By the time I’d reached home, I was still thinking about Sadie and Austin. People are funny when it comes to love. You never know who Cupid is going to pick as your total soul mate. Sadie seemed happy. Unlocking the door, I heard Emma’s bark out the back. She’d been waiting for me. Instead of letting her in, I ran upstairs to change into my running clothes. When I returned to the kitchen, I opened the door. My golden retriever went ballistic when she saw me putting on my shoes. She sat in front of me and made a whining, chuffing noise.
There was no doubting Emma’s love for me. Or at least her love of running. We headed down Main Street as it wound out of town and toward Highway One and on the other side, the beach. Our favorite run. The waves crashed against the shore. Soon, my mind cleared and the rhythm of my feet against the sand and the caws of the seagulls were all I knew.
I didn’t listen to music when I ran. Not like when I used to run in the city. This was more like having my own noise machine. Calming my nerves and relaxing my muscles, even when my workday had been rough.
Checking the time on my watch, I reluctantly turned back toward the parking lot. I had to get home and cleaned up before Greg arrived for our evening at the winery. I didn’t want to give him any reason to back out of the rehearsal. I was sure our relationship was moving into the next stage, the big one that all women dream about. If things kept going this well, next month I was going to ask him to take ballroom classes with me. When I knew he wouldn’t say no.
Climbing up the stairs to the parking lot, I was surprised to see two cars. There hadn’t been anyone on the beach today. Most days Emma and I had the place to ourselves, no matter what time we ran. I clipped Emma’s leash back on her collar and started toward the entrance to the road.
Passing the first car, I saw it was empty but there were two people kissing in the second. I smiled, though the couple looked a little old to be parking. The man had white in his perfectly coiffed hair. The woman’s brilliant red hair was pulled into a messy bun at the back of her head. He must have heard Emma and me approaching because he lifted his head and looked right at me.
It was Kent Paine. And Sherry wasn’t the woman he was kissing.
CHAPTER 3
I don’t think I stopped running until I hit the front porch. Letting Emma wander the house, I ran upstairs to get dressed for rehearsal. The good news was I didn’t have to worry about spilling the beans to Sherry about her boyfriend’s indiscretions. The woman and I barely talked. The bad news was I knew eventually I’d tell Greg and he’d probably want to tell Sherry. Or maybe not. It wasn’t as if I’d caught them naked and doing the ugly. Honestly, what responsibility did I have to say a word to anyone?
My mind was still debating the pros and cons of the question as I finished getting ready for our date. I curled up on the sofa to wait for Greg, trying to read the latest mystery release I’d grabbed from the shop. It was my turn to pick the book for our readers’ club and I still hadn’t chosen. That was the problem; there were too many good books. As I read, my attention left the troubles of the real world and focused on the antics of two retired sisters who gave cruise tours. Senior Showdown was the name of the book, and even though it sounded like something out of a spaghetti Western, the plot had hooked me from the first page.
Loud knocking pulled me off the cruise ship and back into reality. No doubt about it, I was choosing this book for our reading group. Especially now that the woman had befriended a muscular beefcake lifeguard who always seemed to be into trouble. I swung the door open and Greg stood there, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
“Uh-oh. What did you do now?” I took the flowers and gave him a kiss on the cheek as he walked in.
“Can’t a guy bring his best girl flowers without the third degree?” Greg squatted to Emma’s level and let the dog give him one of her patented puppy hugs. Of course, being almost full grown, she almost tipped him over.
“Now I know something’s up. Don’t tell me you have to work tonight.” I headed to the kitchen for a vase. As I trimmed the ends and dusted the water with the flower food I kept on hand for the summer’s flower bounty, he put his arms around my waist and kissed the back of my neck.
Chills flowed through my body.
He spoke with his lips still lightly brushing my neck. “I thought I might be able to convince you to stay home tonight. We could play hooky from the rehearsal.”
I put the mixed bouquet into the vase. “Only if you call Darla.”
“Not on your life.” Greg stepped back and watched me put the vase on the kitchen table. “I guess it was worth a try.”