Chapter 10
Shit! Lily banged on the old Buick’s steering wheel when the car just coughed and sputtered but once again refused to turn over and start. Why now, after her big speech and grand exit from Vin and his restaurant? And why when it was pouring cats, dogs, and maybe an assorted pig or goat for good measure? Lily tried the ignition once again to no avail. She was screwed. She reached for her cell and considered calling for a tow, but the expense would probably be more than the car was worth. Maybe her mom was right and it was time to give the old thing up.
The thought of it brought a wave of sadness down on Lily. She didn’t get much from her dad, but somehow, even though he wasn’t living at home with them anymore, she felt a strange connection to him through her car. Her car felt like home to her. It would be hard to give up. She considered calling her dad and asking him to come and give her a jump. She knew he would but also knew he’d probably agree with her mother and say it was time to let the car go. He had no problem with letting old things go. For her it wasn’t so easy.
She quickly dialed her sister Sylvie. She hated to bother Sylvie, pregnant as she was, but she was not too far, and when the rain lessened she could come pick Lily up or have her husband, George, do it. George was always fiddling with cars anyway. He’d help her out. Sylvie’s phone went straight to voice mail, so Lily left a message and settled in to wait. Of all the places and times to break down. Lily turned to look back at the restaurant and cursed when she saw Vin running her way with an umbrella in hand. The rain was pounding down in sideways sheet so even with the umbrella his T-shirt was getting wet and quickly sticking to his broad chest in a ridiculously delicious way. Lily watched for about three seconds too long as he tapped on the car’s window. With a huff Lily reached over to open the passenger door and let him inside.
Vin opened the door but didn’t get in, bringing with him a rush of wind and rain.
“Hey, what are you doing out here?” she yelled.
“That is what I’m here to ask you. The car won’t start?”
She shot him a look. “Obviously.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but she saw the words die in the back of his mind. No matter, she heard the unspoken words anyway without his even uttering them: “But I thought you didn’t need anybody.” Funny how fast things can come around to bite you in the ass. Just then lightning flashed and she jumped. He looked at her and slammed the passenger door shut, then ran around to her side of the car, pulling her door open and reaching out his hand. “Come on back in. We’ll call it a truce while you wait out this storm.”
Lily shook her head. “I’m fine right here. I called for someone to pick me up. It should be here soon.” She shivered against the sudden cold.
He took her hand and pulled her up and out toward him. “So you’ll wait inside with a cup of tea or coffee. Don’t be so stubborn.”
Lily let out a breath, reaching back for her bag before racing back inside with Vin.
* * *
“Are you always so forceful?” she asked as he pushed the dark cup of coffee toward her.
He had come in and gone up to his apartment area, where he’d changed into casual, low-slung sweatpants and a loose cotton tee. Lily decided as he shrugged that it didn’t matter what the man was wearing, if anything at all. He was totally hot.
He took a sip from his cup after adding a liberal amount of sugar and cream and then answered her. “I normally don’t have to be.”
Lily snorted. “That figures.”
Vin raised a brow as he came around the bar to sit on the stool next to her. “What figures?”
She thought about how she should answer and then decided, what the hell. She had nothing to lose with Vin, since she wasn’t looking for anything to gain. “Well, look at you. You’re built like a muscle truck.” When he frowned she added, “In the best of ways, believe me. So I’d think that men would give you a wide-enough berth and probably respect on sight, and women, well, I’m sure most drop panties without much effort on your part.”
To that Vin voiced an almost incoherent snort into his next sip of coffee. “Yeah, most.”
Lily couldn’t help but laugh. “And that’s what I like about you and about this.” She did a back and forth with her hands between the two of them. “I get that about you, and I don’t blame you or think it’s in any way bad. I admire it, just like I admire the space you have here. I’m also highly attracted to it.” She watched as he pulled up straighter and leaned in a little closer to her. Lily got up, taking her coffee with her, and eased toward the large wall of windows at the back of the restaurant, giving herself some much needed space. The rain was still pounding and it made it difficult to see past the deck and beyond to the Atlantic. But she focused first on the rain, then farther out to the faded wood of the deck, then farther to the deserted beach, and finally farther into the void of the ocean. It was peaceful, and she wondered if Vin knew how lucky he was to have this spot. For a moment, an idea flashed before her. Maybe she could propose this spot to the Carlyles for the graduation party. Cancelling the other location would be a hassle but it could be done, and a beach party complete with party bus transport could be just the thing. She was about to run it by Vin when she felt him come up behind her, and a part of her expected him to reach around her waist and pull her in toward him. But he didn’t. Instead he stood by her side. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
Lily nodded. “It really is. Hey, I was just thinking—how would you feel about hosting another party here? Say two hundred fifty for a graduation beach party? If I can sell the concept, I have a client who will pay top dollar for your premium night rate.” Vin looked at her skeptically. She knew he was weighing the cost of dealing with her against the money. She also knew the money would win out. He nodded.
