Trusting His Promise (Love on Sanctuary Shores #5)

Chapter 30

I understand , Beckett tapped into his phone. We can reschedule. Maybe tomorrow or Sunday? Or any day that works for you?

He watched the phone screen, waiting for a reply, but none came.

He sighed and set the device down, rubbing at his face. They’d been so busy filming this week—including several night scenes—that he’d only managed to sneak away to see Jo a couple of times. Always with her dad and Sam nearby—both of whom he loved to spend time with as well, but . . . it did make it harder to attempt to kiss Jo again.

He was starting to wonder if that was intentional on her part.

Sadie strode into the kitchen, her hair wrapped in a towel and some kind of green goo on her face. “Don’t you need to leave for your date?”

Beckett shook his head. “Canceled. Sam is sick.”

“Aw, poor thing.” Sadie grabbed a carton of yogurt out of the fridge. “What does she have?”

“A cold, I think.”

“Maybe you—”

Beckett held up a hand. “Wait. I know what you’re going to say. She needs soup.” He pulled out his phone to look up the number for the Eastside Cafe, before realizing that it would already be closed.

“The grocery store?” he asked.

“Only if you want to give her canned soup,” Sadie answered.

“Maybe Fresh Catch?”

Sadie shrugged. “I can’t remember if they have soup on the menu.”

He couldn’t either, but it was worth a shot. He dialed the restaurant’s number.

“Good evening. Fresh Catch.” Lisa’s friendly voice answered.

“Hey, Lisa. It’s Beckett. There’s been a change of plans.” He’d called her earlier in the day to ask her to keep the table with the best view of the water for them. “Do you have soup?”

“Yeah. Today is salmon chowder.”

“Does Sam like that?”

Lisa chuckled. “Does Sam like anything seafood?”

“No.” Beckett laughed ruefully, but there was also a little glow in his chest that he knew Sam well enough to know the answer. “You don’t happen to have any chicken noodle?”

“Not on hand, no. Why?”

“Jo just called and said Sam isn’t feeling well, so we had to cancel our date. But I thought I could bring Sam some soup.”

“Sam’s sick?” Lisa sounded surprised. “I saw her this morning on the way to school and she seemed fine.”

“I guess— Really?”

“Yeah.” Lisa paused. “You said Jo canceled your date?”

“Well, she has to take care of . . .” Beckett trailed off as the truth dawned on him. “Sam’s not sick.” He dropped his elbows to the counter, scrubbing his free hand over his head. He should have realized.

Sadie whirled toward him, eyes wide.

“Listen, Beckett. It’s not you. It’s Jo,” Lisa was saying from the other end of the phone. “She’s scared because she likes you. And when she’s scared, she holes up.”

Beckett lifted his head. “Back up a second. Did you say she likes me?”

Lisa laughed. “Yeah, Beckett. She likes you a lot.”

“She told you this?” Beckett’s heart lifted—then sank at Lisa’s hesitation.

Finally, she said, “Jo doesn’t tell people things like that. But I’m her best friend—trust me, she likes you. A lot ,” she repeated. “Tell you what.” Lisa lowered her voice, as if they were conspiring something. “Why don’t I put together a dinner for the two of you, and you can pick it up and take it over there. I’ll even throw in something for Sam, in case she really is sick.”

“I don’t know.” If Jo didn’t want to be with him, she didn’t want to be with him. He wasn’t going to make her uncomfortable by showing up on her doorstep.

“She needs you, Beckett,” Lisa said quietly. “She needs someone to show her she’s worth fighting for.”

Beckett straightened. She was worth fighting for. “All right then. I’ll be over to pick up the food in twenty minutes.”

He hung up to find Sadie, empty yogurt cup in hand, watching him. “So? Is Sam sick or not?”

Beckett shrugged. “I guess we’ll see. But either way, I’m not giving up on Jo that easily.”

Sadie grinned. “I never thought you would.”