Read Online Barefoot Bay: Silhouettes on the Sand (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Chris Keniston - Free Book Online
Authors: Chris Keniston
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and chefs in white hats regardless.
"They're a good bunch. The Colonel was rather gruff to me at first, but, once he realized that Nate was a changed man, he warmed up a bit."
"Military men aren't known for being warm and fuzzy, especially not full-bird colonels."
"You're familiar with the marines?"
C.J. nodded. "Used to be."
Liza eyed her carefully. "The trick is to remember, under all the trappings, they're the same as you and me. Flesh and blood with hopes and dreams." Her gaze shifted to Mitch. "And sorrows."
"He loved his wife very much, didn't he?"
"I don't know firsthand, but it sure looks that way to me. Nate says, at first, Mitch seemed to be in a permanent fog. He hasn't fully come out of it, but he appears to be a little better. I keep hoping that, hanging around here, the resort’s motto will rub off on him."
"Motto?"
"Lacey Walker, who owns the resort, always says, come to Barefoot Bay, kick off your shoes, and fall in love . I suspect Mitch's problem is he hasn't kicked his shoes off."
"Thanks for the warning. I'll remember to keep mine on."
Again Liza carefully eyed C.J., then let her glance drift over to Chase and back. "I don't know about that."
C.J. stole a peek at Chase over the rim of her glass. She knew. Kicking off her shoes where Chase Ivory was involved would be a huge mistake. Oil and water never mix.
Chapter Ten
All evening Chase got the distinct impression that C.J. was avoiding him. At first she seemed stiff and distant. Nervous perhaps. Or just observing. He honestly couldn't tell with her. By the time dinner was served buffet-style on the sundeck, she'd made friends with the wives and seemed to be having a more relaxed time. He'd even caught her chatting up a bit with his brother Mitch. At first he hadn't thought anything of it. Mitch was a politician; he could make nice with anyone. Good at kissing babies and all that sort of thing.
Not until Chase had spotted them in deep conversation over dessert did he get an uneasy feeling in his gut, and, when he tried to step into the conversation, C.J. excused herself, saying she needed to use the ladies’ room. The way Mitch casually kept an eye on her as she walked away had Chase's gut doing backflips.
"You two seemed to be hitting it off." Chase made an effort at nonchalance. Normally in business that came easily. Part of that never let them see you sweat thing. But, in his personal life, and with this brother, he wasn't sure he could pull it off.
"Hey," Mitch responded, "any woman who wants to talk politics has my undivided attention."
"You were talking politics?"
His brother nodded. "She has some pretty grounded opinions on the military and the US role in the Middle East. Has some interesting facts too." His eyes narrowed in thought. "The Colonel is going to like her."
"The Colonel hopefully won't get much chance to chat with her. And you'd better find someone to bring along to these events, or you may find yourself on the short end of his matchmaking stick."
Mitch shook his head. "No, not me. He's got his eyes set on the single guys."
Chase stopped himself before he blurted out the painful reminder that Mitch was indeed single. Instead he forced a smile. "We'll have to see about that."
A cool breeze on the bay had the party lingering on the deck instead of moving to the air-conditioned interior. Occasionally Chase heard laughter from the women, among talk of babies and bridesmaids’ dresses and cake-tasting. The guys talked mostly baseball with the occasional diversion to Wall Street and the upcoming elections. But it wasn't until the party was breaking up that Chase spotted Mitch and C.J. once again huddled together, ginger ale flutes in hand.
Only this time C.J.'s laughter made the uneasy feeling in his gut ride up his spine and settle tensely in his jaw. He didn't need one hand to count how often in private he'd seen Mitch smile the last couple of years, and tonight—for the first time in a long while—that
"They're a good bunch. The Colonel was rather gruff to me at first, but, once he realized that Nate was a changed man, he warmed up a bit."
"Military men aren't known for being warm and fuzzy, especially not full-bird colonels."
"You're familiar with the marines?"
C.J. nodded. "Used to be."
Liza eyed her carefully. "The trick is to remember, under all the trappings, they're the same as you and me. Flesh and blood with hopes and dreams." Her gaze shifted to Mitch. "And sorrows."
"He loved his wife very much, didn't he?"
"I don't know firsthand, but it sure looks that way to me. Nate says, at first, Mitch seemed to be in a permanent fog. He hasn't fully come out of it, but he appears to be a little better. I keep hoping that, hanging around here, the resort’s motto will rub off on him."
"Motto?"
"Lacey Walker, who owns the resort, always says, come to Barefoot Bay, kick off your shoes, and fall in love . I suspect Mitch's problem is he hasn't kicked his shoes off."
"Thanks for the warning. I'll remember to keep mine on."
Again Liza carefully eyed C.J., then let her glance drift over to Chase and back. "I don't know about that."
C.J. stole a peek at Chase over the rim of her glass. She knew. Kicking off her shoes where Chase Ivory was involved would be a huge mistake. Oil and water never mix.
Chapter Ten
All evening Chase got the distinct impression that C.J. was avoiding him. At first she seemed stiff and distant. Nervous perhaps. Or just observing. He honestly couldn't tell with her. By the time dinner was served buffet-style on the sundeck, she'd made friends with the wives and seemed to be having a more relaxed time. He'd even caught her chatting up a bit with his brother Mitch. At first he hadn't thought anything of it. Mitch was a politician; he could make nice with anyone. Good at kissing babies and all that sort of thing.
Not until Chase had spotted them in deep conversation over dessert did he get an uneasy feeling in his gut, and, when he tried to step into the conversation, C.J. excused herself, saying she needed to use the ladies’ room. The way Mitch casually kept an eye on her as she walked away had Chase's gut doing backflips.
"You two seemed to be hitting it off." Chase made an effort at nonchalance. Normally in business that came easily. Part of that never let them see you sweat thing. But, in his personal life, and with this brother, he wasn't sure he could pull it off.
"Hey," Mitch responded, "any woman who wants to talk politics has my undivided attention."
"You were talking politics?"
His brother nodded. "She has some pretty grounded opinions on the military and the US role in the Middle East. Has some interesting facts too." His eyes narrowed in thought. "The Colonel is going to like her."
"The Colonel hopefully won't get much chance to chat with her. And you'd better find someone to bring along to these events, or you may find yourself on the short end of his matchmaking stick."
Mitch shook his head. "No, not me. He's got his eyes set on the single guys."
Chase stopped himself before he blurted out the painful reminder that Mitch was indeed single. Instead he forced a smile. "We'll have to see about that."
A cool breeze on the bay had the party lingering on the deck instead of moving to the air-conditioned interior. Occasionally Chase heard laughter from the women, among talk of babies and bridesmaids’ dresses and cake-tasting. The guys talked mostly baseball with the occasional diversion to Wall Street and the upcoming elections. But it wasn't until the party was breaking up that Chase spotted Mitch and C.J. once again huddled together, ginger ale flutes in hand.
Only this time C.J.'s laughter made the uneasy feeling in his gut ride up his spine and settle tensely in his jaw. He didn't need one hand to count how often in private he'd seen Mitch smile the last couple of years, and tonight—for the first time in a long while—that
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