Read Online 92 Pacific Boulevard by Debbie Macomber - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Debbie Macomber
Tags: Fiction
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they could be good for each other. And, he had to acknowledge with a hint of shame, he wasn’t immune to the thrill of the chase.
Briefly he wondered if something was holding Shirley back—some gossip she’d heard about him. He frowned. He didn’t think Grace Harding had mentioned their Internet relationship. His sister wouldn’t have, either. No, that couldn’t be it.
What had happened with Grace was regrettable. Little did Will know then that within a few years he’d be returning to live in Cedar Cove. That whole situation, which had begun as a mild flirtation via the Internet, had become extremely unpleasant, and he was happy to put it behind him. He’d been genuinely fond of Grace, still was. Her husband was a nice guy—and not someone he wanted to cross. He was glad her marriage had worked out. Besides, he didn’t believe in fouling his own nest, so to speak.
Will turned off the gallery showroom lights and wentupstairs to his small apartment. He’d made the transition from his previous apartment to the space above the gallery because he’d found someone to sublet the place he’d first rented. Mack, the son of P.I. Roy McAfee down the street, had recently joined the Cedar Cove fire department, so the timing was perfect.
His residence in the gallery still needed plenty of work, but it was adequate for now. Sighing, he decided to relax with a glass of wine. He had no idea how long he’d been sitting in front of the television when the phone rang, jolting him out of his stupor.
Caller ID informed him it was Shirley Bliss.
With a knowing smile, he muted the volume on the TV and reached for the receiver. “Hello, Shirley.”
“Mr. Jefferson.”
“Please call me Will.”
“All right, Will…Is that invitation for coffee still open?”
“Sure.” He tried not to reveal how pleased he was to hear from her.
“Great.” She sounded anxious to see him now.
“When would you like to meet?” He set his wineglass on the side table and leaned back in his recliner.
“Could we make it this evening, like you suggested?”
“Perfect,” he said. “It’s a bit late now. Can I convince you to dine with me?”
“No.” Her response was clipped. “Not tonight…As I said, I have a previous engagement.”
“Oh, yes, I’d forgotten that. Coffee it is, then.”
“Could we meet at Mocha Mama’s?”
“Of course.” He didn’t particularly care where they went. He hoped to put her at ease, and if everything went as he wished, this “previous engagement” would disappear as the evening progressed.
“Shall we say in fifteen minutes?” Shirley asked.
“I can manage that.” Will lowered his feet from the ottoman.
“Would it be okay if I brought my daughter along?”
That definitely wasn’t part of his game plan. “Why…sure.”
“Shaw’s at work. When I mentioned to Tanni that you had some information for Shaw, she called him and he’d like to join us, too.”
“But if he’s working…”
“He is,” Shirley elaborated. “At Mocha Mama’s. We’ll see you in fifteen minutes,” she said cheerfully.
“Okay,” he responded. “I’ll be there.” But she’d already hung up.
Chapter Seven
R achel Peyton lightly sprayed Grace Harding’s hair and turned the stylist’s chair around so she could see the full effect in the mirror. Grace held up the small hand mirror, then shook her head and watched as her hair swung forward.
She’d told Rachel she’d been looking for a new style, something short, sassy and easy to care for. “I like it,” Grace said, smiling.
It was always a relief to have a customer confirm her own feelings. “This is shorter than I’ve ever seen you wear your hair.” Initially she’d had her doubts that such a breezy style would suit Grace, the town’s head librarian, but she’d been wrong.
“Seeing that Olivia has short hair now, it seems only fitting that I do, too. We’ve always been best friends.” Grace laughed. “Actually, she’s
Briefly he wondered if something was holding Shirley back—some gossip she’d heard about him. He frowned. He didn’t think Grace Harding had mentioned their Internet relationship. His sister wouldn’t have, either. No, that couldn’t be it.
What had happened with Grace was regrettable. Little did Will know then that within a few years he’d be returning to live in Cedar Cove. That whole situation, which had begun as a mild flirtation via the Internet, had become extremely unpleasant, and he was happy to put it behind him. He’d been genuinely fond of Grace, still was. Her husband was a nice guy—and not someone he wanted to cross. He was glad her marriage had worked out. Besides, he didn’t believe in fouling his own nest, so to speak.
Will turned off the gallery showroom lights and wentupstairs to his small apartment. He’d made the transition from his previous apartment to the space above the gallery because he’d found someone to sublet the place he’d first rented. Mack, the son of P.I. Roy McAfee down the street, had recently joined the Cedar Cove fire department, so the timing was perfect.
His residence in the gallery still needed plenty of work, but it was adequate for now. Sighing, he decided to relax with a glass of wine. He had no idea how long he’d been sitting in front of the television when the phone rang, jolting him out of his stupor.
Caller ID informed him it was Shirley Bliss.
With a knowing smile, he muted the volume on the TV and reached for the receiver. “Hello, Shirley.”
“Mr. Jefferson.”
“Please call me Will.”
“All right, Will…Is that invitation for coffee still open?”
“Sure.” He tried not to reveal how pleased he was to hear from her.
“Great.” She sounded anxious to see him now.
“When would you like to meet?” He set his wineglass on the side table and leaned back in his recliner.
“Could we make it this evening, like you suggested?”
“Perfect,” he said. “It’s a bit late now. Can I convince you to dine with me?”
“No.” Her response was clipped. “Not tonight…As I said, I have a previous engagement.”
“Oh, yes, I’d forgotten that. Coffee it is, then.”
“Could we meet at Mocha Mama’s?”
“Of course.” He didn’t particularly care where they went. He hoped to put her at ease, and if everything went as he wished, this “previous engagement” would disappear as the evening progressed.
“Shall we say in fifteen minutes?” Shirley asked.
“I can manage that.” Will lowered his feet from the ottoman.
“Would it be okay if I brought my daughter along?”
That definitely wasn’t part of his game plan. “Why…sure.”
“Shaw’s at work. When I mentioned to Tanni that you had some information for Shaw, she called him and he’d like to join us, too.”
“But if he’s working…”
“He is,” Shirley elaborated. “At Mocha Mama’s. We’ll see you in fifteen minutes,” she said cheerfully.
“Okay,” he responded. “I’ll be there.” But she’d already hung up.
Chapter Seven
R achel Peyton lightly sprayed Grace Harding’s hair and turned the stylist’s chair around so she could see the full effect in the mirror. Grace held up the small hand mirror, then shook her head and watched as her hair swung forward.
She’d told Rachel she’d been looking for a new style, something short, sassy and easy to care for. “I like it,” Grace said, smiling.
It was always a relief to have a customer confirm her own feelings. “This is shorter than I’ve ever seen you wear your hair.” Initially she’d had her doubts that such a breezy style would suit Grace, the town’s head librarian, but she’d been wrong.
“Seeing that Olivia has short hair now, it seems only fitting that I do, too. We’ve always been best friends.” Grace laughed. “Actually, she’s
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