Page 10 of Here & Now

He stared at her, unflinching. “Someone bought you a drink?”

“You did!”

He shook his head. “Believe me, if I’d bought you a drink, I’d admit it.”

She deflated. “It wasn’t you?”

“Nope.”

“So, you didn’t pay for my meal, either?”

His eyes went wide. “Wow, some guy really has a thing for you!”

She glared at him. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“No, it isn’t, but it wasn’t me.”

She’d been so sure it was him, and now she felt disappointed.

“Anyway, I should get back to my date. Have a nice evening.” He turned and walked away.

Confounded, she stood there and stared after him. If he hadn’t paid for her meal, then who had? She was not only confused but embarrassed for having accused Zane. He must think she was a nutcase!

Just after she returned to the cottage, her phone rang, and she smiled at her sister’s name on the screen. She stepped into the lanai as she answered.

“Hey, Ivy League.”

“Hey. How’s it going?”

Bree sighed.

“That bad?”

She sank onto the lounge chair. “Yeah.”

“It must be so hard to be there alone. I wish I could have come with you.”

“It would have been too difficult with the baby. How is my precious niece, anyway?”

“I just got her to sleep, finally.”

Bree chuckled. Sofie was only two months old, and Ivy was still recovering from her difficult labor and delivery.

“Have you started going through Grandma’s things?”

“Not yet.”

“It’s okay. You’ve got time.”

“I can’t stay here forever.”

“So, what have you been doing?”

“Embarrassing myself in front of the neighbor.”

“What neighbor?”

Bree glanced at Zane’s lanai, which was quiet and dark, so she felt safe to continue talking. He was probably still out with his date, anyway.