This Can't Be Love (Whispering Bay Romance 5)

But staying in Whispering Bay would also mean she’d continue to have some kind of interaction with Luke. She’d see his sister almost daily and his parents occasionally around town. She wouldn’t be able to help herself and she’d ask about him, and Mimi would tell her what exciting part of the country he was working in or, worse yet, that he had a girlfriend. And then, of course, there was the man himself. Even if he only made it to town once a year, there was no way she could avoid him. Not when The Bistro was the most popular spot in town.

Once they went their separate ways, seeing him again under those circumstances would be too painful. The past weekend had taught her that.

“It’s a tempting offer, Lucy, but I really can’t,” Sarah said. “You could totally get another partner, you know.”

Lucy’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, but they wouldn’t be you.”

Mimi came into the café and, with the familiarity of a good friend, came around the counter to give her a hug. “Hey! How was the wedding? I’m going to get Luke’s version this afternoon, but I wanted to hear the truth from you.”

“It was…interesting,” Sarah said, because she couldn’t lie to Mimi.

“I bet.”

“Why don’t you take a break?” Lucy said to Sarah. “The early morning crowd has slowed down.”

“Yes,” Mimi said, grabbing Sarah by the hand. “Come sit with me and tell me all about it.”

Sarah poured herself a coffee and got Mimi her decaf tea, then settled into a table near the door.

“First off, tell me everything,” Mimi said. “Did Luke die when you came out wearing that dress?”

Sarah couldn’t help but smile. “I think we can say he was suitably impressed.”

“Of course he was. Did you get to meet Julie and Ethan? Isn’t she a total sweetheart?”

“She is. And Ethan’s pretty terrific, too.” She filled Mimi in on the details of the weekend, leading up to the wedding and reception. She decided, however, to omit the part about her bathroom one-on-one with Victoria.

“A plastic surgeon, huh? That seems about Victoria’s speed. I’m sure she looked like a million bucks.”

“She’s very beautiful,” Sarah said. “And maybe just a little…sad.”

Mimi looked at Sarah for a long minute. “I don’t pretend to know Luke’s mind on things. He’s always been a private person, plus, of course, he’s a man, which means he’s unaware of a lot. But I will say this. My brother is a straight shooter. If he ever promised Victoria anything, he would have delivered on it. I’m pretty sure their relationship was way bigger in Victoria’s, and my mother’s mind, than it ever was in reality.”

Sarah had no doubt that what Mimi said was completely true. It was one of the many things she liked about Luke. The man didn’t make false promises. He’d offered Sarah nothing beyond a fun couple of weeks, and he’d certainly delivered on that. “So, you said you’re seeing Luke later today?”

“He’s coming into the office on official business. The city is thinking of hiring his company to do a study in preparation for all the land we’ve just inherited.”

“Then you haven’t heard the news?”

“You mean about Nora contesting her daddy’s will?” Mimi shrugged. “Pilar was actually anticipating it. Jenna, too. The will is pretty solid, so I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”

The door to The Bistro opened and a woman exclaimed in a loud voice, “We’re back!”

Everyone turned to see Frida and Ed Hampton standing in the doorway. The entire restaurant, Sarah and Mimi included, jumped to their feet and swarmed them.

“The happy vacationers return!” Mimi cried.

“How was Europe?” someone asked,

and on it went with the questions and welcome home hugs.

“It’s about time,” Betty Jean grumbled. “We haven’t a decent cup of coffee since you two left America.”

Sarah and Lucy exchanged smiles. Poor Betty Jean. Wait till she heard that Frida and Ed were planning to sell the place.

* * *

“I can’t accept this,” Sarah said, looking at the five-thousand-dollar check Frida had just handed her. It was a little after two p.m. and The Bistro was now officially closed for the day.