Summer at the Heartbreak Cafe: Summer Sweet Romance (Lakeview Contemporary Romance Book 0) (8 page)

I
t was
an enjoyable morning for both women, which ended in a lunch at the café.

“What do I owe you for a wonderful tour?” Marianne asked Nina, her skin pink and glowing from being outdoors.

“Oh no, nothing at all. I enjoyed that too.”

“You’re really good at it, you know.” Marianne said. “A natural. You should think about converting something like that from a hobby to a profession. That’s how I started in the cosmetics industry. Make-up was a hobby for me, until I made it a career. You could too, you know.”

Nina blushed at the avalanche of compliments.

“Thank you, maybe I’ll give it some thought when Patrick is older.”

“Meanwhile, lunch is on me. It’s the least I can do after such a morning. It took my mind off things, and I needed that.”

“You’re welcome. Thanks for the lunch; I’ll take you up on that - I’m famished. ” Nina glanced at her watch. She still had an hour or so left before her shift started. Enough time to take little Patrick to his grandfather’s house and get back again to the cafe.

She followed Marianne to a table in the centre, while little Patrick went to play in the kids’ corner. Ella came to take their order, beaming at them. After greeting them, she slid into the empty third chair.

“How was it?” she asked turning to Marianne.

“It was great, just what the doctor ordered. I’m even feeling brave enough to try river rafting one of these days.”

“That’s great. I told you this town has a lot to offer, I’m glad you got to sample some of it instead of staying cooped up in your cottage.”

Nina was puzzled, why didn’t Marianne get out more often? Perhaps her husband was sickly and she didn’t want to say?

Her attention wandered from Ella and Marianne’s conversation when out of the window she spied Sam headed in this direction. His image was not very clear, but she could see the swing of his body as he walked and the bulge of his arms in the sleeveless t-shirt he wore.

Man, he was handsome. From where she sat, Nina could observe him coming in covertly without the fear that he would see her. By now she knew his favourite table, which was by the window. He paused for a moment at the door, his eyes roamed round the café, and then he continued walking to his table.

Their eyes met and Nina waved, then just that moment, a dark haired handsome man walked in behind Sam, wielding a mobile phone like it was a weapon.

He looked around the café, and his eyes stopped at Nina’s table. He came towards them.

“There you are; you’ve been gone forever,” he moaned. “I was wondering if you were going to come back at all.”

Ah, the elusive husband, Nina thought understanding, as Marianne went to make introductions.

“Nina, this is my husband Donal, and honey, this is Nina, the lady I told you was giving me a tour of the hills this morning, and of course you know Ella,” Marianne said, her voice cold.

Donal looked terse. “I told you I wanted to come too.”

Marianne rolled her eyes. “You were on the phone when I was getting ready and I told you, but you never paid me any heed. But we had a great time anyway. The hiking trail is gorgeous.”

Ella quickly excused herself, as did Nina. Donal slid into the chair that Nina vacated and she could hear their angry voices exchange harsh words.

Now she knew Marianne’s issue. She and her husband were on holiday here, yet he was too busy to enjoy the time with his wife.

She soon forgot about the warring couple though, as she approached Sam’s table.

“Can I join you? I’m a paying customer for a change today,” she said, and got a huge smile in response.

“Of course.” Sam quickly stood up and pulled the chair back for her. Nina loved the gentlemanly gesture and she smiled back in gratitude.

When he sat back down, she saw that he had a stubble of a moustache above his upper lip, and felt like running her finger across it.

“So how was the river rafting with Emma?” she asked, saying the first thing that popped into her brain.

“It was OK; I’d think I’d have enjoyed it much more if you took me. Though I hear you only give tours to special people,” Sam said in a teasing voice.

Nina’s breath caught, and she told herself to act cool. She smiled and tossed her mane behind her head, vaguely aware that now she was acting like a teenager. Was he flirting with her?

“Well, I do and you’re half-right, I only give tours to people I like,” she joked back.

Sam’s face fell and he feigned deep hurt. “I take it that I’m not among that group of very lucky people?”

He
is
flirting.
Nina’s brain almost stopped functioning.

“You could be, but then I also dislike competition,” she went on, her tone more serious than she’d intended.

