The Coast is Clear (Breakaway Shores #1)

Zander

Chance

The bell above the door jingled, and I caught the eye of Shelley, who was currently ringing someone up at the register. I froze, recognizing the long dark hair of someone I wasn’t hoping to run into. I hadn’t dated much since I’d been here, very casually. But there was one woman, older than me, who owned a house on the next street over who had been interested. That was putting it mildly. She was very obvious with what she was hoping for from me; every encounter was the same. “Morning, ,” Shelley said with a little wave.

Brigette’s hair flung over her shoulder as her eyes narrowed on me. “There he is.”

“Good morning,” I said with a slight nod. I placed my hands inside my jeans pockets, standing off to the side and pretending to scrutinize the menu I knew by heart. This was the only good place to get coffee in town, and I knew exactly what I would get. Brigette grabbed her purse as Shelley asked, “The usual?”

“Yes, please.” I moved to pull my phone out of my pocket, wanting to send a text to Izzy, when Brigette’s cold hand landed on my forearm.

She squeezed, and I stepped back, trying to shake out of her grasp without being too obvious. “You’re looking so tan today, .”

Tan? What a strange thing to say because my skin was literally always this color. I opened my mouth, trying to figure out the right thing to say, when my phone buzzed. I held it up to her and walked as far away as possible, only about two feet. “Hey, Luke. Perfect timing.”

He chuckled in response. “Oh no, let me guess. It’s the cougar?”

How he knew was beyond me, but his timing was impeccable. “What’s going on?”

“I am planning on playing hooky a little bit his afternoon. I’m going to take the boys to a movie, some dog superhero thing. Do you want to come?” The sound of his busy real estate office bustled in the background.

I did not. But I also didn’t want to be rude. Kingston and Christian were my buddies, but I wasn’t sure I was up for a kid’s movie in a public theatre. “Um, I don’t know about that, but what is your sister doing?”

Luke laughed. “Seriously? Dude. ”

“What?” I asked as the bell above the door rang again. Shelley placed my drink on the counter, and I grabbed it, knowing she’d add it to my monthly tab.

“I am not her keeper, Zand. But I’m sure she’ll be free to do something with you,” he said, his tone serious.

I stepped out onto the quaint Main Street sidewalk and headed toward the beach. “If you want me to back off, just tell me. I just, I like her.”

The background noise on his end quieted, like he went into a separate room. “I know. I can tell. I also think she really likes you, too.” freaking hoped so. He’d been one second away from kissing her last night. He thought she wanted it, too. But he spent the walk home second-guessing the whole night. “But, like, I don’t need to hear all the details, okay?”

“Understood.” I chuckled. “What time?”

Luke told me when I should meet him there and jumped off the phone. I couldn’t help the rush of excitement that rolled through me. Izzy was something so special. She exuded strength, but what I loved most was watching her with her kids. She was so present with them, so focused on whatever they needed.

She had looked so relaxed, which had been incredibly sexy, sitting on the kitchen counter as I cooked. I could feel her watching me, and I loved that feeling. I wanted to soak it all in.

Someone like her, wanting me? It didn’t feel quite real, but I wanted it to be true.