“That's really great of him,” Jamie murmured.
“He's a really great guy.” Liz studied her for several seconds. “But I guess you know that.”
Jamie huffed out a breath. “I have to admit it wasn't my first impression of him.”
Interest kindled in Liz's eyes. “That sounds like a story. What happened?”
She related the Dead Clam/Leaky Roof Saga. When she finished, Liz wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. “I am, of course, laughing
with
you,” she said.
“I'm just glad I'm able to laugh about it now,” Jamie said. “Funny nowâ
not
funny then.”
“I'm sure it wasn't. I give you a lot of credit for sticking around. And for not maiming Nick with that decapitated flamingo.”
“Believe me, not doing so required a great deal of fortitude and restraint.”
“I guess things are better now, seeing as he invited you to come here with him.” She smiled. “I'm glad he did.”
Jamie smiled in return. “Me, too. Although he only extended the invite to prove he hasn't been off on benders.”
“I wouldn't be so sure of that. He could have just told you. This is the first time he's ever brought anyone here.”
An oddly warm sensation rippled through Jamie at that bit of news. “Well, I can't deny that over these past weeks I've begun to see that he's . . . not completely horrible.”
Liz laughed, then her blue eyes turned serious. “He was expecting some crusty old sailor/fisherman types to rent Paradise Lost. So you were a big surprise for him. But that's good. He needed a jolt.”
“Paradise Lost was a jolt for me, too.”
“But you rose to the occasion. That says something about you.”
“That I'm certifiable?” Jamie suggested.
Liz chuckled and wiped Emily's mouth. “Maybe. But in a good way. And you know what they say about two joltsâthey cause sparks.”
The words, combined with the speculation in Liz's blue eyes, made it clear what she meant. “Nick and I are just friends,” Jamie said. Yet even as the words left her mouth, she found herself wondering how true they really were. She'd had plenty of guy friends over the years, none of whom had inspired the unsettling whirlwind of confusing emotions mixed with sexual desire Nick aroused.
“Nothing wrong with that,” Liz said. “As Kevin and I can attest, Nick's a terrific friend.” Her gaze shifted to the brownie ingredients on the counter. “Do we have everything you need?”
“For the browniesâyes. Do you have any cream cheese in your fridge? If so, I know a recipe for a totally kick-ass frosting.”
“Don't have cream cheese, but must have kick-ass frosting, so we'll walk to the market as soon as I'm done with the imp here.”
“Kick ass,” repeated the imp with a big grin.
Jamie gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh, noâI'm so sorry,” she said through her fingers. “Clearly I'm not baby-proof.”
Liz waved off her concern. “No worries. I said it, too. Kev and I still aren't completely used to watching every word we say, and Emily's getting to the point where she repeats everything. I'm just thankful her first word was Dada, because her second wordâwhich thankfully no one ever asks aboutâsounded suspiciously like s-h-i-t”âshe spelled in an undertoneâ“which I let loose after I dropped a container of blueberries and those suckers scattered all over the floor like confetti.” She grinned at Emily. “Then Mama said a bad word and you said it right back.”
“Mama,” said Emily, slapping her hands on the tray.
Liz grinned at Jamie. “And just like that, we've moved on. So let's grab the stroller and walk to the market and pick up what we need for the, um,
yummy yum
frosting.”
“Yummy yum,” said Emily.
And just like that, Jamie felt as if she'd made a new friend.
Chapter 16
T
he full moon hung in the evening sky, a fat, luminous pearl resting on inky velvet, the foreground to a thick scattering of brilliant diamond stars. Nick drove toward the main road for the hour-long trip back to Seaside Cove. He flicked a quick glance behind him. Godiva stretched the length of the backseat, dreaming doggie dreams. Nick then glanced at Jamie and found her looking at him. With the oddest expression. As if she'd never seen him before.
He returned his attention to the road, then to break the silence that somehow felt thick with tension, he said, “Those were some incredible brownies you made. I think Kevin wants you to move in.”
“No need. I wrote down the recipe for Liz.”
“Kev will have her baking them every day.”
“Well, you know what they sayâthe way to a man's heart is through his stomach.”
“Firstânot necessary since she already has his heart, and vice versa. And second, I actually think the way to a man's heart is about twelve inches
lower
than his stomach.”
She gave a husky laugh that arrowed heat twelve inches lower than his stomach. “That's most likely true.”
“Wait a minuteâdid you just agree with me
again
? Twice in the same day?”
“I'll alert the media.”
Silence once again swelled between them and he wracked his brain for something to say, other than the words that were lodged in his throat like dry breadcrumbs:
Let's get naked.
“I liked Kevin and Liz a lot,” she said.
Nick seized on the topic, giving himself a mental
thunk
on the head for not thinking to talk about the neutral topic of Kevin and Liz himself. “They're great people. And an equally great couple.”
“How long have they been together?”
“Three years, married for two and a half of those.”
“A whirlwind courtship.”
“Very. But Kevin was a goner the minute he met Liz, and she felt the same way. Never saw anything like it.”
“Where did they meet?”
Nick's lips twitched. “Believe it or not, they met at the Seaside Cove Clam Festival.”
“Really? I had no idea the event was such a hotbed of romantic intrigue.”
He laughed. “Kevin called me that night from the festival to tell me he'd just met the woman he was going to marry. I thought he was nuts.”
“You don't believe in love at first sight?”
“No. Lust at first sight? Yes. But love? I think that takes more time. How about you?”
“Well, given that my parents were a classic âlove at first sight' story, I'd never discount it, although I think it's really more of a âwow, I really click with this person' sucker punch to the heart. And the love blooms from that initial punch.”