“Sure, if you can swing it. I’m new so I need all the business I can get.”
Lily grinned, pleased with the idea and excited to get to work on the new concept. “That’s great. Thanks so much. I have to come up with concept boards and see if I can sell my client on it, but I’ll work fast and get back to you right away. It’s just that you’re so close to the city, yet it’s like we’re on another planet. I’m sure I can make this work.”
They were silent for a few long moments before she turned and looked at his profile. His high forehead and strong, sloping nose. Those lips were her major kryptonite. “Is this why you stayed here? I know you grew up on the island. Most who stay, and never find work elsewhere, have a pretty compelling reason. I mean, even before you got this spot you could have worked anywhere. Your food is delicious. Your talent is undeniable.”
Seeming to not hear the compliment, Vin stared out into the void of the sea a moment longer before turning her way, his eyes dark, full and wide with a sense of something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Part of it looked like loss, but then she could swear it was longing. He shrugged. “I guess for the surf. The water is my true love. You can’t get that in the city also I like a little breathing room. We don’t get all that much out here but I enjoy what little we’ve got.” Changing subjects he flipped on a dime. “Besides, I thought you were talking about why we get along so well. You left me hanging back there.”
Lily shook her head. Deflection received. “Okay, I got you.” She thought a moment, then put down her coffee and folded her arms as she looked him in the eyes. “I like that we can kick it and be honest. I want to work with you because I see talent in you and your space is great. Also, I checked you out and you’re on the rise for sure. I want in on that. I’m like you, just getting in on the rising part of my business and I need to keep that momentum going. I think business wise we could be good for each other. As for the other part, if you’re not seriously attached to anyone, I wouldn’t mind kicking it, no strings attached, but if you’re going to go all judgmental on me and my choices, that I can’t deal with.”
It was Vin’s turn to fold his arms as he stared at her. She watched as the muscles in his forearms became like tight cord and his chest rose and fell. She couldn’t deny how sexy he was and she also couldn’t deny for all her outward confidence and bravado she couldn’t deny what she hoped his answer to her would be. “But answer me this,” Vin started. “What if I want something more than just to kick it?”
Lily raised her eyes and looked at him harder. Trying her best to read him like a master poker player. Could he really be serious? His gaze never wavered. The only sign she detected was a slight flaring of his nostrils. “Do you? Want to do more than kick it?” she asked.
He looked at her a little longer, then blinked. She had him. “No,” he said. Giving it to her straight. His voice low but strong and steady. “But don’t take that no as any form of a lack of interest in you. As you can plainly see, I’m highly interested. I just don’t want either of us to go into this, business or personal, playing any games.”
Lily let out a slow breath. She didn’t know if it was from relief or sadness. To placate herself in the moment her mind decided it was the former though her heart said the latter. She smiled just as the rain began to let up. “Good. Then I think this has truly not been a wasted morning.”
“No, it definitely hasn’t,” Vin said as he stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Now, how would you like to finish out the afternoon?”
Lily grinned as she pushed all niggling thoughts aside, telling herself she was about to have the best of both worlds. His lips were all she wanted as she looked at him greedily, relishing the hard feel of him, happily running her hands along his strong back, Lily let her hands roam to his bottom and she pulled him closer into her center. They were so deep into each other that neither heard the restaurant door open. At the sound of Sylvie’s voice, they jumped apart like teenagers caught making out in a basement. Sylvie had her hand over her amply curved belly, her eyes held quite a bit of mirth as she cleared her throat. “Well, your message said you needed a ride, but it looks to me like you’ve got that firmly covered. Thanks for wasting my time, sis.”