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“What in the world are you doing here?” Paige hissed. She’d been frozen for what felt like ten minutes but was probably really only ten seconds, and then she’d hurried over to Marco. He had a wide smile on his face, and dark curls fell over his forehead when he leaned forward with open arms. When she realized he planned to hug her, she sidestepped and barely resisted the urge to smack his hand. “Marco!” Her voice was shrill, but she didn’t care. “Why are you in Comfort Cove?”
“Bella! It’s so good to see you. You look delicious.” Paige bit back a sarcastic reply while Marco looked around. “This is a lovely store. It’s yours now?”
“Yes. Why are you here?” Paige’s jaw muscles ached, and she realized she was clenching her teeth.
“I brought you your things.” Marco gave up trying to hug her as she stepped from side to side. He dropped his arms and walked past her, straight to Sarah, whose eyes and mouth were all wide open, the plate of vegetables in her hand teetering dangerously, obviously forgotten. Marco caught Sarah’s free hand in his and kissed it. Then he flashed her a dazzling smile. “I am Marco Vitali. So pleased to be here.”
Paige crossed the floor to stand next to the pair. “This is my sister-in-law, Sarah,” she said. “My brother’s wife.” When Marco didn’t break eye contact with Sarah, Paige added, “The wife of my brother who’s a police officer.”
Marco dropped Sarah’s hand and took a small step backward, but his smile didn’t fade. “So happy to make your acquaintance. How lucky you are to be a family member of sweet Paige.” His voice was all velvety with its distinctly Italian flavor.
It was all Paige could do to refrain from stomping her foot, throwing her head back, and screaming. Marco was the very last person she wanted to deal with. Back in Italy, she’d been able to put up with him, although he exasperated her, but having him set foot in her Comfort Cove world felt jarring and unnatural. She wanted him gone.
“When are you going home? Where are you staying?” Paige was desperate for information, but Marco’s posture was relaxed and unhurried. He scanned the room, and his eyes fell on Lucy, who stood near the food tables returning his gaze. He smiled again, and Lucy looked like she might faint dead away. The baker’s hand moved to her curls and then fluttered over the front of her shirt, straightening the hem as she blushed and smiled back at the handsome Italian.
“I do not know when I will return to Portofino,” Marco said without looking away from Lucy. “And I have somewhere to stay. You shouldn’t worry.” Finally, his attention returned to Paige, and while she was relieved he was no longer flirting with her friends and family, she also wasn’t especially glad to find herself the focus of his attempts at charm again. “I have your belongings on the sidewalk just outside,” he said. “I’m so happy to be here where I can be of service to you in your time of bitter sadness. Dei morti parla bene.” With a grin and a wink, Marco turned and walked out the front door of the shop, returning a moment later with two large gray suitcases. Scott appeared and took the bags from the Italian and then Marco moved back to Paige’s side.
“Okay, well, thanks,” she stammered. “But I’m heading out right now to get some rest. I’m glad you have a place to stay, but I don’t really need any of your—services—so it’s fine with me if you want to go on back to Italy.”
“I’m going to be around for a bit. The air is good here. And it is lonely back home without you.” He grabbed her hand before she could move it and kissed the top, lingering past the point of social comfort before straightening again. “You go rest. I will see you later.”
Paige stared at the shop’s door once it closed and Marco was out of sight. She couldn’t quite believe he was really in Comfort Cove. Her life was turning into a series of unexpected events. When she felt someone move next to her, she thought it was Scott and opened her mouth to apologize for the flirting Marco had directed toward Sarah. But when she glanced over, she shut her lips again because it was Jay Parker, not her brother, who stood beside her.
“Hey, Paige. Paige—that’s funny. Like pages of a book.”
She gave him an obligatory smile.
“I didn’t see you eat anything,” he said.
“I guess I didn’t,” she agreed. “Too many people to talk with and too much to do, I suppose. I’ll grab a hummus sandwich at my brother’s house.”
Jay grimaced. “Hummus sandwich? That does not sound appetizing. What would you say about going to dinner with me?”
Was he asking her out? Paige’s head spun a little. First Marco showed up in her shop when she thought he was on a different continent and now the ditzy surfer dude who owned the bike shop next door was asking her on a date. She could hardly keep up with the undesirable advances being directed her way. She needed some peace and quiet to think about her aunt’s murder. “Thanks, but I’m pretty tired. I kind of just want to get into some cozy clothes and veg for the evening.”
“Hey, I don’t expect you to get fancied up or anything. I’m going to wear this.” Jay gestured to his khaki shorts and brightly colored Hawaiian shirt. He studied her face and added, “Just casual. You know, a couple of fellow business owners having some Italian food. I’ll buy. Maybe if we can think of some business to talk about for part of the time, I can write it off as an expense.” He laughed in a way that told Paige he wasn’t really kidding.
She watched him for a moment, considering, before she asked quietly, “Did you say Italian food?”
Jay grinned. “Yeah. Maretti’s. Their lasagna is fantastic. I have to go there at least once a month or I crave it so bad I can’t stand it. So, I’m going tonight no matter what. Just come along. Don’t worry. I won’t get handsy or anything.”
Paige’s stomach tightened, and she realized she was starving. The tables of food were nearly empty, and Lucy was busy clearing off what remained. And a hummus sandwich really did sound pretty terrible, especially compared to hot, cheesy lasagna. She remembered going to Maretti’s occasionally as a kid for a special treat. “Okay,” she blurted out. “That sounds good. I’ll meet you there in about an hour and a half.”
A wide grin appeared on the blond man’s face. “Sweet,” he said. “See you there.”
After Paige told Scott he could put her suitcases in the Jeep, she went to the bathroom, filled Casper’s food and water, and stopped behind the checkout counter to get her purse from the drawer she’d stuffed it in earlier. When she rounded the end of the counter on her way back out, Lucy approached her. Paige smiled warmly at the older woman. “Thank you for catering. Everything was delicious, and people loved it.” She hoped to get around the baker and out to the Jeep quickly.
“You’re welcome. I wouldn’t have had it any other way for dear Nora. It’s still hard to believe she’s gone forever.” Lucy paused, a wistful expression in her eyes. Then her gaze sharpened and landed on Paige’s face. “Have you met Captain McDougall yet?”
The sudden change in demeanor and topic was jarring. What in the world was Lucy talking about? “Captain McDougall?” Paige echoed and then narrowed her eyes. “The one who drowned in the late 1800s?”
“Yes,” the lady said, looking and sounding for all the world like it was a totally normal question.
Paige opened her mouth to respond and then closed it again. She wondered what she was missing. An explanation occurred to her suddenly: Lucy must not be quite well. Paige decided playing along was probably best. She wouldn’t want to upset the poor, sick lady. “No, I haven’t,” she said matter-of-factly and followed it up quickly with a change in subject of her own. “Neal’s going to help finish cleaning up in here while I head home. Thanks again. My aunt would have been so pleased about the spread you provided today.”
With a smile, Paige scooted around the dark-haired woman and headed toward the storeroom. She could feel the baker’s eyes on her back. As she gave Casper one last pat and walked out into the tiny rear parking lot, she heaved a sigh of relief. Between the cousins, Horace, Marco, Neal, Jay, and Lucy, she felt like she’d been dealing with quite a bit of craziness for the past few hours, and she was grateful she’d have a short period of sanity and quiet before she had to head to Maretti’s.