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Authors: Phoebe Conn
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“Kinda slow, but sport fishing is always better in the summer. The gray whales begin their migration soon, and usually a few people happen along who want to go out and watch them. I can’t offer any guarantees that we’ll actually sight a whale, but that’s real easy money.”
Christy Joy had never found Jeremy in such a talkative mood, and she smiled to encourage him. “When I was in grade school, my class went whale watching. We only saw one whale, but it was so exciting. Do you suppose Twink is old enough to appreciate what a privilege it is to see a whale swimming free?”
Jeremy shifted his feet in an awkward shuffle, but then nodded. “Sure. Maybe someday when you’re not too busy, and I don’t have a charter, we can take Twink and go out and chase whales.”
Had his offer been spontaneous, Christy Joy would have been pleased, but she feared that he’d mistaken her question for a pointed demand. “Oh, Jeremy, please don’t misunderstand, I wasn’t fishing for an invitation.’
Amused by her breathless apology, as well as her choice of words, Jeremy couldn’t help but laugh. “If you want to fish too, that’s okay.” Mary Beth came through the door then, and, still chuckling, Jeremy turned away to walk with her back to the counter.
Christy Joy was uncertain how she’d gotten herself into such an awkward situation, but this was the first time she’d ever heard Jeremy laugh, and it was a very pleasant sound. Mary Beth was dating Wes Lundberg, a CPA with his own accounting firm, and regarded Jeremy as merely a friend, but Christy Joy still felt as though she’d overstepped her bounds.
She hoped Jeremy would soon have so many charters he’d forget all about providing lessons on marine life for Twink, but he gave her a jaunty salute as he left the shop, and she feared hers was an invitation he would remember. Of course, if she and Twink were to go out on Jeremy’s boat, it wouldn’t be a date. It would just be whale watching and nothing more.
Maybe they could take Twink’s preschool class, she thought for an instant, then realized it would be an even greater imposition than she’d already made. There were women who used their children’s needs as an excuse to spend time with a man, and probably an equal number of men who were attentive to a woman’s children as a means to impress her, but she would never be a party to either ploy.
Absolutely not. If Jeremy actually followed through on the trip, she would bring snacks and make certain they all had a wonderful time. It was the least she could do, but as she approached Mary Beth, she had the sinking feeling she’d done something wrong.
“Mary Beth, if things don’t work out for you and Wes, would you date Jeremy Linden?”
Mary Beth pushed her glasses up her nose. “Whatever makes you think Wes and I aren’t a perfect match? Oh, never mind, you needn’t explain. Jeremy and I both love to read, but that’s not the same as having a romantic interest in someone, that sizzle that makes you turn and look twice at a man. But why are you asking? Did Jeremy say something about me just now?”
“No, apparently he just stopped by to drop off the Clancy book. Has it ever struck you as odd that you and a sea captain have the same tastes in reading?”
Mary Beth slid one of the Defy the World’s flower-tipped pens behind her ear. “What’s wrong with liking mysteries and thrillers? Jeremy’s very good at analyzing and comparing plots, but that just makes him an interesting friend. Haven’t you noticed how he looks at you?”
Startled, Christy Joy slipped her hands into the pockets of her blue gingham jumper. “Why no. I thought he just enjoyed perusing our stock.”
Mary Beth rolled her eyes. “That’s just an excuse, Christy Joy. The man comes in here to see you.”
“You’re kidding.” Christy Joy hadn’t noticed Jeremy giving her any special attention. “I imagine he’s just lonely.”
“Which could very well be, but he
Christy Joy had never found Jeremy in such a talkative mood, and she smiled to encourage him. “When I was in grade school, my class went whale watching. We only saw one whale, but it was so exciting. Do you suppose Twink is old enough to appreciate what a privilege it is to see a whale swimming free?”
Jeremy shifted his feet in an awkward shuffle, but then nodded. “Sure. Maybe someday when you’re not too busy, and I don’t have a charter, we can take Twink and go out and chase whales.”
Had his offer been spontaneous, Christy Joy would have been pleased, but she feared that he’d mistaken her question for a pointed demand. “Oh, Jeremy, please don’t misunderstand, I wasn’t fishing for an invitation.’
Amused by her breathless apology, as well as her choice of words, Jeremy couldn’t help but laugh. “If you want to fish too, that’s okay.” Mary Beth came through the door then, and, still chuckling, Jeremy turned away to walk with her back to the counter.
Christy Joy was uncertain how she’d gotten herself into such an awkward situation, but this was the first time she’d ever heard Jeremy laugh, and it was a very pleasant sound. Mary Beth was dating Wes Lundberg, a CPA with his own accounting firm, and regarded Jeremy as merely a friend, but Christy Joy still felt as though she’d overstepped her bounds.
She hoped Jeremy would soon have so many charters he’d forget all about providing lessons on marine life for Twink, but he gave her a jaunty salute as he left the shop, and she feared hers was an invitation he would remember. Of course, if she and Twink were to go out on Jeremy’s boat, it wouldn’t be a date. It would just be whale watching and nothing more.
Maybe they could take Twink’s preschool class, she thought for an instant, then realized it would be an even greater imposition than she’d already made. There were women who used their children’s needs as an excuse to spend time with a man, and probably an equal number of men who were attentive to a woman’s children as a means to impress her, but she would never be a party to either ploy.
Absolutely not. If Jeremy actually followed through on the trip, she would bring snacks and make certain they all had a wonderful time. It was the least she could do, but as she approached Mary Beth, she had the sinking feeling she’d done something wrong.
“Mary Beth, if things don’t work out for you and Wes, would you date Jeremy Linden?”
Mary Beth pushed her glasses up her nose. “Whatever makes you think Wes and I aren’t a perfect match? Oh, never mind, you needn’t explain. Jeremy and I both love to read, but that’s not the same as having a romantic interest in someone, that sizzle that makes you turn and look twice at a man. But why are you asking? Did Jeremy say something about me just now?”
“No, apparently he just stopped by to drop off the Clancy book. Has it ever struck you as odd that you and a sea captain have the same tastes in reading?”
Mary Beth slid one of the Defy the World’s flower-tipped pens behind her ear. “What’s wrong with liking mysteries and thrillers? Jeremy’s very good at analyzing and comparing plots, but that just makes him an interesting friend. Haven’t you noticed how he looks at you?”
Startled, Christy Joy slipped her hands into the pockets of her blue gingham jumper. “Why no. I thought he just enjoyed perusing our stock.”
Mary Beth rolled her eyes. “That’s just an excuse, Christy Joy. The man comes in here to see you.”
“You’re kidding.” Christy Joy hadn’t noticed Jeremy giving her any special attention. “I imagine he’s just lonely.”
“Which could very well be, but he
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