style building that boasted natural woodwork, floor-to-ceiling windows, sleeping accommodations and a dining room with a menu that rivaled a four-star restaurant's.

A myriad of scents gathered in the light breeze and beckoned guests to go in search of the gourmet selections crafted by culinary artisans using their makeshift kitchens as their studios. Foodies from around the county sampled everything from organic honey to intricate pastries that melted in their mouths.

“Here, try this.” Alec held a wrapped piece of something on a toothpick near her mouth.

She pulled her head back and eyed the hors d'oeuvre. “What is it?”

“Trust me.” He grinned, the expression transforming his features.

Clamping her lips together, she shook her head. “Uh-uh.”

“Oh, come on, Sarah. Live a little.” The cajoling tone in his voice made her heart skip.

“Believe me, I lived a lot after you fed me a frog leg claiming it was chicken.”

The crinkles around his eyes deepened as he fought a smile. “You ate it and survived, didn't you? I'm simply trying to expand your culinary palate.”

“Sorry, bub, but you broke my trust. Now you have to earn it back.”

He winked, giving her the barest of smiles. “How do you propose I do that?”

Was he flirting with her?

“Tell me what's on the toothpick, then buy me some ice cream.” She pointed to a vendor scooping homemade gourmet ice cream.

He laughed, a sound Sarah was hearing more and more as their morning continued. “It's a grilled scallop wrapped in prosciutto.”

“What's that?”

“It's a type of cured Italian ham.”

She eyed the appetizer and wrinkled her nose. “I'm not crazy about seafood.”

“It's really good. You'll like it, I promise.”

“That's what you said about the frog legs.”

He circled it in front of her mouth like a parent trying to cajole a stubborn toddler. “Come on...open up.”

She rolled her eyes and exhaled loudly. “Last time. If I don't like this, you're in trouble.” She took the toothpick from him and bit into the appetizer. The delicate, almost sweet flavor of the scallop melded with the cured taste of the prosciutto, creating a pleasant combination. Okay, so he was right, but did she really want to see him gloat? “Not bad.” She scoured the linen-covered cocktail table, searching for another one.

“Fair enough. Let's get you some ice cream for being so brave.”

Tossing her napkin and toothpick into a nearby trash can, they wandered over to a booth with a red-and-white canopy that advertised “N'ice Cream.”

A slim man with a reddish beard dressed in a white chef coat greeted them. “Hey, folks. I'm Chef Scott.” He nodded toward a tall man with blond hair standing behind their makeshift counter. “This is my brother and business partner, Chef Mitchell.”

The other chef smiled at them and handed them a pamphlet. “Ever hear of molecular gastronomy?”

Alec nodded, leafing through their brochure. “I watched a cooking show where they featured different recipes such as transparent ravioli.”

Sarah peered over Alec's shoulder. “Sounds like chemistry.”

“That's what it is—combining chemistry and cooking. We'll demonstrate, but first, what's your flavor pleasure?” Chef Scott gestured to the chalkboard easel standing next to his table.

Sarah read the variety of flavors from basic vanilla and chocolate to gourmet like green-tea raspberry. She turned to Alec. “So many choices. What are you having?”

He studied the board. “I'm going with German chocolate cake in a hand-rolled waffle cone.”

“That was fast.”

“It's my favorite cake, so it was an easy choice.”

She studied the board and tapped her index finger against her chin. “I can't decide between blueberry cheesecake or salted-caramel hot chocolate.”

“Both of those sound pretty amazing.”

“Yes. I'll go with the salted caramel, though.”

“Great choices. Usually ice cream requires hours to freeze before it can be served.” Chef Mitchell rubbed his hands together and grinned. “How about ice cream in under a minute?”

Both chefs gathered the ingredients and added them to two separate stainless-steel mixer bowls. After explaining how much and what was going into the bowls, they attached them to their coordinating industrial stand mixers and turned them on. While the whipping cream blended with the sugar and other ingredients, both guys donned safety glasses and heavy-duty gloves that covered their hands and forearms.

Chef Scott held up a stainless-steel carafe. “This is where cuisine and chemistry interact to create something your palate has yet to experience.”

They poured liquid from the carafes slowly into the rotating bowls. Fog-like vapor billowed over the bowls and frost blanketed the outside.

Less than a minute later, they stopped the mixers and scooped the ice cream into the waffle cones, then handed them to Sarah and Alec.

Sarah bit into hers and groaned. “This is so good. And creamy.”

“Exceptionally smooth. A little surprising, I admit.”

Chef Scott removed his goggles and gloves. “The liquid nitrogen is minus 320 degrees, so the ice cream freezes with smaller ice crystals, making it creamier than store-bought ice cream. Plus, with fresh ingredients, your ice cream hasn't been stored in the freezer for an extended period of time.”

Sarah glanced at Alec, then looked back at the chefs. “We're teaching cooking to teenagers in a summer outreach program. Would you be willing to come and give them a demonstration?”

“I'm sure we could work something out.” Chef Mitchell rounded the table and grabbed a couple of business cards out of a small basket hanging on the chalkboard easel and handed one to Alec and one to Sarah. “Here's our card. Give us a call and we can set something up.”

They thanked the chefs, praised the ice cream one more time and wandered away from the food tent toward the lake, cones in hand.

