I’m tempted to answer, “More of you, perhaps in significantly less clothing,” but I don’t think that’s what she meant. But for the life of me, I don’t know what she’s asking.
As though reading my thoughts, she clarifies, “For your book. Digger said you wanted to come along so you could do some research.”
“Oh, right, that.” I feel slightly guilty on account of it being a total lie. I just wanted to spend some one-on-one time with Moira. “I want to write a chapter set in a nice restaurant here in town. It’s sort of a romantic scene so …”
After a moment, she says, “There’s a place on the shore called the Parched Moose. They have a great menu and when the weather’s nice, you can sit out on the deck and watch the tide come and go while you eat.”
“The Parched Moose, eh?”
“Don’t let the name fool you. It’s been written up inGourmetmagazine.”
“Do we have time to stop for supper?” I ask, hoping she doesn’t see through my excuse.
“Let me call Digger and Harper to check on the boys. If they haven’t gotten into too much trouble, I’m game.”
After we get into the truck, I start to follow the directions on my map app while Moira calls the lodge. “Hey, Harper, I just wanted to see how things are going there.”
After a pause, she adds, “Ethan and I were thinking of stopping for a bite before we come back.”
She laughs a little, then says, “Get your mind out of the gutter, lady.” Another pause, then, “You sure? That wasn’t the plan.” Pause. “Okay, well, I appreciate it. That’ll give us more time so I can show Ethan around town for his research.” Her last comment before hanging up is, “Not going to happen, bye!” It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out what Harper was suggesting.
Moira tosses her phone into her handbag. “Looks like I’m off mom duty until the morning.”
“Really?” I’m sure my tone sounds far too hopeful. “What was that about Harper’s mind being in the gutter? You’ve piqued my curiosity.”
Bursting out laughing, Moira says, “I’m not telling you what she said.”
“I’ll have to ask her myself then.”
“You’ll regret it, trust me.”
I grin at Moira and shrug. “We’ll see.”
Not ten minutes later, Moira and I walk into the Parched Moose. It’s got an old lodge feel with stone and wood accents, a trophy black bear in the lobby and an enormous moose head hanging on the wall above the fireplace. It’s a beautiful, warm evening, so we elect to eat outside on the patio.
As we follow the hostess through the dining room, I’m pretty sure people assume Moira and I are a couple. Even though that’s not the case, I still feel a sense of pride just being with her.
As expected, our table overlooks the ocean. The sound of the waves rolling in creates a calming atmosphere. Taking a deep breath of fresh air, I suddenly feel alive in a way I haven’t in years. I take Moira’s advice and order the crab-stuffed halibut, and we decide to split a bottle of Marsanne.
Once our first glass is poured, I tell her, “You’re going to have to drink the lion’s share of it if I’m driving back to Gamble.”
“I think I can handle it,” she says with a smirk.
My heart pounds in my chest just looking at her. Moira in a diner uniform, or shorts and an oversized T-shirt is enough to make me stare, but all dolled up? I have to force myself not to blurt out exactly what I’m thinking. It’s like the purest form of torture to be so near her without any hope that things will progress between us.
“Can I ask you a personal question?” she says. “It’s one I hate answering, so if you don’t want to, just don’t.”
“Okay, deal.”
She holds her glass to her lips but stalls before she takes a sip. “Why are you single?”
“Life’s easier this way,” I tell her.
She nods, but I can see in her eyes that she’s not buying it. “Did you ever want to get married?”
“Yes. Actually, I always assumed I’d get married and have a family someday, but it didn’t work out that way.” I glance out at the water. “I got as far as proposing a few years ago, but it turns out the woman I thought I loved didn’t feel the same way about our future as I did. She was trying to think of a way to break it off with me while I was busy making plans for us.”
“That must have been hard. I’m sorry.”