Summer on Lovers' Island (Jewell Cove 3)

He must have blushed, because she laughed again. “It’s okay, Josh. It’s not for everyone, but it works for me. It took me a long time to be okay with myself, and part of that was learning to accept who I was. I did that through a lot of natural principles. Getting back to basics. Simple. Clean. Uncluttered.”

Accept who she was? He had no idea that had been a struggle for her. “But you always seem so confident. Like with the, uh, hair. And the nose ring.”

She touched the tiny stud in her nose and laughed a little. “For a long time that was a disguise because I didn’t like the real me. Now I just do it because I like it.” She took a sip of her tea, cradling her hands around the thick mug. “Growing up is kind of nice like that. You stop caring so much what other people think.”

They each ate a little more dinner and then Summer spoke again. “Josh, why did you invite me out tonight?”

He met her gaze. She was watching him with a forthright expression and he figured he might as well be honest. “Because my family has this notion that we ought to be together and we both know it. I wanted to clear the air.”

“Because you’re not interested in me that way.”

Guilt spiraled through him, as well as a longing to not hurt her feelings. But it was only fair to tell her now. “No, Summer, I’m not.”

She laughed out loud and picked up her sandwich. “Thank God for that,” she said, taking a huge bite.

He put down the spoon that he’d forgotten he was holding. “Oh,” he said, unsure of what to say now.

“You thought I was? Hey, I could see people pairing us up. Similar age, single, you know how it goes. And you’re a nice guy, Josh. A real nice guy. But I never quite got that whole woo woo feeling in my stomach when you walked into a room. And I knew you didn’t, either.”

“You knew that?”

“You are always very nice, but there’s a pained look around your lips when you’re in an awkward situation. I see that quite often.”

Damn. He truly hadn’t realized he was that transparent.

Summer’s gaze softened. “Besides, I remember how you used to look at your wife. You don’t look at me that way. At all.”

“Jeez, Summer. Ouch.”

“That’s why you asked me out, though, right? To make sure we’re on the same page?”

He nodded.

“We are. Eat your soup. We can have a nice hour or so as friends, and that’s that.”

Josh looked down at his bowl and laughed a little. “Why do I feel like you’ve just let me down easy?”

She reached across the table and put her fingers on his wrist. “Because I don’t play games. I decided a long time ago that I would say what I think and be honest with people and not pretend to be someone I’m not. I’m much happier that way.”

He squeezed her fingers and then pulled away. “You’re some woman, Summer. Some guy’s going to be pretty lucky to get you. And you’ll keep him on his toes, no question.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I doubt it. For some reason I seem to naturally repel men. I’ll probably have to get a few cats in a year or two.”

“What, no hunky hotties at your yoga class?” he teased.

She laughed, and they both seemed to relax a lot more. “Way to stereotype. As a matter of fact, at my last Vinyasa class there was a firefighter there. At least that’s what the bum of his shorts said. I made sure I put my mat behind him.” She fanned herself and winked at Josh. “And I probably stand a better chance of hooking up at yoga than you do in your office.”

Which immediately switched his br

ain back to Lizzie. She’d been her regular efficient self this morning, dressed in sand-colored trousers and a pink blouse under her white coat. Her hair had been up, as it usually was at work, and it was like the night before at the beach had never happened.

But he remembered. Remembered the wistful sound of her sigh, the heartbreak in her tears as she asked why it had to hurt so badly. He remembered the smell of her hair and the feel of her firm, toned body under his hands as he held her close, wishing there was some way he could take away her pain.

Whoa. What the heck? He’d just tried to help … not get personally involved or care too much—

“You okay?” Summer asked, a wrinkle forming between her perfect eyebrows. “Where’d you disappear to?”

“Nowhere,” he replied, forcing a smile. “Now that we’ve set the record straight, we should finish eating before it all gets cold. Besides, I’m dying to try that avocado cake.”