“What competition?” Sam said. “Go on, take me river rafting then. Or anything else you prefer. Take this lonely writer on a date.”

Nina contemplated him and saw that he was serious. Her heart did somersaults and she wanted to shriek
yes of course
, in response. But her naturally cautious nature took over.

“You’re seeing Emma though, aren’t you?” she said softly.

Sam looked taken aback. “Emma? Your friend Emma? What makes you think that?”

Nina kept quiet.

“Believe me, Emma’s not interested in me nor am I in her. I know she’s your friend, but I’ll tell you anyway. She just enjoys being seen with me because I’m a micro-celebrity. I know that. Nothing to do with me as a person.”

Nina was stunned. He knew?

“So what do you think, how about an outing just you and me?” he repeated and her heart melted.

Smiling shyly, she nodded. She would love to go river rafting with Sam. Or anywhere with him.

She ate her lunch, watching the detail of his face when he wasn’t looking at her. His dark eyes resembled her ex-boyfriend and Patrick’s father’s Steve’s a little; perhaps that’s what had captured her attention that first day? They turned dark when he was upset or disturbed, and she had seen him in both moods, when his novel was not going well.

“How’s your novel going?” she asked then, putting all comparisons with her ex out of her mind.

“Not so good, I’ve hit a bit of a hitch, but it’ll work itself out,” he replied, and then looked at her expectantly as though waiting for her to say something.

“What?” she asked, when he continued waiting.

“I’m waiting for the inevitable follow-up question, the one everybody asks.”

“I’m not everyone and I have no further questions.” Nina said, in a mock courtroom voice.

He laughed, and then mimicking a shrill voice said. “What’s it about?”

Nina laughed. “You don’t like being asked that?”

“No,” Sam said. “In fact, the fastest way to kill your novel even before you start it is to talk about it. Thank you for never asking me that.”

“You’re welcome,” Nina was glowing from the compliments. “Actually the truth is, I wouldn’t want to know because it’ll spoil my enjoyment when reading it. So you see, it’s entirely selfish.”

“You’re a reader then? What kind of books do you like?” Sam asked.

“Of course I am. My favourite authors are Jane Austen, Maeve Binchy—”

T
he time passed
by in a flash. When it was time to drop off little Patrick in time for her shift, Nina stood up regretfully. She would have loved for the afternoon with Sam to stretch on. He was terrific company, and he made her laugh.

“That was good fun, thanks,” she said.

Sam stood up. “I’m the one who should say thanks. My morning had been unproductive, but now I feel completely re-energised. You’re wonderful company Nina. You’ll tell me when you are free again so we can go do something?”

Nina nodded, and with a wave and a bounce in her step, she collected Patrick and headed for her father’s house.

But the grin remained on her face all that afternoon until Ella commented on it and teased her a little.

She was just so relieved that Sam and Emma had nothing between them.

But now the thought of spending time alone with him made her senses come alive. She remembered the way the hairs on his arms stood and how much she would have loved to run her hand along his skin.

Slightly shocked at the direction her thoughts were taking, Nina cautioned herself. A summer romance was one thing, but any thought of something more was a recipe for disaster.

For one, she would be exposing herself to hurt. She remembered what Ella had told her. The key was keeping things in perspective.

If something happened between her and Sam, and Nina desperately hoped it would, she must guard her heart and view it for what just it was, a brief summer romance.

“
Y
ou should have waited
for me,” Donal insisted as he and Marianne walked back to the cottage after a tension-filled lunch.

Marianne ignored him and walked on. Nothing could spoil her good mood. She knew Donal and the fact that she had gone out alone wasn’t the issue. Then her mind returned to Nina and she froze.

“Oh no!” Marianne said her hand flying to her mouth. “I was supposed to buy Nina lunch and I completely forgot about it. Let me go back and apologise.”

“She’ll understand, you can explain another time,” Donal said, looking impatient.

Marianne felt awful. Nina would think her so ungrateful. They had spent such a wonderful morning together. She was a good person to be around. She knew everything there was to know about Lakeview. And she was so cheerful.

Marianne hoped that when she explained, Nina would understand why she had forgotten about their lunch.

She turned her attention back to Donal. Every few seconds he ran a hand through his hair, as if it were a comb. Something was on his mind. He would tell her when he was ready. Meanwhile she tried to recreate that heady feeling at the top of the trail that morning. It had felt like she was floating in air, and invincible.

