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Lucy didn’t know it yet, but she was going to be his in every way there was.
Lucy joined the children and held the boa and a baby python and even a baby alligator. Jamie chatted with the Crocodile Hunter for a few minutes and decided that even though he was looking at Lucy like he wanted to eat her with a spoon, he wasn’t half-bad as far as hunky, Australian tough-guy types went. The best thing in his favor? He seemed to know Lucy was with Jamie and didn’t even try to hit on her. Big points for that.
Lucy was giddy and chatty on the rest of their walk to the restaurant. When they got there, her eyes widened once more. Standing guard outside was a stuffed eight-foot tall grizzly bear. He was in a glass case but his teeth and nails were bared as if he was about to pounce. The name of the restaurant was “Kodiak” and the entire theme was bears. It even had a gift shop filled with teddy bears and collector cups and T-shirts.
“This is so cool,” Lucy said.
Jamie smiled, loving how she seemed to take the same pleasure in holding snakes and visiting bear-themed restaurant that she did in taking a private jet ride to New York.
“Before we leave, I want to look around and get something for the baby,” Lucy told him.
Jamie gave her an indulgent smile as they were shown to their table. He watched her eyes flit from one big bear to the next. Once they were seated and the waiter had taken their drink orders, Jamie said, “First the aquarium, then the snakes, now the bears. You really like animals, don’t you?”
“I love them. When I was a kid I used to tell my dad I wanted to own a zoo when I grew up.”
Jamie caught himself just before he did something stupid like offered to buy her one. But honest to God that was his first instinct. He’d do anything, pay anything, to make Lucy happy. Instead, he jokingly said, “Oh, I see now why you chose the zoo as our next day trip with Milly.”
They enjoyed their lunch together and then continued their walk around the little town. They walked through the park where there was a baseball game going on and they stopped to watch. One of the guys choosing teams saw Jamie sitting behind the backstop and said, “Hey, we need one more player, are you up for it?”
Jamie shook his head and Lucy said, “Aw, come on…I’d love to watch you play some baseball.” She made her pouty face and a minute later, he was jogging out to the field.
It wasn’t buying her a zoo, but hell, it was still a pretty big deal for him.
Even as a teenager, Jamie hadn’t been all that good at baseball, but he was decent enough not to embarrass himself. At one point, he was actually applauded for catching a ball and scoring the last out. The various men thanked him for playing.
When he strode back to Lucy, she high-fived him and said, “Go Jamison! Woot! You kicked baseball booty.”
He leaned closer. “Did it impress you enough to—”
“Jamie Whitcomb?” a man called from behind him.
Jamie turned. “Yeah,” Jamie told him. “That’s me.”
Lucy stepped closer toward him, practically pasting herself to his side, and he smiled down at her. She looked ready to tear anyone apart if they dared said a bad word to him.
“I’m Garrett Hawk. Your family wants to open that airplane parts plant?”
“Yes,” Jamie said, bracing himself.
A couple of guys stopped next to Garrett. “I heard the town council was putting a stop to that,” one of them said.
“They have concerns. I’m here to address them.”
A few of the men still glared at him and another one of them said, “We have kids here, families. We may not have billions like you and your family does, but our families are important to us, and we love them. We like our town the way it is and we don’t need outsiders coming in and ruining things any more than they already have.
“I understand your concerns,” Jamie said. “I’d just like the town to hear what we can bring to the table. To your tables.”
When there was more grumbling, Garrett said, “Well, thanks again for playing, Jamie. Never any harm in hearing people out and learning all the facts, is there, boys?”
He stared at the men around him until they finally nodded or verbally agreed.
Jamie put his arm around Lucy and guided her away from the others. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
They walked silently for a while.
Finally, she said, “Are you angry with me?”
He stopped walking and looked at her. “Why would you think that?”
“I goaded you into playing, and then those guys—”
“I had a great time playing, and they have a right to speak their minds. If I’m going to win them over, Lucy, it’s not going to be with avoidance. I have to know their concerns to address them.”
Lucy hugged and kissed him. “You’re a good man, Jamie Whitcomb.”
“I love you, Lucy,” Jamie said.
“I love you, too,” she said. She smiled. “In spite of all the energy I’ve expended trying not to. Whoever said nice guys finish last never met you.”