White triangular sails dotted the grayish-blue water. A speedboat pulling a water skier sliced across the rippled surface, creating a small wake. Kayakers paddled closer to shore while kids ran from the sand into the lake. Overhead, puffy cotton-ball clouds ambled across the hazy blue sky. Seagulls scuttled across the sand, scavenging for food.

“Such a beautiful day for the Celebrate the Lake event.” Sarah lifted her face to the sunshine.

“Last year it rained the entire weekend. Hopefully this year will make up for last year's low attendance.”

She glanced at the full parking lot. “Looks like they're on their way. Thanks for asking me to come along.”

“Thanks for coming.”

They followed a walking path along the shore while finishing their cones. Occasionally Alec's shoulder brushed hers. Purely accidentally, of course, because when she glanced at him, he continued looking straight ahead, his eyes hidden behind the aviator sunglasses he'd put on.

His white short-sleeved button-down shirt emphasized his muscular forearms. Paired with navy cargo shorts and leather sandals, he fit in perfectly for a day at the lake. When she'd arrived downstairs less than thirty minutes after his knock, he'd complimented her on her outfit—a coral sundress with crocheted bolero sweater and leather sandals. His words had kept her smiling to herself for the rest of the morning.

Sarah swallowed the last bite of her cone and wiped her mouth with her tattered napkin. “That was the best ice cream I've ever had. A little awkward eating it with my left hand, though.”

“I'd have to agree.”

“Imagine that—we agree on something.” She bumped his shoulder playfully.

“I'm sure the kids will enjoy the demonstration.” Alec stopped walking and put a hand on her arm. “You okay? Your wrist hurting?”

“No, I'm fine. Why?”

“Didn't you just whimper?”

“What? No.”

“I thought I heard a whimper.” He removed his sunglasses and hooked them over his shirt pocket. He scanned the low bushes lining the path, then he cocked his head. “There it goes again.”

Sarah paused and listened. “I hear it, too. Sounds like it's coming from that thicket of berry bushes. I hope a kid didn't wander off. There are a lot of people here today.”

“If it was a kid, they'd be doing a massive search, complete with sweeping the water.” Alec walked toward the overgrowth and peered into the bushes. He squatted and stretched out his hand, his voice dropping to a soothing tone. “Hey, boy, what are you doing in there?”

Sarah stooped beside him, placing her injured arm on his back for support, and moved branches aside to find a trembling, matted bundle of fur cowering on a bed of dried leaves. The dog's large brown eyes stared at them with fear and uncertainty. She couldn't stand it and reached out to touch him.

The dog's ears pinned back. He growled low in his throat and bared his teeth.

Alec reached for her hand and pulled it back, but didn't let go. “Be careful. Poor thing feels threatened.”

Continuing to talk to the dog in soothing tones, Alec released Sarah's hand and crept closer until he was able to sit on the ground near the animal. He held his hand out for him to sniff, then he gently stroked the dirty, matted fur until the dog stopped baring his teeth and turned its head into Alec's palm.

Grinning at Sarah, Alec scooped up the pup and cradled it against his chest, wrinkling his nose. “Phew. He hasn't had a bath in a while.”

Sarah knelt next to them. “Pitiful creature. We can't leave him here. I'll call my sister-in-law. Zoe works at Canine Companions, and they have a shelter for rescued animals.”

“I'm sure they have enough already.”

“Are you thinking of keeping it? My lease states no pets.”

“I'm sure I could sway the landlord.”

Sarah looked at him. “Are you serious?”

“Like you said—we can't leave him here.”

“No, but Canine Companions will take him in a heartbeat. Leona never turns away animals. Maybe he's lost, and his owners are missing him.”

“Or maybe he was abandoned with no one to care for him. This will cut our day short, but would you mind if we leave? We can take him to a groomer, pick up some supplies and then post some flyers until his owner is found.”

“I'm totally fine with leaving, but what if his owner doesn't claim him?”

Alec didn't say anything for a moment as he continued to pet the dog, his large hand covering half of its quivering body. “We found him. You have a lot on your plate already, so I don't expect you to care for him.”

“What about you? Between running a business, helping me, caring for your family...”

“My schedule is flexible. One of the perks of being the boss. We can't leave him to fend for himself. He's lost and hungry. Now it's up to me to help him to trust, to learn to love again.” Alec stared off into the distance.

Was he still referring to the dog?

The more Sarah watched Alec's gentle touch with the dog, the heavier her heart hung in her chest. Why did he have to be so sweet and appealing today? Why couldn't he be a jerk and walk away, leaving the poor animal to continue fighting for survival?

Alec was nothing like the man she'd met her first night in her apartment. He was funny and charming and a complete gentleman who put others' needs before his. Except he'd walked away from his faith. And without that, they could never pursue a relationship.

Sarah needed to make a choice, and although it was the right one, it certainly wasn't easy. She had to put some distance between them. Otherwise, she didn't know if she could recover from another broken heart.

* * *

Alec lay on the couch, stroking Eliza's fur. It had been a week and still no one had come forward to claim the little fur ball, despite the flyers plastered all around town. She stirred and looked at Alec with those huge, vulnerable eyes.

What if he and Sarah hadn't been walking along the path? Who knows how long it would've been before the sweet girl would have been rescued.

Nobody deserved to live like that. Surviving instead of thriving.

Something he understood all too well.

By the time they'd gotten the dog to the car, they realized the black-and-tan Yorkshire terrier mix was actually a female. Once she'd been bathed and had her fur and nails trimmed, the pup looked nothing like the ragamuffin they'd rescued.