“You’re smiling?” Donal said, almost accusingly.

“Yes I am.” Marianne said turning to Donal with a wide grin. “I feel happy. There’s something about the air in these parts that lifts your spirit. I feel as though I can do anything.”

When they reached their cottage, Donal said, “Let’s not go home just yet. Can we go for a walk?”

“Sure, anywhere in particular?”

“No, let’s just walk on.”

There passed the other cottages as they walked further on, and Marianne imagined the lives of the people inside.

Were they content, happy or sad? She felt like she had been at a crossroad for a long time, but she felt freer now. She felt powerful; her destiny or future happiness did not depend on one person. It was up to her, and that knowledge made her feel as though the world was hers for the taking.

Donal cleared his throat and she brought her attention back to him.

All along the lake, there were park benches placed in strategic places, and now Donal held her hand and guided her to one. It was shaded by towering trees.

“I thought you were gone,” Donal said suddenly.

“I was gone,” Marianne replied idly. “Gone hiking with Nina.”

Donal was quiet, as though trying to decide whether to continue with the conversation.

When he spoke again, his voice sounded so different, that if Marianne was not seating next to him, she would have sworn it belonged to another person.

It was raw and rugged. “I mean, thought you had left me.”

He sounded so bereft, that Marianne immediately wanted to take him into her arms and comfort him.

“Why would you think that?” she asked incredulously.

He looked away into the distance.

“I realised what a eejit I’ve been, obsessed with my work and not paying you any attention. I told myself that if you’ve gone I deserved it, but if you haven’t I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy again,” Donal said his eyes moist.

He looked at her and waited. Marianne wanted to cry. She had longed to hear those words for so long that when they came, she had no response.

“What happened to us lately, love?” Marianne asked, her voice shaky.

“I don’t know, but please tell me it’s not too late.”

“It’s not too late. How could it be? I love you so much.”

Donal moved closer and cupped her face in both his hands. “Not as much as I love you. You brighten my world. Without you, all these things we have, holidays, cars, promotions, they mean nothing Marianne. You’re my everything.”

He pulled her into his arms and the floodgates broke. Marianne sobbed into his chest, relief washing over her at the knowledge that Donal truly loved her. When her sobs subsided, he gently wiped off the tears with the back of his hand.

They looked at each other and smiled shyly.

“I’ve been thinking, no more work for me in the remaining days of our time here. And when we go back home, I’ll be leaving my work in the office. I don’t want to lose you or us.”

“You don’t know how happy that makes me feel,” Marianne said. Then she cleared her throat, feeling that the time was right. “Do you remember that day at the park with Grace’s boys?” she continued.

Donal nodded.

“You were so great with them. You’d make a wonderful father. What would you think about us starting a family soon?” she finished, and held her breath. “Not immediately of course,” she added. “Once we’ve settled back down at home.”

“Maybe,” Donal said, his face blank. “Let me be honest though, honey. Kids scare the living daylights out of me. A human being dependent on you for everything. I feel as though we need to build a solid financial base before thinking of kids.”

Pragmatic as always, she thought fondly. “It
is
a scary thought, but look at it this way. We own our own home, we have great jobs, and really we are better off than so many other people who already have families.”

“College though?” Donal said, worry lines criss-crossing his forehead.

Marianne looked at him, and broke into laughter. She couldn’t stop laughing, until tears rolled down her cheeks.

“What’s funny?” he asked, setting Marianne off again.

When she stopped, she turned to him. “Listen to yourself. You’re worried about college fees for a child who has not even yet been conceived!” She stopped talking to wipe off her tears.

A tentative ghost of a smile appeared on Donal’s face.

He grinned sheepishly. “But you have to admit a kid is a lot of work. Look at poor Grace. She looks perpetually confused and harassed every time I see her.”

“True, but there are other mothers with five kids in tow who look perpetually calm,” Marianne pointed out.

He turned to her shocked. “You want
five
kids?”

She laughed. “Of course not, maybe two. And you?”

“One.”

“Let’s start with that and we can move on from there,” Marianne said smiling.

“Right then, let’s go back to the cottage, and get started,” Donal said wickedly, pulling her to her feet.