She didn’t think of Jack or his kisses. Or at least, that’s notallshe thought about.
* * *
The Half MoonKey beach was full of people, most of which were local folks. The scavenger hunt was a new event planned by Parker and Jade. The pair had met while planning a few town events, and now, they were apparently going to keep organizing stuff together. Nora didn’t mind, but she had a feeling that something was amiss.
That had to be why Jade had all but made her promise Nora would be at the beach for the scavenger hunt starting ceremony and first competition.
Mrs. Francis, who was sitting in a folding chair that someone must have brought specifically for her, tapped Nora’s arm. “You’re looking nice today, Nora.”
She looked down at her attire. She was wearing a pair of jeans with a white tank top. She hardly looked like she had made much of an effort, but she smiled warmly at Half Moon Key’s oldest resident. “Thanks, Mrs. Francis. How are you feeling these days?”
“I can’t complain much. Even if I did, no one listens to an old woman’s complaints. I do like to think that when the young people in town live their best life, I get to live vicariously through them.”
“That’s nice,” Nora hedged, sensing that Mrs. Francis was going somewhere in particular with this line of conversation.
“Isn’t it? You’re going to be participating in the scavenger hunt, yes?”
Nora shrugged. “I don’t know. It depends on what the rules are, to be honest. I can’t miss too many shifts at the restaurant and the ice cream shop.”
The elder waved her off like that didn’t matter. “Both of your siblings are married with children. Your family can spare you a while. You need to make your own family and your own life.”
“And the first annual Half Moon Key scavenger hunt is the right place for my own life to start?” Nora asked, amused and not entirely sure she was following the elderly woman’s reasoning.
That was always a bit dangerous.
Mrs. Francis might look like a nice little old granny, but she was wily and crafty. Just as Nora was about to ask Mrs. Francis what she could possibly mean, the echoing sound of a microphone screeched through the speakers.
Jade stood on a small, raised platform on the beach with Parker standing beside her, beaming at his girlfriend like she was the best thing in the world. It made Nora’s heart clench. Of course, she wanted her friend to be happy and loved by a good man, but there was still a bit of a jealous pang in her heart.
No one had ever looked at Nora like that.
It wasn’t exactly a lifelong dream or goal to have a man look at her like she hung the moon, but there was something about the love shining in Parker’s eyes that was completely foreign to Nora.
At least, it had almost been foreign to her.
Now, she knew what it was like to be kissed, like she had some kind of appeal.
“Hey,” a deep rumbling voice said from just beside her.
Nora squeaked in shock because she knew that voice very well. She longed to hear that voice all the time, and now that he was sayingheyto her like it was nothing, Nora didn’t know what to do.
I know your kisses taste like caramel and sunshine.
She couldn’t say that, though, obviously. She did have to speak, though, but all her senses were stuck.
“How’s it going, Nora? Mrs. Francis?” Jack asked as if she wasn’t completely frozen.
“Jack, my boy. I’m old, and all of the carrots in the world cannot turn back time. How are you this fine afternoon?”
“I’m just fine, thanks,” Jack answered. “I was told to be here. Parker mentioned he might need my help with something.”
Mrs. Francis grinned. “Oh, I bet he did.”
“Why do I feel like I’m missing something?” Jack smiled at her as he addressed her directly. His eyes sparkled like they had an inside joke. Like they were great friends who chatted all the time.
Nora could have melted on the hot sand despite her comfortable sandals. The heat coming off Jack drew her in completely.
Had her body shifted closer to him of its own accord? Why, yes. Yes, it had, and there was nothing she could do to keep from taking another step to his side. Thankfully, she didn’t have to make conversation because Jade and Parker were busy explaining the rules of their new activity.