He considered for a moment, then nodded. “I never thought of it that way. For a long time I didn't believe that sort of love was possible. Except for observing Kevin's parents together during those high school summers, happy marriages weren't part of my growing-up experience. But seeing Kevin and Liz together now, how good they are together, how happy they are, has me thinking that maybe, with the right person, it's possible.”
“I grew up around a happy marriage, so I've always believed it's possible, but the hard part is finding that right person. That's the key to the whole program.”
“I think I just experienced a sucker punch myself because it appears we haveâbrace yourselfâonce again agreed on something.”
“Holy crap, you're right. That makes
three
times. We'd better stop talking. Right now.”
“Nah, let's go for a record.”
“We've already set one. Let's not push our luck.”
“So we disagree.”
“Just like old times,” she said with a laugh. “Glad things are back to normal.”
More silence descended and
let's get naked
once again pounded through his brain with such force he winced. And seriously doubted his ability to get through the remainder of the ride without uttering them. He glanced at her and saw she was once more looking at him with that odd, puzzled expression. Then she blinked, and it disappeared, leaving him to wonder if he was imagining it.
“I don't think I've ever seen a cuter baby than Emily,” she said.
“She took to you like a duck to water.”
“Spending time with her reminded me of how much fun I used to have with my niece, Heather.”
His mind filled with an image of Jamie playing in the backyard with Emily and Godiva while Liz grilled the steaks. He'd been installing sheetrock in the new addition, chatting with Kevin, when he'd chanced to look out the window and had seen Jamie roll a rubber ball on the grass to Emily, who picked it up and toddled away as fast as her chubby little legs would carry her, squealing in delight when Jamie gave chase, all while keeping Godiva from knocking over the baby. A feeling he couldn't nameâbecause he'd never felt it beforeâhad invaded his entire body at the sight of Jamie with his goddaughter and dog. “I didn't know you liked kids so much.”
“C'monâwho doesn't like kids?”
“I've actually met quite a few people who don't. Not really. Sure, they
say
they like them, but I think they mostly like the
idea
of kids, as opposed to the diaper-changing, give-themyour-attention, get-spit-up-on-your-clothes, don't-get-any-sleep reality of kids.”
“As far as I'm concerned, diapers need changing,
everyone
needs attention, spit-up washes out, and babies do eventually sleepâso that's when you sleep. I can't believe that six months from now my mom will have a baby I'll get to play with and be a big sister to.”
“Based on today, you'll be great at it.”
“Thanks. I was only twelve when my niece was born and we've always been close, especially the last few years. You know, 'cause I'm her âcool aunt' as opposed to her mom.”
“You see her a lot?”
“Yes. We share a standing date every Sunday morning. Sometimes we go out for breakfast, but most often we stay at my apartment and cook together. And talk. And laugh. And discuss her literary idol, F. Scott Fitzgerald. I do my best to keep us connected. My time and attention are the best gifts I can give her, and I try to be the friend and sounding board she needs. Because there are days when she reminds me of a wilted plant everyone forgot to water. And others when teenage attitude, anger, and hurt ooze from her like an open sore.”
“She's very lucky to have you.”
“Thanks, but I feel like the lucky one. I have to admit I was a little weirded out by the whole âmy mom is preggers' scenario, but I've gotten used to it and now I'm excited at the prospect. And as for being great at it, right back atcha. It's obvious you adore that little girl and she adores you right back. You realize you turn into a great big gooey marshmallow when she flashes those dimples at you,” she said in a teasing tone.
Nick laughed. “Can't deny that, although just looking at her pretty much turns me to mush.”
“I noticed. It was . . .”
Her voice trailed off and he found himself tensing, waiting to hear her finish.
“Really sweet,” she finally said softly. “When she fell asleep in your arms and you kissed her hair, it was just . . . a lovely image. It was interesting to see you play the part of uncle and friend.”
Her last sentence chilled the warmth her earlier words had suffused in him. “It's not a part I play. It's who I am. What's important to me.”
His words seemed to vibrate in the air between them for several long seconds. Then she said, “I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I'm having trouble finding the right words to express what I want to say. I saw a side of you today that was . . . unexpected. And I . . . liked it. The kindness and generosity and loyalty you've shown your friendsâthose are qualities to be proud of. And admired.” She made a self-conscious sound. “
That's
what I meant, but said very badly.”
Her words stilled him. He wished he could toss out a lighthearted, smart-ass reply, but nothing lighthearted or smart-ass came to mind. In fact, the only thing that came to mind was, “Thank you.”
“You're welcome. I liked Liz very much. We had a great time on our walk to the market and it turns out we have a lot in common, including drama-prone mothers. Some of the stories she told me about her mom's wild, single lifestyle since divorcing her dad was enough to make my curly hair curlier. Definitely gave me a whole new appreciation of
my
mother, who's a veritable saint in comparison.”
Nick nodded. “Always good to be reminded that no matter what your problems are, someone else's are worse.”
“Very wise words.”
“Did we just agree again?”
“Yes, but don't let it go to your head. Liz reminds me of my best friend Kate. They both have that easygoing, friendly warmth about them.”
“Liz said the same thing about you.” He shot her a grin. “I told her she wouldn't think you were so easygoing if she'd seen you the morning after the roof had leaked on your head all night.”
“The fact that your lifeless body didn't wash up on the beach after the roof had leaked on my head all night proves how easygoing I can be.”
Nick laughed. “Actually, that's pretty much what Liz told me.” He reached for the bottle of water he'd taken from Kevin's fridge before they left. After taking a long swallow, he said, “Every time I'm around them, Iâ” He stopped and pressed his lips together, suddenly feeling foolish. And unsure why he felt compelled to share with her the unsettling thought that had niggled at him ever since he moved to Seaside Cove and saw Kevin and Liz frequently.