Robin's Reward (Bonita Creek Trilogy Book 1) (4 page)

Chapter Four

The cousins met up after the church service the next
morning and took Robin’s car to La Reyna for lunch. Once inside, they seated themselves and waited for their friend Jorie to come over to the table.

“We haven’t done this in awhile,” Penny said.

“It’s definitely been too long since we had a girls’ night out.”

“Or day out or whatever.” They both laughed.

“Anything new with you, Penny?”

“Not a thing. I’m still sewing up a storm whenever I don’t have to work at the market. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have a paying job to support my couture sewing business.”

“Maybe once the word gets out about your sewing and designing skills you’ll have flocks of customers wanting to buy your gorgeous clothes.”

“I wish,” Penny sighed.

“Hey, girlfriends,” Jorie greeted them at the table with menus and cold water.

“Hey, yourself,” Robin laughed.

“Hi, Jorie,” Penny said.

“I’ll bring over some chips and salsa when I get a chance,” Jorie told them.

“Thanks,” the cousins said in unison as Jorie returned to the kitchen.

“Are you going to tell Jorie about Jeff Clarke?” Penny asked.

“Do you think it’s too soon?”

“It’s up to you, Robin. But I think Jorie would be glad to you know you’ve met someone you’re interested in getting to know better.”

“You’re right, Penny. I’ll tell her if I get a chance.”

When Jorie returned with the chips and salsa Robin said, “Gotta minute to talk?”

Jorie’s head swiveled around to survey the restaurant. “It’s not busy yet. What’s up?”

“Penny thinks you should know I’ve met someone I’m interested in getting to know better.”

A bright smile broke out across Jorie’s face. “Really? Who?”

“His name is Jeff Clarke. I don’t know much about him, but he’s clean-cut, polite, and a good conversationalist.” Robin said. “Oh, and he’s not bad looking either.”

“The whole package, huh?” Jorie joked.

“I guess you could say that,” Robin said.

“Well, good luck, Robin. You deserve to be treated well after all you’ve been through with Thomas.”

“Thanks. You’re a good friend.” Robin said.

“Now, if we could just find nice guys for me and Penny.” All three women laughed quietly and nodded their agreement.

~*~

After the cousins finished lunch, they drove to Ukiah to see the very funny, not-so-romantic movie Penny had read about.

“That was cute,” Penny said. “I haven’t laughed that much in a long time.”

“Me neither,” Robin replied. “It was funny, and the leading man was a hunk. Thanks for inviting me out today, Penny. I needed this.”

“You’re welcome, Robbie. We need to make more time for fun in our lives. You know, before we become old married women tied down with kids, housework—you get the picture.”

“Yeah, I get the picture. That picture sounds pretty good to me right about now.”

“I know what you mean,” Penny said in a quiet voice. “It sounds just about right.”

The friends continued chatting as they drove north to Bonita Creek. When they reached the church parking lot they got out of the car and embraced.

“Let’s promise to do this more often, Penny.”

“Pinky promise, Robbie.”

“I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Goodbye.” Penny walked over to her car. Then she turned and called out, “Oh, and Robin.”

“Yes . . .”

“Don’t worry about this new guy. It’ll work out the way it’s supposed to work out.”

“No worries, mate.”

“It’s all good. Bye, Robbie.”

~*~

Jeff had been a runner since he tried out for the track team in junior high school. The benefits of running were multiple for someone as intense and serious as he. Whenever he needed to think or relieve some stress, which was essentially each day of his life, Jeff ran for forty-five to fifty minutes. He preferred taking his runs in the morning so he’d benefit from the positive effects throughout the day. Even when he felt exhausted at the beginning of his run, he felt somehow energized upon finishing. He generally tried to run six days each week. Sunday was usually his self-imposed day of rest.

I
need
to de-stress, so I’m breaking my no-running-on-Sunday rule.

With an energy fueled by gritty determination, Jeff began stretching.
Patience, don’t rush the stretching. You’re not as young as you used to be, old boy.
Satisfied his muscles were warmed up for his run, Jeff slapped a worn baseball cap on his head. He tied his running shoes and took off. It was his habit to run for time rather than distance and he wanted to try a new route this morning. One of the locals had mentioned a series of trails in the hills above Bonita Creek. He’d picked up a map of the trail system from the local Parks Department earlier in the week.

He made his way up to the trailhead and began running at a steady pace. The trail was well-marked, and he enjoyed the lush scenery. Redwood trees and ferns grew in abundance in the cool, shaded canopy. Jeff found the fragrances of redwood and pine invigorating. The sights, sounds and smells in Bonita Creek were different from his home in Illinois.

After almost an hour on the trail he headed home. He gulped down some cold water and jumped in the shower to cool down. He dressed in a soft old t-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts and switched on the window air-conditioning unit in his rental. It responded with a cough and a hiss and sent out a halfhearted blast of semi-cool, humid air.
Better than nothing, I guess.

He headed to the recliner and put his feet up. He was reading the Sunday paper on his tablet when he heard a firm knock at his front door. Since Robin was the only person he had met since his arrival in Bonita Creek, he couldn’t imagine who was visiting. It was probably a child selling something or another for a school or church fundraiser. When he opened the door he was surprised to find a statuesque blonde gracing his porch.

The woman smiled broadly and launched into what sounded like a well-rehearsed speech. “Hi, there. I’m Susan Stinson. I came over to welcome you to the neighborhood. I even baked you a pie.”

