First Time in Forever (Puffin Island 1)

“It says so on the poster. Makes me imagine green pastures and everything healthy, which is ironic given the fat content.” She finished her ice cream regretfully. “That was good. It wouldn’t hurt you to put in an order.”

“That’s what I have to do to gain approval?” There was humor in his eyes. “I’ll talk to Anton.”

“Anton? Seriously?” Emily laughed. “You have a chef called Anton?”

“I do.”

“Is he French?”

“No. Born and bred in Maine. The things he can do with a lobster would make you cry. Can those shoes of yours cope with a walk?” He glanced down at her feet. “There’s a view I want to show you.”

And suddenly she realized that she was standing in the street, laughing with a man as if this was her life. As if she were free to follow her instincts and impulses.

Just for a moment, with the sun on her face and Ryan by her side, she’d forgotten everything.

“I should get back.”

“Coward.”

“I’m thinking of Lizzy. I haven’t left her before.”

“She’ll be fine with my grandmother.” His voice was soft. “Walk with me.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s midday and half the residents of Puffin Island are going about their business in Main Street. As you’re keen to avoid attention, I’m suggesting we get out of here.”

“You could just stop looking at me,” Emily muttered. “That would do it.”

“That isn’t an option.” He took her hand and drew her into the narrow street that ran between the bakery and the hardware store. It wound away from the main harbor area and was a shortcut to the Ocean Club.

“I might be able to help her.”

“Who?”

“Lisa. I might be able to give her business advice. I’m a management consultant. It’s what I do. It’s what I’m good at.”

They took the path that led up past the Ocean Club and turned inland. This side of the island was thickly wooded, with steep trails zigzagging through dense forest. On the other side was farmland, with rolling pastures leading down to the sea.

Shaded from sunshine, breathing in the smell of pine, Emily made a mental note to bring Lizzy here.

“It’s pretty.” And quiet. The only sound was the call of the birds and the snap of twigs under their feet. “I can see why Lisa would have chosen to live here.”

“Here—” he handed her a bottle of insect repellent “—better use this on the areas that aren’t covered. We have mosquitoes the size of small birds, and they love black. Tell me about your job.”

“My expertise was strategy and operations. I worked mostly in the consumer goods industry.”

“You know about ice cream?”

“Not specifically, but that doesn’t matter. I’m a problem solver. I look at product, pricing, positioning, supply chains—” She broke off. “This is boring. You don’t want to hear the detail.”

“All those long words are turning me on, but I confess I zoned out when you said ‘positioning.’” He grinned at her. “Clearly I have a thing for management consultants. Who knew?”

“We’re in a competitive market. Companies need to stay agile.”

He groaned. “Honey, you are killing me. Just don’t start talking about growth or I’ll be arrested.”

Because everything about him unsettled her, she chose to ignore the innuendo. “We apply lean principles—”