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“I was mad, but I’m not blind,” I admit. “Yes, he’s a hunk and nice to look at, and maybe, maybe there might be some redeeming qualities about the man.”
“There’s only one way to find out,” she says teasingly. “Do you want his name?”
Trying not to seem too quick to jump on her offer, I feign a contemplative glance.
“Drew Wyatt,” Mia smirks. “You’re a horrible actress, you know that?”
“No way,” I object.
“Really? Because you’re drooling.” My sister laughs that laugh she uses when she “cracks herself up.” Her words, not mine.
“Shut up. It’s not like you’re not doing the same, Miss Wears Her Emotions on Full Display.” I roll my eyes before pushing my food around my plate. “Drew, huh?”
“Yup but he wouldn’t tell Susan where he’s from,” she says, referencing our front desk clerk. “I guess he’s a bit of a mystery man.”
“I guess so but I’m not getting my hopes up about him,” I say, more to myself than to Mia.
The last thing I want is to fall head-over-heels for a guy just to end up having my heart broken just as fast. Still, I can’t ignore the picture I have in my head of the perfect, happy life.
In an ideal world, I’d be living here in Seaside, blissfully married to my perfect match. He’d be strong and smart and know exactly how to make me laugh. He’d know the right way to push my buttons too. We’d enjoy little things like evening walks on the beach after cooking and having dinner together.
Every once in a while, we’d pick a new place to travel to. Yes, Seaside is paradise but there’s an entire world out there that I still want to see. I’d hate to see it alone. We’d plan trips to Paris and kiss in the rain. We’d travel to Rome and eat pizza in the Colosseum. We’d insist on seeing Big Ben and trying all the sweets in the UK that we don’t have here in the States.
I’m not saying I can’t have this by myself, but it would be cool to experience some of these things with a loving man. Maybe even this Drew guy.
I wouldn’t mind holding a man’s hand as we walk along the beach at sunset, and taking our time heading home so we can see the moon and the stars overhead. And I wouldn’t mind at all if we got to enjoy a nice meal together and talk about all the things that are important to us, the things we want to experience, and so on.
…Oh, good grief! What am I doing? I hardly know this guy and suddenly, my heart is fluttering at the prospect of romance with him. Heck, he’s already asking about me so there’s technically a chance he wants to get to know me, right?
Although, I’m not holding my breath. There aren’t many guys who fawn over girls who bite their heads off when they first meet.
I just hope my first impression wasn’t as bad as I’m making it out to be in my head.
Chapter nine
Drew – Duke, The Matchmaker
By the third day of my stay, I’m starting to lose hope of finding the mystery woman—but to my surprise, she finds me instead. As I start to explore the inside of the hotel, she spots me poking around the hotel gift shop. I almost don’t recognize her in her work attire of a light blue polo and khakis.
She’s not a guest, but an employee. (I’m starting to understand Prince Charming’s dilemma in Cinderella a little more now.) But what remains the same are those unmistakable blue eyes and the golden waves of hair that dance across her shoulders as she moves.
“Drew?” she asks, peeking her head around a rack of t-shirts.
Crap, does she already know who I really am?
“Yes,” I say with a nod, clearing my throat. “Can I help you?”
“I heard you’ve been asking about finding a woman with a large dog at the hotel,” she sighs. “I don’t actually own them. I just walk them,” she corrects me.
“Do you run the dog program here too?” I ask, pointing to her uniform. “I’ve never seen a hotel that welcomes so many animals, especially large ones like…” “Duke,” I say.
“He’s a sweet boy. And he really likes the beach,” she says, her face lighting up at the thought of her furry companion. “Do you have pets?”
“No, I would love one but I travel a lot so it wouldn’t really be fair,” I admit, careful not to give too much away. “When I was a kid, my family used to have a black lab named Lucy. She was the best.”
She smiles again. “Labs are one of my favorites, next to golden retrievers.” Getting this woman to smile makes me feel like I’ve won the lottery or something.
“My brother thinks I should get a cat because they’re lower maintenance, but I’m still partial to dogs.”