A stunned Jeff accepted the pie dish extended to him by the breathtaking beauty. “Uh, my name is Jeff,” he stammered. As he turned to set the pie dish down on the entry table, he asked, “Would you like to come in?”

He had an opportunity to view Susan from all angles as she glided through his doorway. She was gorgeous—tanned, tall, slender—the typical blonde bombshell. She was also heavily made up, and Jeff seriously doubted her hair was naturally blonde. Susan had the perfect appearance of a professional model or actress. Jeff wanted to ask her, but his tongue seemed to be stuck on the roof of his mouth rendering him temporarily mute.

Once inside, Susan began chattering again. “I live across the street from you, and I couldn’t help but notice when you moved in you didn’t have much stuff. Is there a Mrs. Jeff hiding somewhere?”

“No, no wife. I’m just a hardworking bachelor,” he replied, trying to sound casual.

“We’ll see how long your bachelorhood lasts. What line of work are you in?”

His rehearsed retort flowed seamlessly from his lips. “I’m a numbers man. How about yourself? What do you do?”

“I do lots of things, but my career is working as a model for magazine features and advertising. I get to travel around the country and wear beautiful clothes, jewelry, accessories, and makeup. People tend to fuss over me wherever I travel. What more could a girl want, besides spending time with a good-looking guy like you? Would you like to take me out to dinner tonight?” she purred.

By now, his neighbor was standing well within Jeff’s personal space. He could feel her warm breath on his face and smell the cloyingly sweet scent of her tropical-style perfume. It reminded him of the voluminous gardenias and jasmines lining his grandmother’s front walkway. His pulse began racing. This gorgeous creature was branding him as good-looking?  Naturally, he was flattered, but he couldn’t deny the uneasy feeling he had about her aggressive approach. He was hopelessly old-fashioned and believed the man should lead the pursuit.

He realized his ego would be boosted by being seen in public with this extraordinary woman on his arm. It had been awhile since he had enjoyed female company, and he
was
tired of eating dinner alone each night. Maybe dating Susan would enhance his professional stature in Bonita Creek.
Have you seriously become shallow, Clarke?

Before his conscience could talk him out of it he said, “Sure. I’ll pick you up at seven o’clock. Do you have a favorite restaurant?”

Without hesitation, Susan replied, “Yes. It’s an exclusive, romantic place on the coast called ‘The Silk Seal.’ We have to have reservations to get in there, and at this late hour we won’t be able to get a table. We’ll go there on our second date—maybe next weekend. Tonight, why don’t we just dine in town? There’s a good Mexican café nearby called La Reyna where the margaritas are just awesome.”

He nodded dumbly. “I stay away from alcohol, but I’m sure I can find something else on the menu to order. Do we need a reservation?”

With a shake of her lovely head Susan responded in the negative.

“Is it casual dress there?”

“Yeah. Just be relaxed.”

“Well then, I’ll see you in a little while.”

She leaned over and kissed him with a loud smack on his cheek. “As you wish, lover boy.”

Dumbfounded, he closed the door behind her. Numbed with shock, he collapsed onto his recliner.
Whatever happened to the cool, conservative, strong Jeff Clarke who used to live in this body?
He had a little over two hours to gather his thoughts and get ready for the next segment in the saga of his new life in Bonita Creek. For a small town, there sure were a lot of unexpected things taking place—especially episodes involving attractive women.

The end of the baseball game forgotten, he turned off the radio and tried to get himself mentally and physically prepared for his date. It didn’t take long for Robin’s wholesome face to fill his jumbled mind. He began to feel guilty about going out to dinner with this model when he had basically dumped the librarian just the day before. Maybe, just
maybe,
Robin wouldn’t ever find out he’d gone out with Susan.

~*~

In hindsight, Sunday’s dinner date with Susan was the worst date he could recall in his entire life. In fact, it was the worst date he could have possibly envisioned for himself. He’d been on some pretty dull dates, but he quickly discovered Susan Stinson was unbelievably self-centered, conceited, and inconsiderate. He quickly grew weary of listening to her drone on and on about her clothes, hair, body, makeup, and career.

Upon review, he realized she hadn’t asked him a single question about his life, career, background, hobbies, or interests. Absolutely nothing. When Susan wasn’t talking about herself, she was harshly criticizing others and gossiping unkindly about trivial matters involving the citizens of Bonita Creek. It didn’t take him but half an hour to surmise this would be his only date with his neighbor, so he sat back and let her dominate the entire conversation.

Amid Susan’s torrent of self-proclamations, his mind wandered back to the town’s librarian. She’d impressed him as being sweet, wholesome, pleasant and kind. She possessed beauty, grace, and humanity. He longed to be sitting across from the lovely librarian at this moment. However, he’d made certain there’d be no positive rapport or close relationship with Robin by his thoughtless, obnoxious behavior.

“How are your meals?” interrupted their waitress, Jorie.

“Fine,” Susan snapped impatiently. She was busy shoveling chips and salsa into her mouth when she wasn’t pontificating about her world of beauty.

Jeff made eye contact with the waitress and said, “Everything’s delicious. Thank you.”

Jorie lingered in front of the table and spoke directly to Susan. “Penny and Robin were in here for lunch today talking about the Storybook Fair for the library. It was just like old times seeing them together.”